No matter what age you are, the #1 tip from every skin care expert, including our Alaska Center for Dermatology Providers, is to use sunscreen daily. Look for a broad-spectrum SPF of 30+ as recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology and as this will help protect you from UVA and UVB rays.
Often we apply sunscreen before leaving home but forget to reapply every couple of hours throughout the day. The use of sunscreen is critical in aiding the prevention of premature skin aging and skin cancer. Here’s a skin care guide by decade:
Skin Care in Your 20’s
In your 20’s, your body is producing high amounts of elastin and collagen. Thus, you can still have fresh, tight-looking skin even if you stay up late, or your skin regimen isn’t as consistent.
It is a good idea to start using some skin care products that hydrate your skin, such as humectants that help your skin absorb and retain moisture. You may also want to start using a serum with vitamin C as it can help offset skin damage caused by free radicals created from the skin’s exposure to UV rays.
Skin Care in Your 30’s
After you hit 30, you’ll notice some changes in your body. Some of the changes you see in your skin are because its hydration and regeneration slow down a bit. As a result, your 30’s are a great time to start using retinol products, which boost the collagen your body makes and plumps out skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Retinol also improves skin tone while reducing mottled patches.
Many patients start supplementing in-home care with cosmetic treatments like BOTOX® Cosmetic at this point to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Skin Care in Your 40’s
In your 40’s, you’re probably starting to see some signs of aging. It’s hard to avoid stress, easy to not get all the nutrients you should, and there are also some environmental factors that affect your skin. Make sure you get enough sleep, stay hydrated, and avoid indoor tanning.
Adding a good eye cream to your skin care routine is important at this age. One option is alternating retinols to optimize exfoliation and natural cell turnover. You might also want to think about products with peptides, antioxidants, vitamins, AHA’s, and hyaluronic acid.
Skin Care in Your 50’s
Exfoliating is essential at any age, it helps your skin shed those dead cells which can make it harder for moisture to get in. However, you need to find an exfoliation treatment that is gentle on your skin but effective. Hydration is still key, and don’t forget that your skin care routine extends beyond your face. Make sure your neck, decolletage, and hands also get the moisture they need.
You might also start seeing some dark spots from the effects of the sun, and your skin may develop some sensitivity or irritation it did not have before. Look for cleansing products that are milder or geared towards sensitive skin, and make sure you don’t wash with hot water. As for dark spots, you might want to try a product designed to minimize them.
If your skin care products are not helping much in that department, an effective option is laser treatments. At Alaska Center for Dermatology, we use the Cutera® excel® V™, the gold standard of laser devices. It successfully addresses rosacea, age spots, freckles, and other concerns with minimum discomfort and no downtime.
Skin Care in Your 60’s and Beyond
Everything you’ve been doing, keep it up and more! Moisturizing may be beneficial more than twice a day to help keep your skin hydrated. Continue using a serum to help hydrate your skin and even out skin tones.
Annual skin check-ups will help you stay on top of changes. Also, your Provider can help you determine what’s best for your skin, both at home and any treatments you may want to have done at your Dermatologist’s office.
Customizing Your Skin Care Routine
This skin care guide is a great starting point! You can also learn more about various skin conditions and skin care tips on our website. Talk to one of our Medical Providers about customizing a skin care regimen for you by making an appointment today.