Aesthetic Ageing: Why It Happens, and How To Do It Better
Anti-ageing products, claims and advice are all around us, from the face creams we choose, to the foods we eat, and even the facial exercises we ‘should’ be trying (any face yoga converts here?). Whether it’s a loud and clear endorsement, or just an image of Demi Moore looking younger now than she did 20 years ago, references to reversing the signs of ageing are everywhere. But in order to know who and what to believe, we really need to know how and why signs of ageing appear, and where we can influence the process.
So what causes signs of ageing? And where can interventions make a tangible difference?
Why We Age: The Science Bit
We all know what ageing looks like, but what’s happening at the cellular level to cause the visible changes? The answer is- lots. A complex interaction between intrinsic factors (think genetics, inevitable cellular and molecular degeneration, hormonal changes), and extrinsic factors (the things we can have some power over - think lifestyle choices, environmental factors) results in a range of cellular and molecular changes that in turn create the visible signs of ageing.
These changes include¹:
Less collagen and elastin: skin loses strength and elasticity leading to sagging and fine lines
Reduced sub-dermal fat: less padded support structures leading to lost volume and hollows
Slower cell turnover: less cell renewal leading to more obvious fine lines and an overall less ‘vital’ appearance
Decreased hyaluronic acid production: skin holds onto less water leading to increased dryness and a loss of plumpness²
Thinner epidermis and weakened skin barrier: skin is more fragile and reactive leading to increased redness and more susceptibility to environmental damage
Changes in pigmentation: melanin distribution becomes uneven leading to age spots and uneven skin tone
Repeated facial movements: natural movements accumulate over time leading to dynamic lines that deepen to form static wrinkles or creases.
What Can We Do?
Protect it
Sun protection:
WEAR SUN SCREEN. It’s a no brainer. If you’re not doing it already, START NOW. Daily, year round, UV protection has been repeatedly shown to reduce the ageing process. Make sure you use a product with both UVA and UVB protection (it’s the UVA rays that are responsible for damaging collagen and elastin), use a minimum SPF of 30 (ideally higher) and make sure you apply enough (about half a teaspoon for face and neck coverage)³.
Pollution protection: Like UV radiation, air pollutants (including tobacco smoke) cause damage on a cellular level, leading to degradation of elastin and collagen, and creating oxidative stress, causing inflammation. Using medical grade skincare products such as niacinamide (strengthens the skin barrier) and Vitamin C (neutralises the products of oxidative stress, preventing them from causing damage), and focusing on procedures that renew the skin barrier (such as microneedling, hydrafacials, and chemical peels) can produce significant benefits.
Stress protection: This one might come as a bit of a surprise, but in addition to the more well known responses of the skin to stress (such as breakouts or rosacea flare ups), stress has been found to have a significant impact on skin ageing. Studies have found that chronic stress impairs skin barrier function, reduces hydration, slows repair, and contributes to signs of ageing like dryness, irritation, and fine lines - largely due to decreased lipid synthesis and disrupted skin cell turnover⁴.
Support it
Medical grade skincare: It’s a huge area (so big it’s already got its own blog if you fancy a deeper dive), and can be overwhelming, so we suggest focusing on key areas. Focus on moisture (hyaluronic acid, ceramides), improving collagen and cell turnover (retinoids), and repairing skin structure (peptides).
Targeted medical aesthetic procedures: Again, focus your choices on combating the changes listed above. The use of injectables such as polynucleotides (significantly boost collagen production) and hyaluronic acid ensures actives are delivered directly to where they’re needed, giving visible results after just one treatment. As mentioned above, procedures focused on increasing skin turnover and improving the skin barrier such as microneedling, some chemical peels and hydrofacials can offer good visible improvements, especially when used regularly, and more more specific peels are available for combating pigmentation changes.
Good choices (the bit nobody wants to hear): Your skin is incredibly affected by the lifestyle choices you make. Get the sleep, drink the water, eat the good stuff.
Tweak it
Filler: It might have come under a bit of a backlash in recent times, but done right filler can combat the previously uncombatable (if you’ll allow us). To replace lost volume, strategically placed filler can yield subtle yet significant results. To find out more about filler, read our blog ‘Good Vs Bad: Bad Filler and How To Avoid It’.
Anti-wrinkle injections: Dynamic facial lines, that result in static deep lines, can be hard to fully address without injectable intervention. The use of prescription only medicines, injected by a fully trained medical professional, can be the best way to visibly improve their appearance. The aim of treatment should be to ‘soften’ not ‘freeze’, creating a smoother appearance while still allowing natural facial expressions.
As with all injectable treatments, anti-wrinkle injections are only available after a medical consultation. Any decision to proceed is based on clinical assessment, safety, and individual suitability.
Most importantly, make sure you enjoy it
Ageing is a privilege, and it’s your right to age in the way that makes you happy. Whether you want to freeze frame at thirty, or heartily embrace all the changes that come, the joys of becoming older (and hopefully wiser) should go hand in hand with a confidence and contentment in how you look and feel. So for those of us who find that confidence in reducing the visible signs of ageing, there are good, effective treatments that when used in the right way can give real value in their results. Contact the team at Elevate for a free consultation with one of our expert clinicians, to discuss what an effective treatment plan might look for you.
References:
Farage MA, Miller KW, Elsner P, Maibach HI. Characteristics of the aging skin. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2013 Feb;2(1):5–10. doi:10.1089/wound.2011.0356.
Dermatologica. What is hyaluronic acid? Available at dermatologica.co.uk (accessed 23rd June 2025)
Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Sunscreen and your morning routine. Reviewed by Anna Lien-Lun Chien, M.D. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/sunscreen-and-your-morning-routine (Accessed: 5 June 2025).
Chen Y, Lyga J. Brain-skin connection: stress, inflammation and skin aging. Inflamm Allergy Drug Targets. 2014 Jun;13(3):177–190. Accessed via PubMed central doi:10.2174/1871528113666140522104422