Skin Aging 101: What Happens at Each Decade?

As you transition from your 30’s to 40’s to your 50’s and beyond, you’ll notice changes in your skin. Read below to find out exactly what’s happening at each decade that explains why these changes are occurring.

(Image credit: Medicinenet.com)

In your 30’s

• Cell turnover slows down.
  • When cells don’t renew themselves as often, we tend to get a buildup of dead skin on the surface leading to congested pores and flakiness.
• Epidermal cells suffer more from environmental damage; however, wrinkles may not be visible YET.
• Dermis begins to lose some volume and bounce.
• Our elastin in the skin begins to become more “loose” and skin loses its firmness.

In your 40’s

• Oil production is reduced.
• The stratum corneum becomes thicker as more dead skin cells linger longer. This leads to buildup of dead cells on the skin, flakiness, dry patches or congestion due to the dead skin staying on the surface.
• Darker pigmentation may appear due to environmental damage.
• Deeper expression lines become apparent.
• Dilated veins may appear as a result of a weaker dermis.
  • As we age our capillaries become weaker and can burst causing small dilation and what we call “broken capillaries” near the nose, on the cheeks and chin areas.  

In your 50’s

• Earlier sun damage is now apparent.
• Age spots may appear.
• Hormonal changes happen. Estrogen decreases and androgen increases which may lead to breakouts.

In your 60’s, 70’s, and beyond

• Hormonal fluctuations from menopause are over, and welcome a period of stability for the skin.
• Genetic disposition to certain skin type/ problems may start to show. (i.e. bags under the eyes, double chin, pigmentation)
• Effects of Intrinsic aging vs. environmental aging is now visible
  • What’s the difference? Intrinsic aging is what happens to us during the years. It is a chronological aging that we cannot stop. Environmental aging is what the environment and our lifestyle is doing to us. Premature aging can fall into this category. Environmental aging is something we can control (i.e. smoke less, better lifestyle, limit sun exposure).
• Less oil production contributes to skin dryness.
• Skin becomes dryer and more fragile.

 

What does this all mean? For starters, it’s never too early to start incorporating anti-aging skin care into your routine.

 

Continue to read our blog as we’ll be sharing many more anti-aging tips to ensure beautiful, healthy skin for a lifetime!