Time transforms all beings. One of the places that shows the most significant amount of change over the years is your face. The plumpness of youth matures into lines indicative of a life well spent. The environments in which you live also plays a significant role in the aging of your face. In this article, we explore the different ways the face ages through the decades. As some have said – Nature gives you the face you have at twenty. Life shapes the face you have at thirty. But at fifty, you reap the benefits of the face you have taken care of.

Facial Changes in Your 20s

During your 20s, skin is supple and vibrant. However, it is during this decade that facial aging initially becomes visible. Fine lines around the eyes called crow’s feet may begin to appear due to time spent in the sun or squinting while looking at a computer screen throughout the day. Forehead creases may start to appear with facial movement. Acne is most likely a thing of the past, but scarring may be present. Some skin discoloration may appear, such as melasma, which is a brown patch that often appears on the forehead or cheeks.

What You Can Do: The best thing you can do to minimize the aging of your skin is reduced exposure to the sun. The strong Florida sun will wreak havoc on your skin. What you do during your 20s will be reflected on your face in your 40s, 50s and beyond. Make sunscreen part of your morning skincare routine. If you aren’t already, begin using moisturizers to help prevent dryness and dullness of the skin. This may also be an excellent time to introduce Retinol’s as the production of collagen lessens in our mid 20’s. Furthermore, even though it may seem extreme to think of, for some patients, it may be beneficial to introduce neurotoxins as Botox or Dysport.

We have seen some patients in their mid 20’s who have benefited from introducing this treatment early on. We call it “Baby Botox” and the treatment can benefit them in the years to come. Laser skin resurfacing can significantly reduce the appearance of acne scars and skin discoloration. When lines and creases begin to appear, they only become deeper with time. Being proactive early on can prove to be more cost-effective as fewer treatments may be necessary for the future. This is because many of today’s treatments help boost collagen and hyaluronic acid production, resulting in less damage over time.

Facial Changes in Your 30s

During your 30s, the production of collagen and elastin, which is the most abundant protein in the body, is decreased. Responsible for giving skin its shape and healthy glow, decreased collagen means that skin may appear more angular and dull especially around the midface. Sun damage may become more noticeable, as brown spots or even pre-skin cancers appear. Crow’s feet will also become more noticeable throughout this decade and expression lines on the forehead, and between the eyebrows (frown lines) may begin to appear.

What You Can Do: If you haven’t already started in your 20s, begin using retinol products 2-3 times per week to give skin a boost of antioxidant power. A decrease in the production of elastin causes the skin to become less firm and may start to sag in the cheeks, chin, and neck. Laser skin rejuvenation can reduce the appearance of brown spots and acne scars. Chemical peels help give skin a healthy boost by removing the dull top layers of facial skin revealing healthy skin below. Dermal fillers help by adding fullness to areas that have a loss of volume. Botox and Dysport help by temporarily stopping the deepening of lines created by repetitive facial movements.

Facial Changes in Your 40s

During your 40s, the face continues to lose volume, which can make skin appear to sag. The most noticeable areas this can be seen is in the cheeks. Lines that were previously only noticeable with facial movement can also be seen when at rest. The under eye area becomes darker during this decade, and marionette lines may begin to appear at the corners of the mouth. The lips also lose some of their fullness.

What You Can Do:

This is considered by some experts to be the most critical time to increase your use of retinol products to 4-5 times per week. Dermal fillers such as Restylane Lyft help by rebuilding thinned cheekbones. Restylane Silk is an excellent product for minimizing the appearance of lines around your mouth or enhancing thinned lips. Kybella is the only FDA approved, non-surgical treatment for the removal of fat under the chin. Injectables such as Botox and Dysport can take a full decade off your face under the experienced hand of the right aesthetic doctor. Laser treatments and chemical peels continue to be a great option and can take years off the skin.

Facial Changes in Your 50s and Beyond

During your 50s, a significant decrease in collagen and elastin production causes the skin to appear less firm and more droopy. Also, the reduction in collagen, as well as hormonal changes, affect bone structure causing the contours of the face to change as the bones thin. The skin becomes loose and thin around the eyes, and the upper eyelids may droop, sometimes obstructing vision. The volume in the skin continues to decrease with age creating a more thin and hallowed look. Skin feels thicker and denser. Facial pores often appear to be more noticeable, especially across the nose. Wrinkles deepen and crisscross across your face. Darkening under the eyes may become more prominent, and marionette lines surrounding the mouth will deepen. The nose may appear longer due to sagging skin.

What You Can Do: Dermal fillers provide an excellent solution for volume loss throughout the face. Sculptra is an excellent filler for delivering volume to the overall face. It can be used in the jawline, temples, and cheeks. It is a preferred product to be used by many TV personalities since the effects take place over time. It also increases the production of collagen in your body and can last for up to two years. Injectables such as Botox and Dysport continue to decrease the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles. Growth factors stem cell facial encourages your body to produce more collagen, which helps reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.