The very best time to stave off the signs of aging is before they even start. No matter how old you are, there are steps you can take to pamper and protect your skin, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Emily Prosise.
“Begin with vigilant sun protection. Then in your 20’s you can ramp it up a little and start integrating powerful products and procedures,” Dr. Prosise says. “Your routine doesn’t have to be high-maintenance and time-consuming, just purposeful.”
And what if you’re already in your 40’s and wishing you’d made skincare a priority earlier in life?
Dr. Prosise says you should never feel like you ‘messed up’ in caring for and protecting your skin when you were younger or that you’re now powerless to get back on track.
“It’s never too late to begin protecting your skin from environmental damage, and the right products and procedures can do wonders for correction,” she says. “No matter where you are in life, there are steps you can take towards beautiful, more youthful skin.”
Dr. Prosise provides the following tips by-the-decade for maintaining your most healthy and youthful appearance as you age:
- Skincare in Your 20s: Use sun protection and gentle retinoids at night. Apply a moisturizer with SPF every morning. Gentle treatments such as hydrafacials can cleanse the skin and allow your home treatments to work better.
- Skincare in Your 30s: Maintain sun protection and retinoid use to prevent wrinkles, loss of elasticity and uneven texture. During the day, add an antioxidant-containing product to boost sun protection and fight free radicals. Consider medical-grade exfoliation or peels to brighten skin and neurotoxin to prevent deep lines from forming.
- Skincare in Your 40s: Consider adding a moisturizing retinoid product with anti-inflammatory ingredients to your existing regimen. Eat a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants to help maintain radiance. Slow signs of aging with neurotoxin to soften lines and fillers to preserve the contours of your face. IPL “Photofacial” can help diminish red and brown discoloration, and microneedling with PRP will improve superficial skin texture.
- Skincare in Your 50s and Beyond: As your natural oil and collagen production slows, you’re starting to see decreased volume. Rich creams are your friend. Step up your game with AHA exfoliators and glycolic peels. If change in facial structure or wrinkles bother you, consider adding fillers and neurotoxins. Fractionated laser is a nice treatment for intensive rejuvenation for texture and pigment changes.
The skincare experts at Central Texas Dermatology can help you develop a custom skincare regimen that best fits your lifestyle. To get started, give us a call at 512-327-2227.