How old you are will affect your ability to heal scarred areas as well as the overall issues that affect your skin. We can’t cling to the supple skin of our youth forever. Whether you’re a teenager or an older adult, proper skincare is essential to preventing fine lines, age spots and wrinkles.
In general with aging comes several changes to the body, characterized by a natural progression of the way skin appears when we are very young compared with how it looks as an elderly person. Sweat and oil glands will reduce, which makes skin much drier. These wounds take a bit longer to heal than hydrated skin. On top of that, older skin becomes less elastic and resilient which also hampers the ability of wounds to heal.
Elastin, which is secreted by fibroblasts, is a stretchy protein that helps tissues return to their former state after having been stretched or altered. This capability is reduced with age, making scars less able to heal quickly and wrinkles more likely to form.
20- and 30-Year-Olds
When you’re young, the last thing you want to worry about is wrinkles. But the truth is, treating your skin properly right now will have a direct impact on what the wrinkled that will appear later. Even as a young 20-something, your skin is changing in ways you haven’t even noticed yet. Collagen production is the big threat here.
Fibroblasts synthesize collagen, which are the most common type of cells when it comes to connective tissues, responsible for manufacturing and maintaining your body’s connective tissues.
When you lose collagen, you can develop sagging, wrinkles, and fine lines. But the good news, you can slow that production down by preventing UV exposure (mainly by wearing sunscreen outdoors at all times).
Once you start emerging into your 30s, you’ll start to see those first fine lines, wrinkles and sun damage effects. This is when it becomes extra urgent to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen at least a half hour or so before going in the sun, reapplying every two hours or after swimming.
If your teenage years were spent sun bathing, be aware that you have a higher risk of developing wrinkles, dark spots, and even skin cancer. During this time, you will also notice a loss of volume around the eyes and cheeks, for which collagen loss is to blame. Wounds will also take more time to heal, which lengthens the time for scarring.
40– and 50-Year-Olds
When we are young, we secrete more SDF1 into our blood stream to form and shape scars, but we lose this ability aswe age. This makes it harder for tissue to regenerate.
The loss of elasticity you are noticing in your face as you emerge into mid-life may start to concern you. But if you continue to use sunscreen and take vitamin C, while staying out of the sun, you can reduce the chances of hyperpigmentation. Even with the best efforts, though, it’s hard to reverse decades of sun damage.
A lack of fibroblasts in older age creates a reduced production of collagen, which slows down the healing process.
You can do your part to drink plenty of water for extra skin hydration. Using a toner with aloe will help rebalance your skin while replenishing lost moisture. In addition, exfoliation is key to a healthy complexion.
As you head into your 50s, you’ll notice more dry skin and loss of moisture, due to a decrease in ceramide levels that break down the skin barrier. This can lead to more sensitivity, drier skin, a dull sheen, redness, and some irritation. To prevent this, use moisturizing creams with hyaluronic acid and ceramides.
Menopause, which commonly affects women in their late 40s and early 50s, can change the appearance of skin, as well, with fluctuations in hormone levels to blame. These unstable levels cause facial fat to redistribute, leading to a thin, aged and hollow appearance. You could turn to dermal fillers in an effort to restore the inner structure of your face and boost volume loss.
60-Year-Olds and Above
The cumulative effects of sun exposure will continue to appear, usually taking the form of dark spots. Wearing sun protection is still important so they don’t darken and spread. At-home skin brighteners and lightening creams could assist with this as well. Be sure to exfoliate three times a week, and use products that contain retinol which is helpful in boosting elasticity in post-menopausal women.
Wounds will take a lot longer to heal, and in turn makes scars more prevalent. The dermis of aging skin contains fewer fibroblasts and less collagen compared to young skin.
Scarfade For All Ages
Despite your age, you can always use Scarfade to reduce the appearance of scars. Try a tube today and let us know how it worked for you. Meanwhile, check out some common results.