We’ve discussed how skin ages as part of our Skin Care 101 series, but we’d like to visit the topic again. This time, we want to discuss what’s normal and what’s not.
Don’t worry, this is normal
We’ve said it before, you can’t stop the effects of aging. Some of the symptoms of skin aging are entirely normal, albeit unwelcome.
Pigmentary Changes
Melasma is a brown discoloration that starts showing up in your 30s, though it is more common among dark-skinned women. One way to treat melasma is by using skin lightening creams and soaps. Our pick suggestion, use Diana Stalder Black Soap regularly.
Wrinkles and fine lines
Like it or not, lines may start to form around your eyes in your 30s. The timing for this may be due in part to genetics, but another key factor is exposure to the sun. The best way to delay the appearance of these fine lines involves wearing protective eyewear and regular application of suncreen. We can’t help you with eyewear recommendations, but we suggest you use Diana Stalder Sunblock Cream everyday.
Wrinkles might start showing up at the corners of your mouth in your 40s, with deeper wrinkles around the face and on the neck becoming more prominent in your 50s. Regular moisturizing with a product like Diana Stalder Skin Moisturizing Lotion helps, as does washing with Diana Stalder Collagen Beauty Bar to help maintain or restore your skin’s elasticity.
Hold on, that’s not right
Sometimes, the changes you see in your skin aren’t normal signs of skin aging. Instead, environmental damage and other factors are the root cause. Here are some changes that maybe you should be concerned about.
Yellowish skin
Dry, sallow skin indicates trouble that is more than skin deep. There are many factors that can cause this, including illness, but one of the most common causes is smoking. Don’t smoke, or if you do, quit today – your complexion should get better soon.
Deep wrinkles
Wrinkles are unavoidable, but you shouldn’t have to worry about anything more significant than fine lines until you hit your 40s, and probably even later. One effect of sun damage is the early onset of wrinkles, so you want to protect yourself from the sun early on. Another cause of wrinkles, especially around the mouth, is smoking. Avoiding this vice, as well as other bad habits, should help you delay the appearance of deep wrinkles.
Pigmentary changes, but in your 20s
Overexposure to the sun can cause skin to age quickly, and one of the early signs of this is pigmentary changes in your youth. We can’t stress enough how important it is to wear sunscreen everyday.
Unusual moles and lesions
If you notice sudden changes in the size, color, or shape of any moles on your body, we suggest you visit your doctor. If you find lesions that crust or bleed, be worried too. These changes could point to skin cancer.
Of course, there is only so much we can tell you about this over the Internet. We suggest that you simply take a good look at your body regularly (we recommend doing this once a month), and meeting your dermatologist annually.
This is far from a comprehensive list of what’s normal and what’s not, but it’s a start. Can you think other skin changes we should worry about? How about changes that are perfectly normal and expected? Please tell us by leaving a comment.
