The skin is extraordinary. It is the largest organ in the body and accompanies us throughout our lives, protecting us from cold, heat, injury and infection. But like the rest of the body, the skin changes with age. The speed at which this happens is determined by genes, but lifestyle and environmental influences also have a strong impact.
When you are young you get a lot for free because your skin is able to largely produce what it needs, but after the age of 40 changes begin to occur. By knowing the main changes that skin undergoes from the age of 40, you will also know what needs are important to consider when choosing skin care.
There are 5 main things that happen to the skin after age 40
Skin produces less oil
Skin becomes thinner
Cell renewal slows down
Skin loses elasticity
Pigment change
Skin produces less oil
The skin needs lipids to retain moisture, but over time sebum production decreases and the skin becomes drier. This can make the skin feel tight and uncomfortable and contributes to the development of fine lines and wrinkles.
Genetically, those who start with dry skin are more susceptible, while those with oily skin will develop lines and wrinkles later. The right moisturizer for your skin type is more important than ever, and you should look for products that contain good fatty acids, oils, and hyaluronic acid. Also, remember to drink enough water throughout the day to replenish your skin with moisture from within.
Skin becomes thinner
Around the age of 20, the skin begins to produce less collagen, the protein that provides skin firmness. This causes the skin to gradually become thinner, and when hormonal changes begin, it becomes even thinner.
As a result, the skin becomes more prone to damage and wrinkles. The skin around the eyes is often the area where this phenomenon first occurs, because the skin is very thin. Blood vessels in the skin also become more visible due to thinning of the skin, especially around the nose and on the cheeks. It is increasingly important to protect yourself from the sun and environmental factors that destroy collagen: buy skin products that contain vitamins and antioxidants.
Cell renewal slows down
As we age, blood circulation deteriorates and the skin takes longer to renew itself. This means that the skin takes longer to shed old, damaged cells and replace them with new, healthy cells. After the age of 40, the rate of cell renewal slows by about 50 percent, leaving the skin drier, duller and more prone to impurities.
Exfoliation is one of the most important ways to stimulate cell renewal, such as using a facial scrub or peel. It helps the skin remove the top layer of dead cells to make room for new cells. Also, be sure to choose skin care products that support and stimulate cell renewal and that contain vitamin C, vitamin A, and minerals.
Skin loses elasticity
In our skin there is a protein called elastin, which makes the skin firm and elastic. When the skin is stretched and there is a lack of elastin, the skin does not come back as easily. This phenomenon becomes more noticeable as we age and elastin production decreases, just like collagen.
This leads to an increase in wrinkles, and pores tend to become more visible. The sun degrades both collagen and elastin and can be prevented by protecting the skin, primarily by using sunscreen every day, even on cloudy days. The sun’s UV rays are the main external factor affecting skin aging, even on a gray, rainy day. Vitamins and antioxidants also help protect against elastin breakdown, so remember to choose good skin care products that contain both.
Pigment change
As we age, dark spots may begin to appear on the skin. These spots form mainly in sun-exposed areas and are caused by a buildup of the pigment that gives skin color, melanin. Melanin production decreases around the age of 30, and after 40 it becomes more noticeable. This is the time when old sun damage to which the skin has been exposed but which was not visible before is revealed.
The skin remembers all the hours it was exposed to the sun without a sufficiently high factor. This is something to think about. The skin is also more prone to new skin damage because it does not repair itself fast enough. Therefore, the best advice against pigmentation is to protect yourself from the sun by using skin care products with SPF: you cannot repeat it enough. The sun is wonderful, but dangerous. Let’s not forget the antioxidants that effectively protect against sun damage, such as vitamins C and E. There are also ingredients that have the ability to improve the skin’s surface and diminish light pigmentation, such as niacinamide.
Remember, all these changes are natural...
… and back after years of smiling, laughing and living life.
Giving your skin a little extra attention, using the right skin care products that add vitamins, antioxidants and hydration, will keep it healthy and fresh for a long time. Move as much as possible in your daily life to increase your heart rate. Good blood circulation increases the supply of nutrients to the skin and accelerates cell renewal. If you then also ensure a balanced and varied diet, you have done a lot.
What you invest in your skin will show. And healthy skin will always look better