In your 20s, you can wash your face (if you remember) and apply sunscreen. But as we age, problems like fine lines and wrinkles, dullness and pigmentation have many of us rethinking our skin care.
"Good skin care practice for men and women is a long-term game," dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum said in the April 25 episode. "The 20s are about prevention, and later in life we start to focus on our special needs."
Here's what you can do to prevent the signs of aging and keep your skin healthy.
The difference between male and female skin.
Nussbaum discovered that men's and women's skin is very different due to hormonal changes.
"Men have 25% thicker skin than women because of testosterone," he said. "Their collagen is denser, so they look firmer. However, they have more sebaceous glands and may have more acne."
Fun fact: A woman's skin is 15 years older than a man's the same age, says Nussbaum, but because men care less about skin care and don't start using sunscreen until they're older, the difference isn't noticeable. This is proof that simple skin care routines, such as daily use of SPF, can make a big difference in the appearance of aging skin.
Skin care tips for your 20s
In our 20s, we can lead a star-studded lifestyle without working on our face. But bad habits like lack of sleep, drinking and smoking start in your 20s. It's time to start taking good care of your skin, Nussbaum said, stressing that skin care is about more than what we put on our face.
First, focus on healthy lifestyle habits, such as a balanced diet, fluid intake, and eight hours of sleep a night. It's time for skin care that doesn't have to be complicated.
Wash your face twice a day.
Remove your makeup at night.
Use a moisturizer twice a day to protect your skin.
The most important thing is to start using a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day.
For those still struggling, Nussbaum recommends using a salicylic acid cleanser and low-potency retinol two to three times a week, as well as using an oil-free moisturizer.
Skin care tips for 30 year olds
At age 30, "something started happening," Nussbaum said. "We lose collagen and elastin at a rate of 1-2% a year, and our skin cell turnover rate is slow, meaning we don't renew our skin cells as quickly, so the dead skin cells start to stay on top." color and fine lines on the surface, he added.
Nussbaum recommends incorporating the following steps into your daily skin care routine:
Retinol: Take a large dose every night to accelerate cell renewal and stimulate the formation of new collagen (except during pregnancy or breastfeeding) to improve firmness and elasticity.
Alpha hydroxide, similar to glycolic acid , helps to gently remove dead skin cells, leaving the skin toned and textured. You can use it as a cleanser, serum or face mask.
Use moisturizer and sunscreen daily.
Skin care tips for the 40s
This decade is about "decreasing sun damage," Nussbaum said. At this age, the sun easily destroys the skin's collagen and elastin. The sun "causes free radical damage, which slows our skin's self-healing mechanism and causes skin cancer, wrinkles and high blood pressure," she says.
To prevent this, she recommends including some antioxidants in your skin care routine.
Vitamin C and niacinamide stimulate collagen production and reduce oxidative stress from the sun, protect the skin and help repair DNA. (Bonus: Vitamin C inhibits tyrosinase, the enzyme that creates melanin and reduces pigmentation.)
Continue to use sunscreen religiously
Some people also develop hormonal acne during this time, Nussbaum says, which usually shows up around the chin or in the form of some menstrual cysts. To do this, go back to basics with salicylic acid, benzene peroxide treatments, and glycolic acid cleansers, Nussbaum recommends. For more severe rashes, you should see a dermatologist for a prescription.
Skin care in the 50s and 60s
During these decades, hormones begin to affect women's skin. Perimenopause occurs between the ages of 40 and 50, during which time "you lose 30 percent of your collagen at one time," Nussbaum said. "Men notice it too, but it's a continuous development.
According to Nussbaum, the loss of collagen, elastin and lipids during this decade results in dull, dry skin. Dead skin cells also build up, making it more difficult to absorb what is applied to the skin due to reduced cell rejection.
To combat this:
Exfoliate three times a week with a mild chemical peel such as glycolic acid or lactic acid . This helps to remove dead skin cells for better product absorption and brightening of the skin.
Use the peptide cream to restore the skin's barrier and create collagen. It works together with vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide for firmer and smoother skin.
Pay attention to humidity . Choose a hyaluronic acid moisturizer for smoother, brighter skin.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com.