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Skin is the most visible sign of aging. 1 Symptoms may appear as early as age 20, but the most significant changes occur in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. 2 And while some factors can't be avoided (the natural deterioration of skin cells over time), lifestyle choices, from how much time you spend in the sun to how much you drink, blood sugar levels, and stress can all take a toll on your skin. From 3 to 6
Of course, no two people are the same. Genetics, environment, skin type and hormonal changes affect skin maturation and aging. 7-9 "We all go through the same aging process, but at different times and at different times in our lives," Tommy Lee Wall, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in lasers, tells SELF. . . "Each person is an individual."
How you respond to these changes is up to you, but if you want to understand the signs of mature skin and stay on top of your health, we've put together a guide to help you prepare. Spoiler alert: Cultivating an active lifestyle means healthier skin in the future.
In the year In the 1940s, the skin's collagen (the protein that makes up most of our skin and other connective tissues) declines and its texture and color take on new characteristics. 10 As a result, you may begin to notice thinner, more relaxed skin; hyperpigmentation; Or wrinkles - all trends that continue into the 50s, 60s and beyond. eleven
Cumulative sun damage and years of sun exposure accelerate skin aging. 12. Fair-skinned people (or those on the lower end of the Fitzpatrick scale, which measures the skin's response to sun exposure) begin to show signs of aging earlier. 13 In a 2017 study in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology , white women at the age of 40 reported that they noticed wrinkles on the forehead, crow's feet and bags under the eyes. Black women do not notice these signs of facial aging until they reach the age of 50. 14
"Skin type and tone play a big role in the changes you experience as you age," says Connie Young, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at PFRANKMD in New York City. "Fair skin with less melanin is more susceptible to photodamage from UV rays and tends to develop fine lines, wrinkles and sun spots at a younger age." On the other hand, "pigmented skin is more prone to hyperpigmentation, which includes dark spots, melasma and uneven skin tone."