The beautiful skin of youth does change with the passage of time. Most of these changes are driven by fluctuation in hormone levels that occur while passing through puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and even stressful events. By anticipating these changes and modifying your skin care regimen, you can greatly reduce the damage to your skin and retain your youthful appearance well into adulthood.

In your 20s, oestrogen secretion is at its peak, giving you the best possible complexion with firm, glowing, and well-toned skin. This is also an age when you are susceptible to increased oil secretion onto the skin, larger pores, and acne breakouts during hormonal swings. Hormonal imbalances can be controlled to some extent with birth control pills and acne outbreaks should be treated with the use of cleansers, face masks and certain medications that may be prescribed by a physician.

In your 30s, oestrogen secretion begins to slow down causing a decrease in collagen and elastin formation with resultant loss in skin elasticity. You will experience drying and thinning of skin with the formation of fine wrinkle lines on your forehead, crow’s feet at the corners of your eyes, and the development of age spots on your skin. Now is the time to focus on an anti-aging skin regimen. Creams containing retinol have been shown to boost collagen formation and reduce fine lines and wrinkles on the skin. Stay hydrated by drinking sufficient water and properly moisturize your skin as part of your bedtime routine.

In your 40s and beyond, you can expect significantly drier skin, increased spotting due to breakdown of microvasculature and loss of volume in your face. Your skin care regimen in this decade should include a cleanser, moisturizer, serum, eye cream, and an upgrade to prescription-strength retinol to thicken skin, control acne, and strengthen your blood vessels.

If your skin is showing signs of premature aging, you have the option to roll back the years thanks to well established procedures such as anti-wrinkle injections to smoothen your skin, fillers to add volume, and microneedling to rejuvenate your skin. For more information on these procedures and to see if they are suitable to your skin, please make an appointment with Dr. Najia Shaikh .