When Is It Too Late to Start an Anti-Aging Skin Care Routine?

When it comes to achieving more youthful skin, you might feel like it’s too late to try. However, you can start an anti-aging regimen even after you’ve started showing signs of fine lines and wrinkles. Here’s what you need to know about anti-aging skin care at any time of life.

When Should You Start Anti-Aging Treatments?

There is endless information out there about anti-aging skin care. Some beauty gurus claim that you should start as early as your 20’s to push off wrinkles as long as possible. Others might encourage you to wait until your late 30’s. However, the reality is that there’s no right answer. While prevention is helpful, you can target signs of aging at any time.

Just keep in mind that your age affects what treatments are most effective for you. While people in their 20s and 30s might benefit from sun protection and light serums, those in their 40s may reach for a retinol. However, more mature women might benefit from in-office cosmetic dermatology treatments. The right anti-aging skin care routine starts with identifying your personal skin goals.

What Should an Anti-Aging Skin Care Routine Include?

The best way to build an effective anti-aging skin care routine (at any age) is to work with a dermatologist. A skin professional can assess your problem areas and make recommendations based on your unique skin needs. Your custom regimen might include:

• Sun Protection: Sun protection is one of the top factors that slows down aging. Excessive sun exposure can cause wrinkles and dark spots on the skin. However, it’s not too late if you’ve already experienced decades of high sun exposure. Talk to your dermatologist about skin care for sun damage, which can include treatments like microdermabrasion, chemical peels, laser therapy, and retinoids.
• Topical Creams: Your dermatologist may recommend over-the-counter or prescription creams to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Anti-aging products might contain ingredients like retinol, alpha and beta hydroxy acids (AHA and BHA), and vitamins A and C. These ingredients help eliminate dead cells and boost skin regeneration, so you can enjoy a smoother texture.
• Laser Treatments: Some types of laser treatments can stimulate the skin’s natural production of new skin cells and collagen. Some individuals will notice a reduction in age spots, hyperpigmentation, and fine lines following this treatment. Your dermatologist can recommend how many treatments you’ll need before seeing results.
• Dermal Fillers: Overall facial volume can decrease with age and loss of collagen, and dermal fillers can help restore this volume. Your dermatologist may recommend these treatments to fill in wrinkles around the mouth, reduce eye wrinkles, and increase cheek volume. The results from fillers generally last between six months and a year.
• Microdermabrasion: This procedure can be another effective wrinkle treatment and can also address melasma, age spots, and sun damage. During this treatment, your dermatologist will use an instrument to spray fine particles of a chemical substance onto your skin, eliminating the outer layer of the skin. This encourages the skin to regenerate, which can fade some signs of aging.

Remember that these are just some potential elements of an effective anti-aging skin routine. Your dermatologist will assess your skin needs and age to put together a set of treatments just for you. It may take time to see results, but patience and persistence can result in a more radiant complexion.

If you’re interested in starting an anti-aging routine, contact the experts at Pacific Dermatology Specialists. We offer a variety of in-office treatments, like chemical peels, laser therapy, and microdermabrasion to help you look and feel your best. With locations in Long Beach, CA and the surrounding area, you can stop into a branch close to you.