There are few women who can truly say they aren't concerned to some degree with signs of skin ageing. Fine line, wrinkles and loss of firmness may be eventually inevitable but there is so much you can do to protect your skin and it's never too late to start.

How skin Ages

As people age, changes take place in the structure of the skin. As early as 25 the eyebrows move slightly down the eye brow ridge and begin to sag slightly. Next at 30 the nasal labial folds become more prominent as they deepen. At 40 the forehead wrinkles appear, and crowsfeet become etched at the outer corners of the eyes. At 50, the sides of the face start to slope downwards and the nose starts to droop. There may also be wrinkles around the eyes and neck. The cheeks also become slightly hollow due to reduction in fat and muscle tone. It’s worth noting that wrinkles only appear on sun damaged sites or aged skin. At 60 wrinkles are more pronounced and gravity starts to pull the features downwards.

How Wrinkles Form

The fibres that produce strength and elasticity in the skin are known as Collagen and Elastin. A wrinkle starts in the deeper layers of the skin where changes cause the Elastin to lose its snap and let the skin become loose. These fibres become weak with age, abuse or sun damage and are no longer able to resist gravity. Sagging and crinkling occur in a pattern we call wrinkles. Crinkle type wrinkles appear without muscle movement typically to the cheeks (caused mostly by sun damage, environmental damage and smoking), but glyphic wrinkles appear where the muscles have been continually moving (as in squinting and frowning). This is the type of wrinkle sometimes treated with Botox injections.

Tackle fine lines and wrinkles at any age?

Age 20 -30
In your twenties you're probably not yet worried about wrinkles. Your skin is just settling down from the hormonal disturbances of your teens and may be suffering as the result of late nights and a party lifestyle, however after the age of 25 cell turnover begins to slow slightly and you may notice a slight loss of firmness .
Your priority is protect and preserve the skin you have. So much you do now will reflect on your skin in the future. You need to avoid too much alcohol, smoking and junk food. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking 8 glasses of water a day and always wear protection in the sun. Sun damage is responsible for most of the signs of skin ageing so wearing a moisturiser with an SPF8 to 15 everyday will help. Make sure you use a really high factor in hot sun or better still keep you face out of the sun completely.

Age 30 - 40
In your 30s the first wrinkles begin to creep up on you almost overnight, especially around the eyes and across the forehead. The elastin and collagen proteins that keep your skin firm and elastic are beginning to decline and earlier sun damage begins to show as pigmentation patches. A late night shows on your face so much more the next day than a few years ago and periods of stress can make your skin look sallow or grey. If you're still smoking STOP now before the damage starts to really show.
Your priority is protection and anti-stress treatments. You need to look for moisturisers with anti-oxidant capacity that will help protect you from early signs of ageing and fight off free radical damage. This is the time to start looking after the vulnerable skin around your eyes. Choose a good eye cream to keep lines at bay in this delicate area. A facial scrub or peel can be use once or twice a week to revitalise the skin. Face masks can give the skin a real boost and keep it toned and fresh. Keep an eye on your diet and make sure you are eating plenty of fruit and vegetables to boost your anti-oxidant intake and help to prevent free-radical damage.

Age 45-55
The key to a positive attitude here is to understand that while getting older is inevitable, whether or not your skin shows age is completely negotiable. During this time the skin goes through huge changes with the hormonal disturbances of menopause.
The decline in the hormone oestrogen during this time has an effect on the suppleness and thickness of the skin. It may become thinner, the surface may still be soft but can appear uneven, dry and dull. There can be a marked decrease in collagen and elastin fibre production resulting in lack of tone, sagging jaw line and wrinkles.

You will need a balancing cleanser that won’t dehydrate the skin but will help to keep the pores clear. A weekly facial scrub that’s enzyme based, is a great idea to lift dead cells and improve the texture and radiance of the skin. Sun protection is important so make sure you use a good level of protection whenever you are outside. It’s a good idea to take a daily supplement of Vitamin C as this is important for collagen production as well as Calcium and a general good quality multi-vitamin supplement.

A hydrating moisturiser that can target the signs of ageing is essential. A nourishing and replenishing night cream should also be use. It’s a good idea to use an anti-wrinkle eye cream that can also be used around the lips as well as these are the two areas most vulnerable to fine lines and deeper wrinkles. There are many active serum products on the market. Avoid anything that’s too oily if it makes you spotty but go for a power product that can be used under your moisturiser to help encourage the production of collagen and elastin and increase cell turnover.

Age 55 plus
If you have protected your skin and looked after it well, you will reap the rewards during this time. If not it’s never to late to start looking after it. This is the time when power products and anti wrinkle treatments can really help when targeted at specific areas. These can be aimed at a particular wrinkle or group of wrinkles, discolouration patches or area that are sagging and have lost firmness. With good skincare you can dramatically improve the texture of your skin.

Source: www.beautyexpert.co.uk