As we age, our face evolves and changes shape: prominent cheekbones replace chubby cheeks, fine lines appear around our eyes and mouth, and our skin may start to lose its natural plumpness. But at what age does your face change the most?
In most cases, signs of ageing are normal. But if you feel like your skin is ageing faster than usual, there may be other issues at play. A variety of factors can contribute to premature ageing, including your diet and sun exposure habits. Fortunately, there are likely steps you can take to rejuvenate your skin—no needles required.
What Are the Causes of Premature Ageing?
As you grow older, your skin responds. The first places you’ll likely notice signs of sagging skin are around your face and chest, which may experience:
Wrinkles
Sunspots
Dryness
Loss of skin tone
Hyperpigmentation
Sagging
Although many of these signs are natural parts of getting older, if your skin is showing more signs than other people your age, there may be several factors at play:
Light Exposure
You know that wearing SPF is important. But how important, exactly? If you’re asking yourself, “why is my face ageing so fast?” start by looking up to the sky.
Sun exposure is one of the leading causes of premature skin ageing and comes in two varieties:
HEV and Infrared Light - You may know HEV (high-energy visible) light as “blue light.” This comes from devices like your phone and computer screen. However, along with infrared light, it’s also emitted by the sun. While more research is needed, HEV light may contribute to signs of skin ageing and hyperpigmentation. You might notice that your skin loses some of its youthful collagen and elasticity with constant exposure.
Sun Exposure - Likely one of the most serious types of light exposure, too much unprotected time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer. UV rays cause photo-ageing (often referred to as “sun damage”) and are responsible for about 90% of visible changes to your skin. This often manifests as deep lines and age spots.
You could begin to see signs of photo-damage as early as your teenage years, including:
Wrinkling
Uneven texture
Visible (spider) veins around the nose and chest
Redness
Blotchiness
Decreased skin elasticity
If you love to soak up the sun or visit tanning salons, it may be time to reconsider how fast tanning ages your skin. Invest in a daily moisturiser with SPF that offers broad-spectrum sun protection to minimise the effects of sun damage. Achieve your natural glow by nourishing your skin instead of exposing it to harsh conditions.
Alcohol
One of the best lifestyle changes you can make for your skin is cutting down your alcohol intake (even better if you can cut it out completely!). While the occasional glass of wine may not severely impact your skin, chronic alcohol consumption can cause dehydration, which will damage your skin over time. You may notice signs of ageing like:
Blotchiness
Yellowed skin tone
Spider veins
Smoking
If you’re smoking, your face probably shows it. Smoking is one of the leading causes of prematurely ageing skin, as it can accelerate the appearance of:
Crow’s feet
Marionette lines
Uneven or dull skin tone
Lines between eyebrows
Thin lips
Creases below the eyes
Dry skin
Your skin’s ability to bounce back after a cut or infection also decreases if you smoke. Heavy smokers will likely develop wrinkles and other age-related signs more quickly than non-smokers.
Unfortunately, quitting smoking won’t reverse the signs of ageing, but it can prevent further damage.
Diet
Your diet can affect how your skin appears, and an unbalanced diet can impact your skin’s health. Your skin is particularly likely to show signs of premature ageing if you’re eating foods that are:
High in refined carbohydrates
High in sugar
Barbecued or fried foods
High in salt
Spicy
Extremely vegetarian
Luckily, switching up your diet can help fight signs of premature skin ageing. Aim to eat foods that are rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, and omega-3. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water also benefits your skin.
Stress
Stress isn’t just making you feel older; it could be making you look older too. When you’re stressed, your brain produces cortisol—the stress hormone. Too much cortisol can prevent your skin from receiving enough collagen and elastin, which gives it its natural plumpness and glow.
Chronic stress may also cause:
Inflammation
Shortened telomeres in cells
Tissue damage
Poor sleep, often linked to stress, can also contribute to premature ageing. Aim for a full night’s sleep (between seven and nine hours) to give your body enough time to rest and repair.
Genetics
While you might think you’ll never age because your parents or grandparents didn’t show wrinkles until their 60s, genetics don’t play as big a role in skin ageing as you might think.
Intrinsic factors, like DNA and gene expression, are only responsible for about 10% of our skin’s ageing. The rest is influenced by lifestyle choices, including sun protection habits.
How Can I Prevent Skin Ageing?
Sun exposure, stress, and diet changes are part of life. Fortunately, there are a few ways to keep your skin looking youthful and support your overall skin health:
Take Care of Your Skin Maintain good skin health with these vital steps:
Cleanse — Use a gentle facial cleanser to remove sweat, dirt, or anything that could build up on your skin.
Moisturise — Combat dry patches and dehydration with a moisturising product. Look for ingredients like retinol, which can increase collagen production.
Protect — Wear SPF with UV protection (preferably SPF 30 or higher) when spending time in direct sunlight. Also, use hats, sunglasses, and protective clothing.
Exercise
Regular exercise can improve circulation and support immune health, enhancing your skin’s natural glow. Aim for 150 minutes of aerobic activity a week.
Lower Your Stress
Meditation, yoga, guided breathing, painting, playing music, and walking are all ways to reduce cortisol levels and support skin health.
Proper Nutrition
A well-balanced diet with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and protein will help your skin perform at its best. Stay hydrated by drinking more than two litres of water per day to maintain healthy moisture levels.
By adopting these healthy habits, you can help prevent premature ageing and keep your skin looking vibrant and healthy.
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