Top 5 Complaints of Aging Skin (And The Top Fix!)

Updated April, 2020

Time flies so fast, half of the year has gone by. In no time, we will be busy with the upcoming holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas and oh boy, it’s New Year again! We are so preoccupied with all the daily activities we barely notice time passing.

It feels the same way when it comes to aging. We all get too busy to notice the little things until it dawns on you that you looked a little different than you remembered. How did these frown lines and laugh lines became permanently etched on your face? Cue horror soundtrack!

It is inevitable that someday we will grow old. That is a simple fact we have to accept and embrace. But that doesn’t mean we have to neglect ourselves and do nothing to age gracefully.

If you remember the 1992 movie, Death Becomes Her, Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn gave a stellar performance that captures our desire to stay young forever. What would you not give to stay line-free, firm, young and glowing for all eternity? But then again, that’s just a movie.

Too bad no magic potion can reverse aging and freeze youthfulness.

We are lucky that we have advanced research and technology accessible to us nowadays. We have endless options to combat aesthetic problems and hold on to youth for as long as we can. We have more knowledge about skin aging than what we had 20 years ago and as they say, knowledge is power.

We know now that aging is a normal process of life. We also know that the sun causes premature aging, thanks to the UV rays. We also know that smoking and drinking alcohol contributes to faster aging. Poor self-care activities like sleeping with makeup on, not using products with SPF, neglecting to moisturize, sleeping face-down, and poor diet also contributes to aging.

So, what should we do?

To target specific problems, we listed down the top 5 complaints of aging skin and the top fix for each.

Age Spots are discoloration to the skin brought about by too much sun exposure. The flat, brownish spots are caused by too much production of melanin and are also known by other names such as senile lentigo, sun spots, solar lentigines, or liver spots.

It is commonly found on sun exposed areas such as the face, upper back, forearm, and the back of our hands.

People who get more sun exposure, who are light-skinned and those who have a history of frequently using tanning beds are more likely to get age spots.

Not that it has anything to do with age, but it is commonly seen from people over the age of 40, most likely because they would have had more exposure to the sun compared to younger people.

Age spots do not necessarily need treatment as it doesn’t pose any health risk. But for those who aren’t comfortable and get conscious with its appearance, there are many options you can choose from on how to get rid of it.

The fix? Chemical or Mechanical Peeling will work.

Dermatologists may recommend bleaching creams or products containing tretinoin to remove age spots. Microdermabrasion is also a great way to scrub off the outer layer of the skin safely, without using harsh chemical agents that may lead to redness and more skin sensitivity.

Do not forget to apply sunscreen afterward to prevent the development of new age spots.

We may easily mask facial lines and creases but our neck usually gives us away. Regrettably, we neglect our neck when doing our skincare routine, not knowing that it is also susceptible to getting loose and creased as we age.

Due to lack of muscle use, the muscles in our neck area atrophies in time. Collagen supply also decreases as we age and poor skin care routine and poor posture take its toll. All these factors lead to what we call turkey neck.

The fix? There are several things you can do to prevent turkey neck.

Proper posture helps. If you tend to hunch over your desk, chances are you are giving your neck more wrinkles. Sit up straight and relax your shoulders and avoid leaning on your desk.

It is also advisable to sleep on your back so you can extend your neck and avoid drawing your chin close to your chest. If you need pillows, invest in silk pillowcases to help prevent wrinkles too.

You may also try this exercise to help manage turkey neck. While sitting or standing straight, look up the ceiling and do a chewing motion while your mouth is closed. You will feel the muscles in your face and neck moving. Do this three times for at least 30 seconds each time. You may also try these exercises to help tighten and work those neck muscles.

Use microdermabrasion to lightly and safely hasten the cell turnover rate and help remove dead skin cells. It will also help increase collagen production and improve skin’s blood circulation. Do not forget to put serums and moisturizers to nourish your skin.

Some people also turn to surgical options to correct turkey neck. You can consult your doctor what procedure is the best fit for your needs. Remember, go to reputable plastic surgeons or experts in this field to get the best results.

The skin around our eyes is thin and sensitive. It doesn’t have the ability to hydrate itself unlike the rest of our facial skin. That is why serums and moisturizers are specially designed for this area. It is also the same reason why most toners or facial scrubs include the instruction to avoid the eye area.

It is uber sensitive!

We usually see the first fine lines appear around our eyes or what we commonly refer to as Crow’s feet. Aside from the fact that our skin around the eye area is sensitive, it is also prone to getting scrunched when we smile, laugh or when we squint if we look at something bright.

We also like to tug, stretch, and rub our eyes when applying makeup. After all the tugging and squinting, it is not a surprise we end up having under eye wrinkles fast.

The fix? Invest in eye gels, creams or serums with plumping ingredients and hydrating properties.

It also helps when you wear sunglasses when you are going out in the sun or driving at daytime to prevent squinting and at the same time protect the skin from harmful UV rays that can speed up aging.

Younger skin has faster cell turnover rate and that’s basically why younger people look more radiant and glowing compared to older people. As we age, our cell turnover rate slows down as well, contributing to having dull skin.

Aside from that, older people are prone to having dry skin too. The skin cells become leakier so it cannot hold on moisture as well as younger skin. It tends to get dry because there is generally less oil production in the skin too.

The fix? Remove the dead skin layers to bring back your glow.

It is worthless to apply serums and moisturizers on skin that will eventually shed off. Remove the dead layer first so that you can benefit from all the goodness that is infused in your serum.

You may use chemical or mechanical peeling, whichever is more appealing to you. You can also use gentle scrubs for your face and body and exfoliate the dead skin away. Microdermabrasion safely exfoliates the skin without using harsh chemicals that can make skin appear red for days. It is safe to use on the face, neck, chest, hands and feet.

You should follow-up with a good moisturizer to hydrate the newly exposed skin. For your face, invest in good quality serums to give your skin the healthy boost it needs to nourish the facial skin. You also follow up with a good quality moisturizer.

Do not forget to use hand creams or lotion that is infused with ingredients that help hydrate the skin efficiently. Look for products that include glycerin to soften the skin. There are many good quality lotions you can choose from.

Need I say more? When you ask people what their complaints are about aging skin, fine lines and wrinkles will always be present. By now, there will be countless searches on how to get rid of it or how to prevent it because this is usually what aging exemplifies.

This may seem too shallow for some people but it is a real worry for most and people are willing to do anything to get rid of this tell-tale sign of aging.

The fix? Most forums still say Botox is the best solution for fine lines and wrinkles. The results are instantaneous and last for months. But for those who do not want to do Botox, there are countless alternatives available today.

You can peel away fine lines to help speed up the cell turnover rate. When you remove the top layers of the skin, you give chance for new skin to grow in its place and leave a smoother texture thus making fine lines less noticeable.

Glycolic peels, retinol or retinoid can help speed up the cell turnover rate. Do not forget to use sunscreen as these treatments can make your skin more susceptible to sun damage.

Microdermabrasion can also help buff away dead skin and increase the cell turnover rate and also increase collagen production that can help fight fine lines and wrinkles.  

Do not forget to moisturize. Use products with hyaluronic acid to plump the skin and help it look fuller.

Hopefully, we have helped shed a light to the top 5 complaints of aging skin and the top solution for each problem. Always stay on top of things and never be too busy to take care of your skin. Your future self will thank you.