Signs of Premature Ageing - How to Slow it Down.
The Facts of Ageing
As we age, our body’s internal processes, such as skin cell turnover, immune function and physical recovery, slow down and take longer to complete or recharge.
This leaves room for signs of aging, such as wrinkles, illness and fatigue, to occur.
These changes may be surprising if they happen earlier than expected, hence the term “premature” ageing. It’s impossible to avoid these changes completely, but there are ways to reduce the signs of ageing in your body, especially if they’re happening before you’re ready to embrace them. Many people make assumptions about ageing, what it is like to grow “old,” and how older age will affect them. But as we get older, it is important to understand the positive aspects of ageing as well as its challenges. Research has shown that most individuals can help preserve their health and mobility as they age by adopting or continuing healthy habits and lifestyle choices.
At the biological level, ageing results from the impact of the accumulation of a wide variety of molecular and cellular damage over time. This leads to a gradual decrease in physical and mental capacity, a growing risk of disease and ultimately death. These changes are neither linear nor consistent, and they are only loosely associated with a person’s age in years. The diversity seen in older age is not random. Beyond biological changes, ageing is often associated with other life transitions such as retirement, relocation to more appropriate housing and the death of friends and partners.
Signs of Premature Ageing
The aging process looks different for everyone, but there are certain signs of aging that are considered “premature” if you notice them before you turn 35.
Sun spots, also called age spots and liver spots, are flat spots on your skin caused by years of sun exposure. These hyper-pigmented spots may develop on your face, the back of your hands, or your forearms. They tend to appear at or after age 40. People with fairer skin may see these sun spot developments earlier.
Aged hands, over time, the top layers of your skin become thinner and contain fewer structuring proteins, such as collagen, that give your skin its shape. Your hands may start to appear more veiny, thin, and prone to wrinkles as a result. There’s no objective metric for when hands start looking older, but most people tend to notice it during their late 30s and early 40s.
Bones, joints and muscles, with age, bones tend to shrink in size and density, weakening them and making them more susceptible to fracture. You might even become a bit shorter. Muscles generally lose strength, endurance and flexibility, factors that can affect your coordination, stability and balance. Generally you wouldn’t expect to feel many of these issues until your mid 40s and early 50s, but experiencing these problems in your 30s or earlier can be a sign of premature ageing… listen to your body!
Memory and thinking skills, your brain undergoes changes as you age that may have minor effects on your memory or thinking skills. For example, healthy older adults might forget familiar names or words, or they may find it more difficult to multitask. Experiencing cognitive decline early in life can be very confronting for people, and as much as we focus on looking after our physical health, we often forget about our brain health being equally as important.
Wrinkles or sagging skin, as you enter your 30s, your skin slows down its production of collagen, the protein that gives your skin its shape. Collagen is what helps your skin bounce back and stay plump. With less collagen in the skin, it’s easier for visible wrinkles and sagging to occur. You might notice this happening more in areas around frequently used muscles, like the forehead, or where you’re more exposed to the sun.
Hair loss, hair loss happens as the stem cells that trigger new hair growth in your hair follicles die off. Hormone changes, DHT levels, environmental factors, genetics, and your diet all play a role in how quickly this happens. Up to 40 of women over age 70 experience hair loss. Men experience it earlier, with 50 seeing hair loss after age 50.
Dry or thining skin, dry or itchy skin (xerosis cutis) may happen more over time. That’s because thinning skin is more susceptible to dehydration. You may notice your skin becoming drier and more prone to flaking as you near your 40s. Your skin thins and becomes less elastic and more fragile, and fatty tissue just below the skin decreases. You might notice that you bruise more easily. Decreased production of natural oils might make your skin drier. Wrinkles, age spots and small growths called skin tags become more common.
Cardiovascular system. The most common change in the cardiovascular system is stiffening of the blood vessels and arteries, causing your heart to work harder to pump blood through them. The heart muscles change to adjust to the increased workload. Your heart rate at rest will stay about the same, but it won't increase during activities as much as it used to. These changes increase the risk of high blood pressure (hypertension) and other cardiovascular problems. Although this can be considered a natural part of ageing, experiencing this early on in life due to poor lifestyle choices, is a clear sign that your heart has aged prematurely.
What Causes Premature Ageing?
We all age, but premature ageing is when it happens faster than it should. In most cases, controllable and preventable factors cause premature aging. This is called extrinsic aging. Most signs of premature aging show up in your skin first. Skin changes happen as we age. When they appear earlier in life, the cause is usually from environmental or lifestyle factors.
There are a couple of different factors that have a direct effect on how quickly these signs appear on your body.
Sun exposure and tanning: Sun exposure causes many skin problems. Ultraviolet (UV) light and exposure to sunlight age your skin more quickly than it would age naturally. The result is called photoaging, and it’s responsible for 90% of visible changes to your skin. UV light damages skin cells, contributing to premature changes like age spots. This sun exposure also increases the risk of skin cancer.
High-energy visible (HEV) and infrared light are responsible for the other 10% of skin changes. HEV light (also called blue light) comes from the sun and electronic devices like smartphones. Infrared light is invisible, but we often feel it as heat. These forms of light don’t increase skin cancer risk, but they do affect collagen and skin elasticity.
Smoking: When you smoke, the toxins in nicotine alter the cells in your body. These toxins break down collagen and elastic fibers in your skin, leading to sagging, wrinkles and a hollow, gaunt face, along with causing dermal dryness and other signs of premature biological ageing.
Unhealthy diet: Many studies show that diets high in sugar or refined carbohydrates can cause premature ageing. On the flip side, diets filled with plenty of fruits and vegetables help prevent premature skin changes.
Sleep habits: Sleep gives your body an opportunity to refresh and regenerate cells. Research has indicated that poor sleep quality is connected to increased signs of ageing and a diminished skin barrier function, along with lessened cognitive and internal health.
Stress: When you’re stressed, your brain pumps out cortisol, a stress hormone. Cortisol blocks two substances that keep your skin looking plump and vibrant: hyaluronan synthase and collagen. Your physical health can take a hit too!
Alcohol and caffeine intake: Drinking alcohol excessively dehydrates your body. Over time, this dehydration can cause your skin to sag and lose its shape, along with ageing of internal organs and weakened immune system. Caffeine may have a similar effect in regard o dehydration, although there’s conflicting research about if daily coffee consumption causes wrinkles. In both cases, moderation is key.
Environment: Pigment spots and wrinkles can be triggered or worsened by environmental pollutants. Since your skin comes into direct contact with the air around you, your skin barrier is being subjected to the toxins and pollutants in your daily environment.
What can I do to slow premature aging?
As environmental and lifestyle factors often cause premature ageing, healthy daily habits can improve it. If you already have signs of premature ageing, here’s how to stop it and prevent it from getting worse. And the good news, its more simple than you think, but does require active long lasting change.
Avoid sun exposure: Take steps to protect yourself from sun damage. Use sunscreen year-round, even if you plan to be in the shade. Always opt for UV protection that’s at least SPF 30 or higher. Wear protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses.
Stop smoking: If you smoke, quit smoking as soon as possible. Talk to your healthcare provider if you need help quitting.
Eat more fruits and vegetables: A well-balanced diet can stop premature ageing. Avoid eating too much sugar or refined carbohydrates.
Cut back on alcohol: As alcohol causes premature ageing of your skin, reducing your alcohol intake can help prevent further damage.
Exercise: Regular physical activity improves circulation and boosts your immune system, which promotes healthy ageing.
Take care of your skin: Cleanse your skin daily to remove dirt, makeup, sweat or other substances that cause irritation. Stay away from harsh skin products containing fragrances or high pH. It honestly is worth investing in a excellent quality Moisturiser and to use it daily to prevent dryness, products containing ingredients such a Hyaluronic acid will assist with dermal hydration.
Lower your stress levels: Try to eliminate as much stress as possible from your life (we know, easier said than done). Find healthy stress management techniques like meditation or exercise for the stressors you can’t avoid.
Improve the quality and quantity of your sleep: Getting less than seven hours of sleep can age your body’s cells more quickly.
Supplementation: Knowledge is key here, do your research and make informed decision in regards to what you put into your body.
How can I reverse visual premature aging?
To avoid premature ageing, prevention is key through healthy living and informed supplementation. You definitely can slow down visible & biological ageing and to some degree reverse it . But there isn’t any magic pill that’s going to make you look 20 years younger over night. In saying this, if your signs of premature ageing are bothersome, there are more invasive treatments that can help.
Dermal fillers
Facelift
Facial resurfacing and rejuvenation
Laser skin resurfacing
Please note that these procedures may help fix the appearance of premature ageing, but they won’t correct the cause.
Often people forget that a healthier outside, starts from within. Locking in those wellness habits have such an incredible effect that will pay off for years to come. Once you notice the signs of ageing, its important to take steps to address the way your body is changing. but at the end of the day there isn’t a right or wrong way to age, and whatever you choose to do with your body is entirely up to you.
