Usually these telltale signs of ageing would be expected to appear between your mid-thirties and early forties, and certainly by your sixties, says Dr Bav Shergill, a consultant dermatologist from Hove Skin Clinic and a spokesman for the British Association of Dermatologists. If you see them earlier, though, it might be time for a lifestyle audit.
What you can do about it: You can improve these lines by using a vitamin A cream prescribed by a GP or dermatologist. They have been proven to regrow collagen; a protein that supports skin, bone and joint health, says Shergill.
He doesn’t recommend specific brands but emphasises the importance of checking the ingredients – it needs to contain retinoic acid, and you should start at 0.01 per cent and steadily increase the dosage up 0.5 per cent (it can be unsafe if it’s higher than this).
Poor posture
On average, it’s considered “normal” to start having a more hunched posture around the age of 70, so anything earlier could be seen as premature, he says.
When someone is fit and strong, they have very good posture and it can make them look younger than they are, he adds.
Occasional spontaneous bruising is expected from around the age of 70, he says, and it would be considered premature before 60 although it can also be a sign of other serious conditions (for example, leukaemia).
Eating a diet rich in antioxidants (substances which can prevent or slow the damage to cells caused by free radicals), such as fruits, vegetables and nuts, can also help.
Dry mouth
“Someone comes in thinking their teeth just look a little duller or their gums feel a bit more sensitive, but often, there’s more going on.”
“A dry mouth might not sound like a big deal, but saliva is crucial for neutralising acids and keeping bacteria in check.” he says. “As people age – especially if it’s happening too fast – saliva production can drop, which puts them at higher risk for cavities, infections, and even bad breath that won’t go away no matter how much they brush.”
Talk to your doctor if you think medication could be the cause, and if you have dry mouth, prescription treatments can help improve saliva flow and protect the teeth.
Joint pain affecting the hands, hips, wrists, knees and spine can be a sign of premature ageing in the body, says Professor Mohammed Al-Jumaily, a consultant neurosurgeon from Jorja Healthcare Group and clinical lead at Liverpool John Moores University. “It is commonly caused by either osteoarthritis (the wearing down of the cartilage in the joints) or less commonly by rheumatoid arthritis (when the immune system attacks the lining of the joints).”
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Stiff joints are an inevitable part of the ageing process because as you age, your cartilage begins to dry out and becomes stiff and the body makes less synovial fluid (which lubricates and reduces friction between the joints) so your joints can’t move as freely as they once did, he explains.
What you can do about it: Ensure you’re a healthy weight and eat a balanced diet rich in dark leafy greens and Omega-3 fatty acids, nuts and seeds – this supports production of synovial fluid. Also, exercise regularly, making sure you stretch before and after, says Professor Al-Jumaily.
“This is another sort of anti-inflammatory injection that uses your own blood cells to trigger a more rapid healing response in your tendons, ligaments and muscles,” he explains.
Sunspots
“Normally you’d expect to see them from around the age of 60 or 70 but you might start to see them in your early forties if you’ve experienced sun damage.” He cites the classic example of festival goers who burn their shoulders (even from one episode of sunburn) and develop big sunspots six to eight weeks later. “These marks are a sign that their skin is likely to age a bit quicker than other people’s,” he says.
Holding your phone further away
Holding your book or phone further away to be able to focus on it is something you can expect to experience from the age of about 45. If it is happening before the age of 40 it would be considered premature, explains Dr Hakam Ghabra, a consultant ophthalmologist and clinic director at the Harley Street Eye Centre in London.
What you can do about it: You can’t prevent this happening entirely as it’s a natural part of ageing but there are steps to slow its progression. says Dr Ghabra.
There are other solutions, including laser eye surgery – although this won’t be a permanent fix – and clear lens extraction, which is similar to cataract surgery.
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