Dr. Snigdha Sing. — Photo courtesy of Family Medical Practice

Dr. Snigdha Sing*

Aging is an inevitable phenomenon. From the fragile skin of a newborn through the acne prone teenager skin to the wrinkles later in life, your skin goes through various stages during which the skin’s requirements also change. The products that worked for you in your 20s may lose their efficacy a few years later and you constantly have to adjust your regimen based on your skin’s current needs. Proper age specific skincare routine ensures your skin looks its natural best and remains healthy regardless of your age.

20s

During this time of life, due to hormonal changes, your skin can become oily and acne-prone. The biggest mistake that most of us make is not taking enough preventive measures for our skin in our 20s leading to signs of premature aging and sun damage.

The skincare routine in this age should be minimalistic and easy to follow.

• Cleanse twice a day. Salicylic acid based cleanser for oily/acne-prone skin, Hyaluronic/glycerine based cleanser for dry skin & Glycolic acid based cleanser is recommended for dull skin.
• Using a moisturiser is a must post cleansing. Hyaluronic acid based for dry skin and paraffin based moisturiser for very dry skin.
• Sunscreen is the most important part of your skincare routine. Gel/water based for oily skin. Hyaluronic acid based for dry skin and Vitamin C based for dull skin. Use physical sunscreen on holidays when you spend more time out in the sun like going for a trek or on beaches.
• Late 20s is the right age to introduce antioxidants in your night skincare routine. Niacinamide serum is recommended for open pores, sensitive, red, acne-prone, oily skin. Vitamin-C serum for skin glow and as an anti-aging agent.

Proper age specific skincare routine ensures your skin looks its natural best and remains healthy regardless of your age. — Photo shutterstock.com

​​​​​​30s

You may start to experience the initial signs of aging like fine lines. The skin barrier function weakens making it more prone to sun damage. Moisture content of the skin also starts reducing.

In addition to the basic skincare that you were following in your 20s:

• Antioxidants should be included in the day time routine instead of night.

Cleanser -> Antioxidant -> Moisturizer -> Sunscreen

• Retinol based preparations can be applied four times per week at night. People with very dry/sensitive skin can use Peptides based preparations instead of retinol.
• Exfoliants (AHA/BHA/PHA) can be included in your night skincare routine 3 times/week. AHA for pigmentation and uneven skin tone, BHA for oily/acne prone skin, open pores and PHA for sensitive skin.
• It’s the right time to start neck creams and under-eye creams. Vitamin C & Vitamin E based neck creams can be used.
• Under-eye creams can be concern specific like Vitamin C or kojic acid based for darkening of skin, retinol or hyaluronic acid based for fine lines and caffeine based for puffiness.
• To combat signs of aging, uneven skin tone, pigmentation, along with the right skincare, Aesthetic procedures like lasers, RF, microneedling, PRP therapy and chemical peeling are recommended which encourage cellular turnover and promotes new collagen and elastin production.

40s & beyond

With age, you start noticing more fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, pigmentation due to loss of collagen, volume & elasticity and reduced cellular turnover. The skin becomes more dry and dehydrated.

• A gentle exfoliating cleanser with lower concentration of glycolic acid and another one with hyaluronic acid may be used in your 40s and switching to only HA based cleanser when you notice more dryness with age.
• Antioxidants – Green tea extract/Co-enzyme Q10/Vitamin-C based
• Hyaluronic acid/ceramide/glycerine/paraffin based moisturiser to encourage skin barrier repair.
• Hyaluronic acid based sunscreen.
• Night skincare routine includes retinol/peptides based preparations four times per week and lower concentrations of glycolic acid based creams three times per week.
• Continue with the neck and under-eye creams as in your 30s.
• Supplements like astaxanthin, Vitamin-C, zinc, biotin, Omega-3 FA, co-enzyme Q10, curcumin, Vitamin-D, calcium, iron, folic acid can be added for a short duration. A routine blood check-up is suggested to find out any deficiencies.
• In addition to the aesthetic procedures suggested in your 30s, fillers and botulinum toxin injections are effective treatment options for wrinkles and sagging skin. Family Medical Practice

*Dr Snigdha Singh studied a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and a masters in Dermatology

She specialises in diagnosing and treating a wide variety of skin disorders for both adults and children

She can also advise on numerous skin cosmetic conditions and treating benign skin disorders by RF cautery, Cryosurgery and minor surgery as indicated

Visit Family Medical Practice Hanoi 24/7 at 298I P. Kim Mã, Kim Mã, Ba Đình District. To book an appointment, please call us at (024).3843.0784, or contact us via Whatsapp, Viber or Zalo on +84.944.43.1919 or email hanoi@vietnammedicalpractice.com.

FMP’s downtown location in Hồ Chí Minh City is in Diamond Plaza, 34Đ Lê Duẩn, Bến Nghé, District 1, and 95Đ Thảo Điền, District 2. Tel. (028) 3822 7848 or email hcmc@vietnammedicalpractice.com.