16 signs your face is ageing faster than you are

Hardened skin can happen after too long in a dried-out state. “When skin gets dry or inflamed, it tries to protect itself by piling on extra layers of dead skin cells,” Dr Bowe says. “The outermost layer of the skin, called the stratum corneum, gets thicker and that makes the skin feel rough.” This piling up can also be a symptom of psoriasis, which speeds up the life cycle of skin cells.

Is your skin dry and itchy? Find our why and how to fix it.

This is one of those skin conditions that look like acne but aren’t. Tiny white or flesh-coloured bumps called milia are caused by build-up from sun damage or harsh face products. “Milia are small cysts filled with a protein called keratin, and form as a result of the skin’s localised inability to exfoliate naturally,” Dr Bowe says. “To address milia, look for products that promote gentle exfoliation and cell turnover,” which may contain the ingredients glycolic acid or retinol. Also, remember to use sunscreen.

Collagen also affects the fullness of your lips, and as you lose it your lips may deflate. Before you head for an injection of lip fillers, try using a lip product with sunscreen to protect your pout. “Prevention of sun damage is the best thing people can do to reduce signs of ageing on the lips and around the mouth,” says dermatologist, Dr Madeline C. Krauss.

Here are some handy tips for year-round dry skin and chapped lips.

Because the skin around your eyes is very delicate, it’s prone to change and may start to look older with heavy eyelids, puffiness and darkness underneath. “Our superficial fat pads tend to separate as we age and cause the under-eye puffiness to become more pronounced,” Dr Bowe says. “Often, bags under your eyes means the skin around them is retaining fluid.” Try cutting down on salt and alcohol, and get enough sleep. Dr Bowe also suggests eye creams containing hyaluronic acid, glycerin and vitamin C. Also, “anti-inflammatory ingredients like caffeine can help to constrict your blood vessels and improve circulation,” she says.

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According to the US National Library of Medicine, ageing skin is more vulnerable to injury, and can be up to four times slower to heal – and sun damage can accelerate this process. Thinner, more fragile skin without as much of a protective fat layer can put you at risk; and in addition, fragile blood vessels under the skin can break more easily.

Skin damage doesn’t just manifest itself in your appearance – it can have life-threatening effects. “When our skin is exposed to so many stressors that its protective and reparative mechanisms are simply over-burdened, that’s when we see the progression from a healthy skin cell, to an atypical cell, to a cancerous cell,” Dr Bowe says. “The most important thing you can do to protect your skin against skin cancer is to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen every single day.” She also recommends the antioxidant supplement Heliocare to neutralise free radicals in your skin.

Look out for these sneaky places you can get skin cancer (that aren’t on your skin).

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Source: RD.com