Aging Through the Decades | by Dr . Tahl Humes
Aging is a process that happens over many years and starts even earlier than patients recognize .
The Roaring 20s
There are four main characteristics of skin we see change as we age : tone , texture , moisture , and plumpness . In our 20s , our skin has a consistent tone with minimal red or brown discoloration . It has a smooth texture with small pores and no signs of wrinkles . The skin cells are plump and hold water . Youthful skin looks dewy and is void of dullness or flaking . Regardless of a person ’ s weight , a thin layer of underlying adipose tissue volumizes facial features .
While it may not be visible to the naked eye , skin is already starting to age . Skin replacement mechanisms begin to slow . This slowed cell turnover rate causes the skin to appear dry and dull due to the dead cells that remain on the skin ’ s surface .
Twenty-year-olds do not produce as much collagen and elastin either . Collagen provides skin firmness and elastin , the building blocks of the skin , and is responsible for the elasticity of the skin . In addition , natural antioxidants begin to decline . With fewer endogenous antioxidants , our ability to fight the free radicals our skin encounters is hindered .
Most in their 20s will not see the signs of aging , but some may see a fine line or two around their eyes and mouth .
Thirtysomething
By the time we reach our 30s , we are not only producing less collagen and elastin , but also the collagen and elastin we do have is starting to break down . This can lead to the first signs of skin laxity as well as facial volume loss . Cell turnover is slowing even more , causing the skin to lose its luster . Estrogen peaked in our twenties then starts to decline in our thirties . At the same time testosterone is increasing . These hormonal shifts are the cause of adult acne .
Often patients in their 30s come into the office frustrated and confused that they have to deal with the start of age-defining wrinkles and stereotypical teen acne . These patients are wearing makeup , not for fashion , but instead to cover signs of aging like sunspots and broken capillaries that are causing uneven skin tone .
Fabulou s
As we enter our fourth decade , the signs of aging are more apparent . Estrogen continues to decline , causing a multifactorial aesthetic aging cascade . With less estrogen , women experience bone loss that leads to a change in facial structure , loss of volume , and skin laxity .
Forty-year-olds continue to lose collagen and elastin but are not producing enough of these vital substances to
40 iS Skin Source