It wasn’t until I reached my mid-30s that I began noticing age-related changes in my skin. The odd (and small, but noticeable to me) sunspot on my upper hand or a wrinkle on my face here and there alerted me to realise these were evidence of ageing.
It freaked me out a little and suddenly I was focused on a Google search: how to reverse the ageing process.
Delving into skin regimes and the various products basically promising to be the elixir of youth got me thinking: what happens to our skin as we age? Can we really reverse or at least slow down the ageing process? How can we maintain healthy skin well into our later years?
I love the approach of model Lauren Hutton: “I don’t spend a lot of time on skin care. I’m usually in a rush to get to bed and make love or read. The only beauty ritual I have is washing my face with soap and water,” she is quoted as saying in an interview in a recent issue of Harper’s Bazaar. However, I decided to speak with some experts to find out more.
Dermatologist Dr Melissa Manahan points to some of the contributors to ageing skin, with the main one being, you guessed it, the sun.
“Sun damage can cause pigment changes, loss of elasticity, skin lesions such as seborrheic keratoses and telangiectasias [dilated blood vessels,” she said.
Dr Manahan says other changes affecting skin as we age are dryness, skin thinning, wrinkling, easy bruising and skin that’s prone to lacerations.
Lauren Marks, Group Business Manager at Coopers Pharmacy Group and NSW Pharmacy Assistant of the Year for 2021, says skin changes can be caused by hormonal shifts, genetics, sun damage, poor diet, or environmental factors.
“Ageing brings on many changes, especially to our skin,” she said. “As we age, our outer skin layers become thinner and have less elasticity, as collagen levels decrease over time.”
Dr Manahan says dry skin occurs as a result of “an increased barrier dysfunction” and more frequent occurrence of “irritant or contact dermatitis”. Again she blames “cumulative exposure to sunlight” as a major cause of these changes.
Ms Marks agrees, adding that other skin changes that happen as we age include skin tags, increased pigmentation, eczema and more frequent bruising. Most of these concerns, she says, “may occur mainly due to the decreased integrity of the skin as we age”.
It’s often said that prevention is better than cure, so can we really do something about ageing skin? According to Ms Marks, while we can’t ignore the genetic component in all of this, “many lifestyle factors that we can adopt can help to prevent and manage [some of] these skin issues”.
An example, she says, is “limiting sun exposure and ensuring we practice sun safe practices by wearing hats, appropriate clothing and applying sunscreen generously and regularly”.
She adds that using various “OTC products specifically designed to help certain skin concerns” can help, as well as “drinking enough water and staying hydrated” and avoiding “hot showers or baths as [the hot water can] strip the skin of moisture”.
“Practising gentle skin care routines [is also a good idea],” she said. “Avoid excessive exfoliation, use gentle products and pat yourself dry after showering rather than rubbing dry.”
Dr Manahan suggests using soap-free wash and moisturising regularly, while she urges those who smoke to quit.
Vitamins, minerals and supplements (VMS) are a contentious issue. Expert advice invariably recommends that the priority should be nutrition from a well-balanced diet, with VMS used only as support, primarily during times of deficiency or when dietary intake is inadequate.
Ms Marks points out, though, that some specific vitamins and minerals are known to support skin health.
“There are many vitamins and minerals that may provide a benefit in preventing and managing ageing skin,” she said.
The most common VMS options Ms Marks is asked about in retail pharmacy include:
- Vitamin A. “A fat-soluble vitamin assisting with cell reproduction.”
- Vitamin B3. “Anti-ageing properties and assists with uneven skin tone and pigmentation caused by sun damage.”
- Vitamin C. “Antioxidant properties targeting premature ageing and sun damage.”
- Vitamin E. “Antioxidant and plumping properties.”
- Zinc. “Healing properties and reduces inflammation.”
- Silica. “Assists with elasticity and hydration.”
OTC products available in retail pharmacy that aid with healthy skin, according to Ms Marks, include some cleansers, washes, moisturisers, barrier creams, spot treatments, serums, bath soaks, exfoliation products, hydrocortisone creams and many different forms of vitamin, mineral and collagen supplements as tablets, capsules, powders or gummies.
Of course, Dr Manahan adds, sunscreen is an important OTC product to consider for healthy skin – a product she says pharmacy assistants should be encouraging their customers to consider.
As one of the most accessible of healthcare outlets, a retail pharmacy is often the first place customers will look when considering how to optimise their skincare routines. So, clearly, PAs have a significant role to play in assisting their customers in this space.
“Pharmacy assistants need to stay aware of common complaints as well as individual concerns in skin care, particularly with our older customers,” Ms Marks said. “Older customers most commonly have issues with extremely thin skin that bruises easily, and most commonly [may] suffer from dry skin.”
She encourages PAs to advise that “simple lifestyle changes or even incorporating specific products can have a great impact on improving and managing their overall skin health”.
This feature was originally published in the August issue of Retail Pharmacy Assistants e-magazine.
