No woman in her 20s or 30s likes to talk about the fact that she will someday look old and her face will be filled with aging signs. Everyone wants to enjoy their youth without having to worry about that just yet.

But what most of us are unaware of is that our skin begins aging at the prime of our youth. As sad as that might sound, it is the reality everyone has to go through.

So, the question is when exactly does the skin start aging? At what age do you have to start worrying about anti-aging tips and products?

Well, keep on reading to find out.

When does the skin begin to age?

This might be surprising, but your skin begins to age in your twenties. Ironic right?

Just when your body fully takes on the youthful glow and you are beginning to look more like a woman instead of a girl, that is when your skin begins the process of aging.

From around the age of 25, your skin begins to make gradual changes which in years to come will manifest in the form of aging signs like wrinkles, fine lines, etc.

How does your skin age?

The aging signs that pop up on the face do not just appear suddenly. They are as a result of years of the aging process.

That’s why your skin starts aging in your 20s and you do not notice until you are in your 40s or even older.

Here is how the aging process takes place:

When you are in your 20s

This is when it all begins.

Though signs might not be so obvious at this stage, but it is at this point that lines and creases related to movement begin to appear. And most times, the first place they appear is the eyebrow.

If you spend so many hours under the sun, or you spend your days in front of a computer constantly squinting, you might experience beginning signs of crow’s feet even at this stage.

Your skin begins to age at this point because the production of collagen in our skin begins to decrease at this stage.

In your 20s, harsh environmental conditions, unhealthy lifestyle habits, constant exposure to sunlight, etc., begin to compromise your skin’s structural integrity.

Your skin cells defenses begin to weaken especially with attacks from free radicals and your natural ability to fight skin damage begins to gradually decline.

Also, your cell renewal rate begins to slow down naturally which starts to diminish your skin’s radiance.

When you are in your 30s

The aging process continues but gradually becomes more visible.

Elastin (which ensures skin elasticity) and collagen (which makes your skin firm) degrade and result in aging signs. Though you will still retain your youthful look, your skin might begin to look tired and less radiant.

The cell renewal and turnover rate continue to decrease which makes your skin look duller and gives you an uneven skin tone. In fact, some cells become inactive which sometimes can lead to the rise of damaging inflammatory toxins that speed up the appearance of aging signs.

At this stage, you may notice crow feet around your eyes and small brown spots on your face caused by exposure to sunlight. You might also begin to notice lines around the corners of your mouth and between your brows.

When you are in your 40s

This is where it gets serious.

As you enter your 40s, you will notice lines begin to appear around your lip. These lines come faster and they are deeper if you smoke.

You will also notice wrinkles in your forehead and crow’s feet around your eyes. It is certain that at this stage you will notice these things, especially if you did not begin an anti-aging routine, early enough.

Aging signs are more prominent at this point. Your skin will appear thinner and your skin’s natural protective barrier, that is, the lipids, will not be as pronounced as they used to.

Your skin might also suffer from dehydration, significant dullness, dark spots and uneven skin tone at this point. Your skin will look paler because melanocytes, the cells that contain pigment (what gives you your skin colour) will decrease in quantity.

Parts of your skin that have been constantly exposed to the sun over the years, suffer the most.

When you are in your 50s and above

At this stage, your face becomes home to aging signs.

How you have taken care of your skin during your youthful years will determine just how intense these aging signs will be.

Skin growths like skin tags, warts, rough skin patches are usually common among older people. Because the subcutaneous fat layer of your skin becomes thin, your skin has less padding. So, the risks of having skin injury at this point increases.

Your skin’s protective barrier thins out which makes it harder for your skin to retain moisture. This makes your skin highly sensitive and dehydrated.

Also, you will experience intense stress and inflammation of the skin which will delay skin recovery if any damage occurs. Because of this, you skin will have lasting marks and longer healing periods.

At this stage, no one will beg you to get an anti-aging kit because most aging signs will be prominent.

How do you fight skin aging?

Yes, your skin is bound to age but you can delay the aging process for as long as it is possible.

The key is following a skincare routine strictly even from your 20s when it seems as if no aging process is going on in your skin.

Here are some tips that will help you delay the appearance of aging signs on your skin:

1. Protect your skin from the sun. This means you use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Also, wear protective clothing under the sun. But most importantly, stay away from the sun as much as you can.
2. Follow a skincare routine. Following a skincare routine keeps your skin in the best shape, helps to prevent and treat skincare problems and keeps your skin youthful and glowing. If you do not have a skincare routine, click here for one you can follow.
3. Avoid repeating the same facial expressions. When you make a facial expression, your muscles contract. When you repeatedly contract the same muscles for many years, lines form and become permanent.
4. Eat a healthy diet. Eating fruits and vegetables provide your skin with nutrients to help keep it healthy.
5. Drink less alcohol. It dehydrates your skin and in the long run, causes damages.
6. Stop smoking. Smoking rapidly increases the rate which your skin ages. It makes wrinkles form, and your skin becomes extremely dull.

The main idea is to protect your skin like your life depends on it. If you can do that, you will be able to delay the appearance of aging signs for as long as possible.

Now over to you…

What aging signs have you noticed on your face? What are you doing about them? Leave a comment and let’s talk.