Naturally, taking care of your skin in your teens is quite different from taking care of your skin in your sixties—but what isn’t obvious is exactly how you go about making those changes. No matter how old you are, you don’t want to continue treating your skin the same way you did ten years ago, but what should you look for to help target concerns specific to your age?
We checked in with our Medical Director, plastic surgeon Dr. Gerald Ginsberg, and Lead Medical Aesthetician, Victoria Lewis, to learn which skincare treatments are the very best fit at every age. Let it be said: many of these treatments are appropriate for multiple age groups, but we wanted to highlight some top skin treatments that offer the best results for those experiencing skin concerns common to their age range.
“Of course, before anything else, remember that the most important steps for taking care of your skin are proper nutrition and sleep,” Dr. Ginsberg says. We promise to try (but we’re grateful for the options here, too).
Skincare in Your 20’s
When it comes to skincare treatments in your twenties, it’s important to consider both your past and future. Skin issues common to those in their twenties include persistent acne, as well as acne scarring left over from the teenage years, which can both be addressed through skin treatments. It’s also a smart idea to help your skin stay healthy throughout your twenties—the future you will thank you.
Our most popular facial, Signature Facial can be especially helpful to people in their twenties since it’s a great preventative measure against premature aging, and plays a defensive role against skin issues past and present. “This medical facial will not only clean the pores but with the addition of Laser genesis (link to page), it will also kill bacteria, and stimulate collagen and elastin production, helping to both treat and prevent acne scars,” Victoria says.
The younger you are when you commit to laser hair removal treatments, the longer you can enjoy the results. Laser hair removal typically takes six or more sessions, so it’s something of a commitment, but one that means never having to worry about shaving or waxing again—so worth it. In addition, as the laser targets pigment in the hair follicles it is also wise to start before your hair turns gray!
Dermaplaning is a trend we can get behind: it’s beneficial for all skin types, and it can enhance many other treatments such as facials, lasers, and chemical peels. “By physically removing all that dry, dead skin and peach fuzz, we can reveal a brighter complexion, makeup application is smoother and products can penetrate better, ” Victoria says. “Dermaplaning has become very popular, especially in the age of selfies!’”
Skincare in Your 30’s
In your thirties, it’s all about preventative measures—by using the right products and services, you can invest in your skin now, which is more efficient and less costly than trying to correct conditions later on. We also strongly recommend using products at home that combine antioxidants with SPF (link to product page) as double defense against free radicals, UVA, and UVB rays.
Botox and other injectable neurotoxins tend to come into play in your 30s. “Prophylactic Botox is a wise idea,” Dr. Ginsberg says. “You may not be showing any signs of aging, but when you give that look of disapproval, you have what’s called ‘the elevens’ in the glabella, which is the anatomical name for the space between in the eyebrows. Certainly, in your early thirties, you can use Botox to soften these lines, and can prevent them deepening. This treatment can also help with early crow’s feet.”
Chemical Peels can be done at any age, but offer a particular advantage to those in their thirties, Victoria says. “This is an excellent treatment to address sun damage,” Victoria says, noting that this is an issue that starts to come up for those in their 30s. “What I like most about chemical peels is the customization. We combine ingredients such as Vitamin C, niacinamide, retinol, hydroquinone, and kojic acid to best address our clients’ particular skin conditions in that moment.”
Laser Genesis is a non ablative laser and is a component of Signature Facial, which we recommended for those in their 20s. By your thirties, you will benefit from extra laser pulses of Laser Genesis to effectively stimulate collagen and elastin, diffuse redness, reduce fine lines, and even skin tone.
Skincare in Your 40’s
At this age, you want to effectively address skin damage (link to blog from summer to fall) and target not just the surface, but the deeper layer of skin: the dermis. By your forties, your natural collagen production has unfortunately diminished, but we can always outwit nature—there are plenty of ways to trick the skin into making more.
Dermal fillers are a great idea for those in their 40s. “Patients in their 40s start to see a loss of subcutaneous fat and tissue,” Dr. Ginsberg says. “Think of your cheek like a pillowcase that has lost some volume—it will feel and look fuller if you fill it up with more feathers. In that same way, dermal fillers can cause your skin to feel tighter and look fuller and softer.”
Often referred to as a “non-surgical facelift,” Ultherapy is another ideal treatment for this age group. “At this age, you may notice some sagging, so this is the moment to step in—you don’t want to wait until the collagen is completely gone,” Victoria says. “Ultherapy provides very effective skin tightening with ultrasound technology.”
Your metabolism slows down in your forties, which can lead to the appearance of a double chin—an issue that can be addressed with Warmsculpting. “If you’re struggling with some of those fat pockets and are starting to lose elasticity in the jawline, submental Warmsculpting(link to Warmsculting page) is definitely a solution I would consider, I’d recommend considering,” Victoria says. How about a mention of Kybella and coolsculpting here.
Skincare in Your 50’s+
In your fifties, you’ll want to start considering non-surgical options for anti-aging (link to blog on anti-aging if available) that address any loss of volume, sagging, and wrinkles you may be experiencing. While surgical facelifts can certainly be an option, they come with their own risks and downsides—and these days, there are fewer and fewer reasons to go under the knife in a traditional way. “Really, as we continue through the 21st century, we get closer and closer to getting surgical results with non-surgical therapies,” Dr. Ginsberg says.
PDO Thread Lifts are a relatively new technology that offers qualities similar to a facelift without the need for general anesthesia. The results are not as dramatic a difference as a surgical facelift, but are quite similar. “Threads are becoming very popular now,” Dr. Ginsberg says. “While we inject filler, with threads, we have more flexibility to tighten the skin in specific ways. The dissolvable suture that we use stimulates your skin to lay down collagen, so you get a long-term result—perhaps even a two-year effect.”
Fraxel stimulates new cell growth and creates a smoother, more even texture. “This laser treatment is a game changer for fine lines, sun damage, complexion, pores… it’s refreshing rejuvenating the whole entire face,” Victoria says.
The Plasma Fibroblast is a revolutionary new technology that, like PDO Thread Lifts, can offer a non surgical alternative to facelifts. It uses plasma energy to regenerate the skin’s epidermal layer while simultaneously heating and disrupting the deeper dermal structure. This procedure stimulates fibroblasts to produce collagen results for dramatic improvement in loose skin and wrinkles. Victoria commented, “We love that this is the only non surgical treatment that can be performed on the eyelids”. Other popular areas are around the eyes, mouth, and neck.
Although your skin will continue to change throughout your life, there’s one constant to live by: taking good care of your skin today will lead to a healthier, more radiant look tomorrow, the next day, and the next decade. When it comes to skincare treatments and facial skin treatments, a stitch in time really does save nine. If you aren’t sure which treatment feels right for you, let our experts guide you to the best treatment plan for your skin concerns—book a consultation today.
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With the multitude of techniques and treatments available to help achieve your goals, Tribeca Medspa’s treatment plans are customized to each individual. Start with an initial complimentary consultation!
