Pursuing radiant, youthful skin remains a common concern among men and women. Explore what happens to your skin as time unfolds, and learn the steps you can take to combat the visible signs of ageing.
What happens to skin as you age?
As time passes, our skin undergoes a natural ageing process influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Understanding the changes that occur can help you develop effective anti-ageing strategies.
Contributors to skin ageing
Intrinsic factors
Collagen and elastin breakdown
Over time, essential proteins that maintain the structure and elasticity of your skin, namely collagen and elastin, gradually decrease. This breakdown leads to the formation of wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin.
Cellular turnover slows down
The natural process of shedding old skin and regenerating new ones slows with age. Skin becomes prone to dullness and takes longer to heal from damage.
Decreased hyaluronic acid production
Hyaluronic acid, crucial for skin hydration, decreases with age. The skin loses moisture, contributing to dryness and the appearance of fine lines.
Extrinsic factors
Sun exposure
Prolonged exposure to UV rays accelerates the breakdown of collagen and elastin. Sun damage will cause wrinkles, pigmentation, and a loss of skin firmness.
Pollution
Environmental pollutants generate free radicals that damage skin cells, which can cause premature ageing signs like wrinkles, age spots, and a dull complexion.
Lifestyle habits
Smoking, a poor diet, and excessive alcohol consumption can accelerate collagen degradation, reduce skin elasticity, and contribute to overall premature ageing.
Genetics
Genetics can influence how quickly an individual’s skin ages, based onThe rate of collagen and melanin production and skin density.
Common signs of skin ageing
Lifestyle habits and skincare for anti-ageing
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is paramount for combating the visible signs of ageing. Regular exercise, eating a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, and hydrating sufficiently can impact your skin’s vitality.
A robust skincare routine is equally essential. Incorporate products with retinoids, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C to promote collagen production, improve skin texture, and provide antioxidant protection.
Anti-ageing supplements
In addition to a healthy lifestyle and skincare routine, certain supplements can support your anti-ageing efforts.
Collagen supplements
Collagen is a vital protein for skin, hair, and nail structure. Including a collagen supplement in your diet may help improve skin elasticity and hydration, and soften the appearance of wrinkles.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a brightening antioxidant that helps collagen synthesis, promotes skin healing, and protects against free radical damage.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E fights against oxidative stress, helping the skin maintain elasticity, and supports skin healing.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
CoQ10 is an antioxidant that contributes to energy production within cells. It shields the skin from oxidative damage and supports a youthful complexion.
Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid helps maintain skin hydration by retaining water in the skin cells, contributing to a plump and youthful appearance.
Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is an antioxidant with brightening properties. It protects the skin from UV damage, reduces fine lines, and improves skin elasticity.
Resveratrol
Resveratrol, often found in grapes, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, promoting skin health and potentially slowing ageing.
Anti-ageing facials
Professional anti-ageing facials can help brighten the skin, diminish the look of pores, and reduce pigmentation and fine lines. They are tailored to address ageing concerns and often include the following steps.
- Cleanse and exfoliate: Dead skin cells are exfoliated to promote skin renewal.
- Extract and hydrate: Dirt is suctioned out of pores while moisturisers are delivered to the skin.
- Infuse and protect: A serum infusion is applied. This step is entirely customisable to suit your skin condition, including reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, dull skin or enlarged pores.
Anti-ageing treatments
Besides incorporating healthy lifestyle habits and having a good skincare ritual, you can also consider non-invasive or minimally invasive anti-ageing treatments.
Injectables
Procedures involving injectables such as dermal fillers and Botox injections are popular for smoothing wrinkles and restoring lost volume. These minimally invasive treatments offer quick results with minimal downtime.
Dermal fillers: Dermal fillers address signs of ageing by restoring volume, smoothing wrinkles, and enhancing facial contours. They may be composed of substances, such as hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, or poly-L-lactic acid. Injected under the skin, dermal fillers can help your skin appear more youthful and rejuvenated.
Botox: Botox is used to minimise and prevent the formation of wrinkles caused by repeated facial movements. Botox injections work by temporarily arresting the muscles beneath the skin, smoothing out wrinkles and creating a more youthful and refreshed look.
Lasers
Laser therapies promote skin resurfacing, targeting pigmentation, wrinkles, and sagging.
Fractional laser: Fractional laser beams create micro-injuries in the skin, promoting collagen production and revealing smoother and tighter skin.
CO2 laser resurfacing: CO2 lasers remove skin layers, boosting collagen formation and tightening. They are effective at reducing wrinkles, fine lines, and increasing skin firmness.
Non-ablative laser resurfacing: Unlike ablative lasers like CO2 laser that remove layers of skin, non-ablative lasers target the dermis, stimulating collagen synthesis without causing visible damage to the outer skin layer. Non-ablative lasers are effective for fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation.
Ultrasound and radiofrequency
Minimally-invasive devices emitting ultrasound or radiofrequency can also be effective for facial rejuvenation.
HIFU (High intensity focused ultrasound): HIFU delivers ultrasound energy to specific depths, targeting the deep foundational layers of the skin. It tightens loose or sagging skin, particularly in the brow, jawline, and neck areas.
Sofwave: Sofwave’s ultrasound energy stimulates collagen remodelling in the targeted skin layers, promoting the natural regeneration of collagen fibres. This, in turn, contributes to improved skin elasticity and a more youthful appearance.
RF Microneedling: it’s a treatment that penetrates the top layer of the skin, stimulating the natural healing process. By promoting collagen production and skin regeneration, it works synergistically to enhance skin elasticity, tone, and pigmentation.
Anti-ageing treatment in Singapore
Understanding the ageing process and adopting a holistic approach to skincare and professional treatments can empower you to slow the signs of ageing and embrace a more youthful complexion.
At Dr Jon Yong Aesthetic Clinic, we understand the urgency of pursuing timeless beauty. We are committed to delivering anti-ageing treatments that combine different technologies, provide personalised care, and leverage the expertise of our skilled professionals.
Book a consultation today.
Frequently asked questions
There is no specific age to start anti-ageing treatments. Prevention is key, so incorporating a skincare routine and healthy lifestyle habits early on can delay the onset of visible signs of ageing.
The duration of anti-ageing treatments varies. Injectables may last several months, while laser and ultrasound treatments may provide longer-lasting results. Maintenance sessions are typically recommended.
Consistent skincare, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and sun protection are essential for maintaining youthful skin. Using quality skincare products with proven ingredients can make a significant difference.
While collagen supplements can improve skin elasticity and hydration, they may not reverse ageing entirely. Combining them with a comprehensive anti-ageing regimen is recommended for optimal results.
The recommended daily vitamin C intake varies, but 75-90 mg for adults is generally suggested. However, individual needs may differ, and consulting with a healthcare professional is advisable.
The best anti-ageing treatment depends on your specific concerns. A consultation with us can help determine the most suitable approach, whether it’s injectables, laser therapy, or other treatments.
