Guide to Micro-ageing: Here’s what you should know
It may seem unbelievable, but skin starts to age even in your 20’s, little dryness here and spot there are all signs of skin ageing.
Here’s some news young ladies. Just because you are in your 20’s does not mean your skin is safe from the ravages of time. While it may not be visible, by the time you hit your 25th year your skin’s natural aging process gets takes on little speed. The signs of decline start to show up there after. This is called micro-ageing.
“Micro-ageing is when you start to notice the first signs of ageing when the skin starts to thin and gets drier. The collagen structure starts to weaken and there is water loss from the skin’s surface. You also start noticing our pores – that is they get enlarged. In fact, you find your skin acting up. It may even experience a see-saw effect – getting dry on some days and getting oily on others. Skin also starts to lose its natural lustre,” adds Dr Chytra Anand, Dermatologist and Skin Care Expert, Kosmoderma, Bangalore.
WHY ARE WE EXPERIENCING MICRO-AGEING
Our mothers had it better. Their skin was definitely showed signs of aging much later than what we do today. That was because of the cleaner, less polluted and less stressed lifestyle they led. Our skin is exposed to more skin stressors than their generation. According to Dr Rashmi Shetty, Dermatologist and Skin Aesthetician, whether it is pollution, smoke, alcohol, UV rays, the exposure is as bad as it can get. “These impact the skin on two levels – first weakens the skin’s natural barrier, and second starts depleting the collagen structure,” she says.
HERE’S HOW YOU DEAL WITH MICRO-AGEING
Your main goal should be to preserve and protect your skin. You have to ensure that your skin is never dehydrated. The natural building blocks which are supported by essential fatty acid are sustained with the right care.
1. Keep your skin healthy by taking in fruits and vegetables along with foods that have essential fatty acids like ghee, nuts, fish, and healthy oils.
2. Keep skin hydrated at all times. Drink enough water and use moisturising products on your skin.
3. Creamy cleansers should be your first step to keep the skin clean. It should be non-drying. A good cleanser will never leave your skin feeling taut after washing off.
4. Avoid a toner, instead use a serum. Serums have higher concentration of skin saving actives. Use a vitamin C infused product to fight sun damage on the skin.
5. Use a moisturiser without fail. If your skin is oily, then use a gel-based moisturiser to maintain the hydration barrier.
6. Sunscreen is a must over your moisturiser. You can also use a sunscreen-based moisturiser.
7. Use a gentle scrub once a week to remove the skin-dulling dead skin layer.
8. You can also opt for a weekly hydrating mask to tone up the skin, and minimise enlarged pores.
9. Night time moisturisation is a must too. At night your skin actually repairs itself, so help with that by using moisturiser with cell rejuvenators.
