4 Ages When Your Skin Changes—and What to Do About It
Are they welcome changes? Not exactly. But we've got expert advice to help you manage and minimize them.
By Emma Haak
AGE: Around 46
Change #1: Dryness. Perimenopause begins in the 40s, and when estrogen levels start to drop, your skin begins to feel like the Sahara.
What to do about it: Moisturize like it's your job. Products with hyaluronic acid are a good choice, because the acid pulls additional water into your skin for both hydrating and plumping effects.
Change #2: Your skin seems droopier, for a number of reasons. During perimenopause, facial-volume loss really starts to become noticeable, skin naturally becomes less elastic and you're beginning to lose some bone density in your face, says Ploch. (Yup, it's a triple whammy of terribleness.) "The eye sockets may get a little wider, so your eyes look a bit sunken, and we also see it around the skin and jawline, which can make that area look saggier."
What to do about it: Plumping products and products that boost collagen production (like retinoids) can offer some help for droopiness and sunkenness. In-office treatments, such as ultrasound and micro-needling procedures, can help tighten up loose skin, says Chapas. As for that bone loss, there are some fillers on the market that can be injected right onto existing bone to help regain some of your old bone structure, says Ploch. Beyond that, make sure you're taking in enough calcium to keep existing bone strong. At this age, you need 1,000 mg per day.
What to do about it: Moisturize like it's your job. Products with hyaluronic acid are a good choice, because the acid pulls additional water into your skin for both hydrating and plumping effects.
Change #2: Your skin seems droopier, for a number of reasons. During perimenopause, facial-volume loss really starts to become noticeable, skin naturally becomes less elastic and you're beginning to lose some bone density in your face, says Ploch. (Yup, it's a triple whammy of terribleness.) "The eye sockets may get a little wider, so your eyes look a bit sunken, and we also see it around the skin and jawline, which can make that area look saggier."
What to do about it: Plumping products and products that boost collagen production (like retinoids) can offer some help for droopiness and sunkenness. In-office treatments, such as ultrasound and micro-needling procedures, can help tighten up loose skin, says Chapas. As for that bone loss, there are some fillers on the market that can be injected right onto existing bone to help regain some of your old bone structure, says Ploch. Beyond that, make sure you're taking in enough calcium to keep existing bone strong. At this age, you need 1,000 mg per day.
Published 12/06/2016