We all know that ageing is inevitable no matter how many anti-ageing creams, serums and supplements we stock up on. But what are the signs that our body is ageing too fast? Experts reveal what to look out for and how to take action.
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.
“I can often tell if someone has partied hard, smoked and not used sun protection because by the age of 25 they might have developed fine lines that go all the way across the upper lip,” says Dr Shergill.
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.
“If you use it in conjunction with sun protection – ideally containing SPF 50 – you will definitely improve fine lines,” he says, adding that it isn’t safe for use during pregnancy.
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
If you walk in a slightly hunched way it can be a sign that your body is ageing prematurely. “This happens when someone doesn’t maintain their core strength; they’ve got spinal curvature because they haven’t worked on their core or done yoga to maintain their posture,” says Dr Shergill. “This can make someone look a lot older than they are.”
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.
What you can do about it: If you do have bad posture, then it’s not too late to make a positive change. “If you take up yoga or Pilates, and do exercises that lengthen muscles, it won’t completely abolish stooping but will certainly improve it,” says Dr Shergill.
When someone is fit and strong, they have very good posture and it can make them look younger than they are, he adds.
As you get older your skin becomes more fragile due to the decrease in collagen and elastin fibres. This means your blood vessels aren’t as well protected and therefore you bruise more easily, explains Shergill. “Bruising is a sign of the skin ageing”.
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).
What you can do about it: Prevention, in this case, is much better than cure. “There are things that can be done to restore the quality of the skin, such as taking vitamin A, but it won’t get back to the level it was before – you’re best off using strong sun protection. ideally from the end of March until the end of September – to protect the skin from losing its quality in the first place,” says Shergill.
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
“A lot of people don’t realise that your mouth can reveal early signs of ageing,” explains Dr Steven Davidowitz, a cosmetic dentist from Luxury Dentistry.
“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.”
Dry mouth tends to become far more common in men and women in their late fifties to early sixties as that’s when we often see changes in salivary gland function especially if there are other factors at play such as medications or hormonal shifts, he explains. “Menopause can bring it on earlier in women, but in men if dry mouth is a regular occurrence before the mid-fifties I’d consider that early, and it’s a red flag if it happens in your forties.”
“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.”
What you can do about it: Staying hydrated helps, and saliva-boosting rinses or sugar-free lozenges can make a difference, advises Davidowitz. Dry mouth can also be linked to medications (including antihistamines, blood pressure medications and antidepressants), autoimmune conditions such as Sjogren’s syndrome and, in some cases, high stress levels or chronic dehydration.
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.
“Teeth and gums don’t just change with age – they often reflect what’s happening in the body. Keeping up with regular dental care helps catch problems early. Good oral hygiene is always the first step,” he says.
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).”
The joints may also make a sound when they move together or “pop” and this might hurt, he adds. “You’ll notice a reduced range of motion and the joint may be stiff or enlarged.”
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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.
It’s thought that half of over-65s have some sort of joint pain, but premature joint pain can be felt as early as the thirties – this can be down to carrying excess weight, or excessive use of the joints or injury (for example, by playing a lot of sport).
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.
It’s key to seek medical help and get the correct diagnosis in order to access the appropriate type of pain management, which includes physiotherapy, steroid injections to reduce inflammation in the joints – this can be combined with hyaluronic acid which lubricates the joints, and platelet-rich plasma therapy.
“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
When you have freckles that don’t fade in the winter, they’re likely to be sunspots – and are a sign that you’re had too much sun exposure for your skin type, explains Shergill.
“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.
What you can do about it: Laser treatment can be used to remove sunspots. But the best way to avoid them completely is by using good strong sun protection, ideally SPF 50. It’s best to purchase new sunscreen every 12 months – after this the active ingredients can deteriorate and there is also the potential for bacteria or fungus to grow in them.
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.
This might happen if you’re in front of the computer a lot, and not protecting your eyes from the sun, says Dr Ghabra.
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.
“Use good lighting when reading or working up close, follow the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to reduce eye strain) and limit prolonged screen time.”
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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