How To Identify Signs Of Aging Skin

Think you know the signs of aging skin? Put your knowledge to the test with MiamiMD. 

We’ve prepared all of the information you need to know to not only identify aging skin, but be able to know the right anti-aging products that you can use to reduce their appearance. 

Don’t put up with skin that has lost its youthful radiance. Act swiftly once those signs of lifelong sun damage pop up, and don’t waste a moment longer living with visible signs of premature aging that don’t reflect on the outside who you are on the inside. 

The Signs of Aging Skin

While not everyone will experience every single one of these signs, these are the most common signs of skin aging among both men and women as the years pass by. Being able to identify them before they get out of control makes it far easier to help tone them down!

Crow’s Feet

Is there anything more synonymous with the aging process than the idea of crow’s feet? 

Crow’s feet are those tiny wrinkles that show up at the outer corner of your eyes and radiate outward. While they can be the result of genetic factors or natural aging, they are more commonly caused by external (extrinsic) factors like sun exposure and years of contractions of the muscles in that area due to normal facial expressions like smiling, laughing, and squinting. 

In this way, crow’s feet are nearly impossible to prevent. This isn’t necessarily completely a bad thing, though, as it means you’ve lived a life full of happiness and laughter. 

Crow’s feet are one of the earliest age-related signs to materialize. 

Sagging Eyelids And Skin

Sagging eyelids, sometimes referred to as its medical name — ptosis, is usually the result of a weakening of the muscles that control the eyelids. When combined with the fact that the skin in the eye area is some of the thinnest skin on the entire body, sagging eyelids can create a dramatic effect that can visibly age people years prematurely. 

While normally this is only a cosmetic problem, in some cases, it can begin to interfere with the ability to see. 

When it comes to sagging skin, it is often the result of a loss of collagen. Collagen is likely the most important component that makes up the skin on the face, along with elastin. It keeps the skin firm, able to bounce back, and vascularized. With less collagen, the face tends to thin out, lose its ability to be able to fight off fine lines and wrinkles, and shows the signs of aging a lot more clearly. 

Frown Lines

While crow’s feet are around the eyes, frown lines show up on the forehead, between the eyebrows. They can form in a variety of different patterns – “1s,” “11s”, and “111s” – and are actually the result of a variety of different facial gestures (not just frowning!). 

The older we get, the less our skin is able to bounce back and retain its elasticity. That’s why the skin over those muscles starts to experience the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles — a loss of elasticity compounded by repetitive muscle movements.

Age or Dark Spots

Discoloration of skin, known as hyperpigmentation, is another sign of aging. When the pigmentation increases in certain areas of the skin, it can show up as “spots” or “patches.” Although these dark spots may just appear, they are often worsened or triggered by excessive sun exposure or trauma to the skin (acne). 

In some cases, sudden dark spots that show up on the face can be the result of a medical condition. If you notice any new spots, you may want to consult with a doctor to make sure that it isn’t something that needs to be evaluated for possible skin cancer. 

In most cases, however, these often brown spots are simply the result of having too much melanin in one specific area, leading to an obvious darkening of the skin. 

Under Eye Dark Circles And Puffiness

Although dark under eye circles are related to a variety of different non-age related factors, there is definitely an age-related component. 

Over time, the skin in the under eye area starts to thin. That means that all of the capillaries (types of blood vessels) that are just under the surface of the skin are more easily seen the thinner that the skin gets. Generally speaking, there are two different tones of under eye circles: blue toned and brown toned. The difference between the two is that blue toned under eye circles are vascular in nature, and brown toned under eye circles tend to be more genetic in nature.

Puffiness is a whole other beast. Under eye “bags” are usually the result of a build up of fluid in the area. This can be caused by a variety of factors, like sleeping too flat in bed or having too much salt in your diet.

How To Reverse the Signs Of Aging Skin (Or At Least Get Really Close!)

Now that we’ve identified the main signs of aging skin, we can get into the business of how to reverse them. 

Spoiler alert: almost all of them can be improved to some degree with SPF 30 sunscreen and some moisturizer, but there are additional specific remedies for each, too, that you can easily enough add into your regular skincare routine!

Crow’s Feet

To help reverse the advancement of crow’s feet, you’ll want to look for products that work as neurorelaxers (products that relax the nerves and muscles). One of the best ingredients at doing that without having to go under the knife or deal with needles is argireline. Known chemically as acetyl hexapeptide-3 or acetyl hexapeptide-8, argireline is made out of six synthetic amino acid peptides and is a piece of a substrate used to create botulinum toxin (more commonly known by its brand name, Botox). 

The way that it works is by inhibiting the nerves responsible for the contraction of the muscle in the face, especially those that control our facial gestures.

In addition to being able to limit the full muscle range of the face, argireline is also thought to be able to both boost collagen production and help with skin dryness. So, it will help stop the worsening of any fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes but also help produce the fillers to fill them back in. It really is a win win!

Sagging Eyelids and Skin

When you’re starting to notice sagging in the eye area, Haloxyl may be the way to go. It really has earned its place as one of the most popular ingredients used in eye repair creams today, tackling not only sagging skin but also dark circles, fine lines, and wrinkles. 

It can also help to thicken the skin, which helps create an even more youthful appearance. 

Frown Lines

For treating frown lines on the forehead, you’ll want to look into products like argireline as well. For the same reasons that neurorelaxers can help with crow’s feet, they are excellent at treating frown lines as well. 

Resurfacing the skin in a way that makes it smoother and more even is also an effective way to reduce fine lines and wrinkles in the forehead. When you work to improve the consistency of the skin and encourage quicker, more efficient skin cell turnover, you’ll find your skin looks smoother, less wrinkled, and more hydrated in no time. 

Age Or Dark Spots

Hyperpigmentation is something that can take a little while to tackle, but it definitely can be done!

Topical treatment is the way to go, especially if its something that you can stick to regularly. The absolute top ingredient to help even skin tone is alpha-arbutin. Alpha-arbutin is such an amazing ingredient because it works to the block the production of pigment (melanin) by inhibiting the production of tyrosinase. Tyrosinase, among other functions, is the main enzyme behind the stimulation of melanin in the skin. With less tyrosinase, there is less pigment… meaning less dark spots. 

Under Eye Dark Circles Or Puffiness

Dark circles and puffiness in the under eye area doesn’t only make you look tired but can also age you. 

To reverse them, you really have to focus on treating both the environmental causes as well as the genetic and internal causes that no hyaluronic acid cleanser or retinol lotion cn help. First and foremost, make sure that you’re getting plenty of sleep. Anything under 7 hours puts you at an increased risk of developing under eye circles. You’ll also want to make sure to look into medical causes as well, especially any untreated allergies.

When it comes to skincare products, Eyeliss is another showstopper. It combines three different superstar peptides to help reduce the buildup of fluid in the under eye area. Hesperidin methyl chalcone, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-3, and dipeptide can drain the fluid and create a dramatically younger look. It’s amazing how much improving the under eye area can take years off your appearance. 

In Summary

Being able to identify the common signs of aging skin is step one in starting to reverse them. While aging is a normal part of life, that doesn’t mean you have to be stuck with skin that makes you look older than you are. 

Choosing the right product (or products) is essential, which is why MiamiMD has dedicated our entire brand to it. We want you to love the skin that you’re in, and to have the skin you’ve always dreamed of, regardless of your age!

Sources:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-aging-eye-when-to-worry-about-eyelid-problems

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-18454-z

Inhibitory effects of alpha-arbutin on melanin synthesis in cultured human melanoma cells and a three-dimensional human skin model – PubMed (nih.gov)