Turning fifty is a major milestone for your skin. While your skincare focus during your thirties and forties was centred on protecting collagen and maintaining clear, blemish-free pores, your fifties require a more adaptive approach to address the shifts in your body’s natural processes. With substantial changes in hormones and a deceleration in the cell-renewal process as we enter our fifties, your skin tends to retain older, lacklustre cells on the surface for longer periods. So, what should you be doing during this decade to age-proof your skin, and maintain a healthy, radiant glow for longer? Read on for everything you need to know…
What happens to your skin during your fifties?
In your fifties, you are likely to experience more significant fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging, as the body is producing less collagen and skin’s elasticity declines. During the first 3 years of menopause, oestrogen levels fall significantly which means you will lose 25% of the existing collagen you have left, 30% of skin lipids, and you have a 36% reduction in skin reproduction. It’s the most drastic change our skin will ever go through. Dehydration is also a big concern at this point, because your skin barrier becomes drier as you age. Dehydrated skin will highlight signs of ageing, making wrinkles appear more prominent and spotlighting uneven texture and dullness.
So, what should a fifty-year-old be doing for their skin?
Retinol
If you’ve been using a retinol previously, you can now up the ante’ as a high dose can be tolerated. If you didn’t start a retinol earlier in life it’s not too late. Retinols alter the behaviour of aged cells so that they act in a more youthful way – regenerating at a faster rate. They brighten the skin tone, improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation, and aid in the production of collagen. Retinol can be especially beneficial in tending to eye-area concerns in a specialised eye cream, working in combination with peptides to stimulate new collagen, and in turn, support the laxity of the tissue.
Boost hydration levels
As you age, the skin finds it harder to retain moisture and you are more susceptible to trans-epidermal water loss leading to dryness, wrinkles and crepeyness. Invest in skin boosters like Profhilo and injectable polynucleotides, all of which will help the skin to become stronger, healthier and better hydrated and give it back the glow that age often takes away.
When it comes to skincare, invest in a great moisturiser containing ceramides, which mimic the natural lipids in the skin that make it soft and silky but deteriorate over time.
Exfoliate, but don’t overdo it
Chemical exfoliants such as glycolic, lactic and PHA acids are all great for mature skin. Regular exfoliation will help keep your complexion smooth and radiant but be cautious as the skin around menopause may become more sensitive. If you’re struggling to tolerate AHAs, look to a PHA product instead.
Skin cell turnover is extremely slow at this age, so consider also introducing a retinoid to your regime if you haven’t done so already.
Invest in collagen-stimulating treatments
Our collagen levels take a big hit in our fifties, leading to deeper wrinkles and more pronounced laxity, so you must support and boost your levels through good quality skincare and in-clinic treatments. Skin boosters and energy treatments are one of my favourite ways to stimulate collagen and elastin production. They have various immediate benefits, but they also stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, which is what, in time, will make the skin smoother, plumper, and bouncier and keep it looking youthful and healthy in a very natural way, no matter your age.
Optimise your hormone levels
Oestrogen wears many hats – it helps to regulate our menstrual cycles, triggers the development of secondary sex characteristics like breasts and pubic hair, helps to maintain things like our skin’s moisture, our mood and even our bone and heart health. But when it declines during menopause, it can have noticeable effects on the skin. Hormone Replacement Therapy or Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) can be life-changing for women in menopause and have been shown to have a positive effect on the skin as well. In fact, several studies have found that long-term use can help to improve skin laxity and density.
Take an Omega-3 supplement
Since our skin finds it harder to retain moisture in our 50s, taking an omega-3 supplement can help to hydrate the skin by ensuring the skin-cell membranes are in good shape, thereby making sure they hold onto moisture more effectively.
Omega-3 has also been linked to having many health benefits including improving joint mobility, eyesight, and brain health. It has also recently been linked to having a positive impact during menopause by supporting mental health (helping with depression and anxiety) and even reducing night sweats.
Keep your NAD+ levels topped up
NAD+ is a molecule found in every cell that is critical for cellular energy production and repair. When we are young, we have high levels of NAD+. However, as we age our NAD+ levels decline, by around 50% every 20 years. This decline in NAD+ means cells struggle to sustain critical processes such as energy production, cellular maintenance, and repair. This contributes to the signs of ageing that we see and feel.
Research shows that increasing your cellular NAD+ levels is a promising strategy to promote healthy aging and reduce biological age. I love Nuchido Time+ which is a very effective NAD+ supplement that has been found to reduce biological age by an average of 1.26 years after 28 days of supplementation.
Embrace your fifties
Despite the different ways women’s skin may change throughout their life, one common theme seems to hold true: The longer you spend in it, the more comfortable you are in it.
I find that when women hit their mid-50s, they’re more accepting of their skin. They may say, “Yes, I am getting older, but I just want to support my skin, and give it what it needs so that I look and feel like the best version of me.” They don’t want to look younger; they just want to look great. You’re more accepting and kinder to yourself at this age.
If you’d like to explore the options, or need help managing your skin in menopause, click here to enquire or to book a consultation.