Proactive Aging Cheat Sheet
This guide is helpful if you are interested in...
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preventing premature skin aging
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slowing down signs of aging i.e. wrinkles
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getting a sense of what is out there
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getting ahead of the curve and receiving a to-do list for different age ranges
**Always discuss new procedures and treatments with your dermatologist first. Not every treatment may be right for you.
Common Skin Signs of Aging
Skin changes are some of the most visible signs of aging. Some common signs and causes include
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Static fine lines: fine lines visible on a resting face.
Treatment method - increase collagen production to rejuvenate the skin.
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Dynamic lines and wrinkles: lines and wrinkles that are only visible when facial expressions are made, such as smiling, frowning, etc.
Treatment method - limit the muscle movements that lead the skin to form deeper lines.
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Facial volume loss: thinner cheeks and lips.
Treatment method - replace the volume loss with dermal fillers.
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Pigmentation: developing and retaining pigmentation easily.
Treatment method - treat irregular pigmentation through laser and light therapies, chemical peels, and medical-grade skin care.
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Visibly looser skin: decrease in skin laxity and gravity taking a toll.
Treatment method - temporarily improve the appearance of sagging skin through thermal (laser, RF, etc) treatments while stimulating future collagen production.
1️⃣ - Early 20s
Get in the habit of using sunscreen daily and drinking lots of water.
Work out. Eat healthily. Did I say sunscreen already?
In addition to products you see in. drug stores or Sephora, give dermatologist-recommended or medical-grade skin care products a try and find the ingredients and brands you like.
2️⃣ - Late 20s
Device-based facials and modern microdermabrasion procedures such as Hydrafacial and DiamondGlow are worth considering for special occasions and quarterly pick-me-up maintenance.
Intro-level laser therapies such as Clear + Brilliant and IPL/BBL treatments are good options for mitigating early signs of aging, such as fine lines, sun-induced pigmentation, and dullness.
Peels are great to help solve pigmentation from acne scars or photodamage for a clearer complexion.
4️⃣ - 40s
Neurotoxins such as BOTOX and Dermal Fillers are popular and typically generate the most visible improvements, as mentioned above.
Variations of Microneedling (i.e. Microneedling with Radio Frequency) such as Morpheus 8, Scarlet RF, and many more are popular for boosting collagen production and temporarily tightening the skin. The recovery time for these procedures may be longer than typical Microneedling procedures.
Lasers that reach a deeper layer of skin, such as Fotona4D and CO2 lasers, are also good options for tightening the skin. The recovery time for these procedures may be longer than typical Laser procedures.
Starting with the basics
Most signs of aging are due to a combination of：
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volume loss (i.e. cheeks are less full, which leads to the skin sagging a bit); volume loss occurs as a result of muscle atrophy, bone resorption, and fat repositioning
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Less collagen and elastin production (i.e muscle movements cause the skin to wrinkle, but the skin is having harder time bouncing back)
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slower cell turnover (i.e. damaged and pigmented skin takes longer to be replaced)
Each cause has its own appropriate treatment methods, so it is helpful to understand the main causes of the specific aging signs to select the procedure that best fits your needs.
3️⃣ - 30s
When you reach your 30s, collagen production begins to naturally decline. Microneedling is a good choice for boosting collagen production, fading hyperpigmentation, and improving fine lines and skin laxity.
Laser and light therapies are helpful too. With more visible signs of aging, it may be a good time to discuss with your dermatologist or aesthetic provider about trying different types of laser or light treatments because it will be easier to distinguish results and find the one that works the best for your concerns.
It may also be a good time to discuss with your dermatologist or aesthetic provider about trying Dermal Fillers to improve the appearance of visible folds and lines around the mouth. They are effective in adding volume to cheeks and folds and improving lines around the mouth. Neurotoxins such as BOTOX are popular choices for improving the appearance of dynamic lines, such as forehead lines, frown lines, and crow's feet, and preventing permanent lines from forming. These measures typically generate the most visible improvements.
Proactive Aging Cheat Sheet
5️⃣ - 50s and beyond
Injectibles that provide stimulation of collagen and elastin production. such as Radiesse and Sculptra, are good options for natural, long-term improvements.
Lasers for lifting skin, such as Ultherapy, and RF therapy, such as Thermage, are commonly considered. The recovery time for these procedures may be longer than typical laser procedures. Additional lifting options include PDO threads which also stimulate collagen synthesis when absorbed.
Some may benefit the most from surgical measures such as facelifts.
Shared by Charlie Yu from Cosmable and edited by dermatologist Dr. J. Trent, Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. Last updated in Jan 2023.