Whether you’ve hit the age of 40 or have recently lost a significant amount of weight, you might have noticed your face losing definition.
You may even have spotted the beginning of ‘jowls’ – that sagging skin along the jawline that leads to those pesky marionette lines.
It’s perfectly natural, but how can you address this loss of elasticity in your skin when it happens and, importantly, how can you prevent it as early as possible?
We talked to an aesthetic doctor with more than 20 years of experience – Dr Moisés Amselem – and a pharmacist, Marta Munar, who is also founder of Madrid’s prestigious G19 Pharmacy, to clear up the myths and realities of sagging faces.
Why does your jawline lose definition – and when does it start?
“It’s often said that healthcare should be more preventative,” notes Dr Amselem. “Although sagging skin becomes much more noticeable after 40, we really ought to be thinking about it from about the age of 30 onwards to get ahead of it.”
Pharmaceutical expert Munar explains that our skin’s ability to synthesise collagen and elastin begins to slow down as early as age 25. As these essential proteins diminish, so do our natural hyaluronic acid levels, leaving the skin prone to dryness. “As a result, the skin loses its ‘snap back’ and starts to sag,” she says. “The loss of definition is usually most obvious in your jawline area.”
7 lifestyle habits to ward off jowls and ‘sleep lines’
What are the best ways to prevent premature jowls and sagging facial skin? Dr Amselem recommends following these at-home steps:
When it comes to aesthetic treatments, Dr Amselem recommends those designed to boost collagen production. These techniques might include injectables (such as hyaluronic acid, collagen inductors, biopeptides, polynucleotides or exosomes), as well as radiofrequency treatments like Thermage and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).
Consult with an expert to determine which approach is right for you.
7 factors that speed up facial sagging
According to Dr Amselem you are most prone towards a tendency of early sagging if you:
- Have a genetic predisposition to sagging skin.
- Experience a significant weight loss in a short period or gain and lose weight very easily.
- Neglect your skin and expose it to the sun unprotected.
- Expose your skin to blue light emitted by electronic devices over long periods of time.
- Lack a balanced diet rich in proteins, and fail to stay well-hydrated.
- Practise high impact exercise. Runners, for example, may lose facial fat and see facial sagging more prematurely due to the repeated physical impact the activity.
- Are going through menopause without any type of hormone replacement therapy.
© Getty Images5 must-have active ingredients to boost your skin
Whether you fall into the above categories or not, you may want to consider some active ingredients which can help slow the appearance of sagging and loss of definition in your face.
“Although sagging skin becomes much more noticeable after 40, we really ought to be thinking about it from about the age of 30 to get ahead of it”
Pharmacist Munar’s recommended active skincare ingredients to improve skin firmness are:
- Antioxidants. A must-have in any beauty routine. Vitamin C, for example, helps stimulate the synthesis of collagen and elastin and, because of its antioxidant properties, helps combat the damage caused by free radicals.
- Retinol. Retinol is currently everyone’s favourite active ingredient – plus it is the one with the most scientific evidence behind it. It stimulates the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid, helping to improve both firmness and the appearance of wrinkles.
- Hyaluronic Acid. I have always been a fan of this active ingredient. It improves the feeling of firmness and elasticity because it attracts and retains water in the skin for a plumping effect, improving the appearance of wrinkles and expression lines.
- Glycolic Acid. This is an alpha-hydroxy acid which promotes cell turnover. In higher concentrations, it can help stimulate collagen and hyaluronic acid production, which improves firmness, elasticity and radiance.
- Peptides. Peptides are beneficial for the skin’s support proteins: collagen and elastin. They increase cellular regeneration capacity, preventing loss of density and firmness, while boosting hydration to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and expression lines.
Dr Amselem adds that using an at-home radiofrequency device, along with facial massages and clinically proven skin care products, can also be a plus.
About the experts
- Dr Moisés Amselem is a specialist in aesthetic medicine with over 25 years of clinical experience. Based in Madrid at the prestigious Martín del Yerro · Amselem clinic (DEMYA), he is a leading authority on facial rejuvenation and non-surgical contouring.
- Marta Munar is a specialist pharmacist and the founder of G19 Pharmacy, a boutique skincare destination located in Madrid. She is also the creator of G19 Organics, a clean skincare and fragrance line.
Read the full article here
