As your skin changes with age, knowing the biggest skincare mistakes to avoid after 50 can help you maintain a glowing, healthy complexion well into midlife and beyond.
Aging is a beautiful thing. Your years of wisdom and experience come together to make life more enjoyable. You’ve survived all the hardships and major events up to this point. As you age, however, your health can become more challenging to manage, and your beauty routine will likely evolve; dryness and wilting skin can sneak up on you! Whether your skincare routine is minimalist or fully loaded, you’ll need to maintain healthy skin to protect it from damage and disease. The best way to learn how to care for your natural skin is to avoid some of the most common and significant skincare mistakes that can cost you as you approach or journey through middle age.
No Sun Protection:
Skin cancer is a major concern across the country. The Skin Cancer Institute estimates that just one in five Americans will develop some type of skin cancer. As you get older, the effects of a lack of sun protection in your life will start to show through age spots, sun-damaged skin, and pre-cancerous or cancerous growths. The best way to protect your skin is to wear sunscreen, even if you’re only spending a small period outside.
Many moisturizers contain SPF protection, which can help combat the sun’s effects and hormonal dryness. Some tinted moisturizers combine foundation (makeup), moisturizer, and sunscreen, which helped me skip a lot of steps in my skincare routine (perfect for the busiest bees).
Regardless of the product you use, ensure you have adequate SPF protection throughout the day (at least 30 SPF). You need it on cloudy or rainy days, too. You must reapply after getting wet or after being in the sun for three hours. Pay attention to any moles that are unevenly colored or shaped, and consult a dermatologist for a skin check to ensure your safety. Certain procedures, such as chemical peels and laser treatments, can help treat age spots.
Lack Of Hydration At Menopause:
Many middle-aged women with oily skin are surprised to find out that the problem isn’t too much moisture—it’s often a sign of too little. In addition to oily skin, dry, itchy, and flaky skin is actually a normal sign of menopause. When estrogen production slows down, so does the stimulation of skin collagen and oils that help the skin feel naturally moisturized.
A good moisturizer is often the perfect solution to both dry and excessively oily skin. Try out a light moisturizer to see if it helps your skin feel less oily, dry, and itchy. A lack of hydration along with slowed estrogen production is a recipe for disaster. As you age, the effects of dehydration become more pronounced, leading to the development of fine lines and a dull complexion. You’ll want to drink plenty of water every day (at least eight glasses) to ensure your body, including your skin, stays well-hydrated as your body adjusts to its new hormonal processes.
Vitamin Imbalance:
Just like your body’s internal systems, your skin requires a balanced level of vitamins and nutrients to repair itself and function properly. During menopause, your skin holds less water, decreases collagen production, and can cause you to absorb fewer vitamins in the gut that are essential for healthy skin and hair growth. Vitamin A helps defend your skin against sun damage. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps your skin heal more quickly and efficiently.
Vitamin D plays a vital role in the growth and development of skin cells. Collagen prevents your skin from sagging and wrinkling with age. If you don’t balance your vitamin and nutrient levels, your skin can suffer from inflammatory issues, dryness, itchiness, sagging, and wrinkles. As you age, it can be tricky to maintain the ideal balance of vitamins and nutrients. Get your blood tested regularly for any deficiencies. Your doctor may recommend taking multivitamins to maintain healthy skin and overall well-being. Retinol or peptide skin treatments can also help increase collagen in your skin.
Harsh Cleansers:
In the skincare world, less is often more. It may seem productive to layer on a ton of harsh cleansers or powerful exfoliants, but using too many can actually do more harm than good, especially as you age. Excessive exfoliation can weaken your skin’s moisture barrier, making you more susceptible to pain, irritation, redness, and inflammation.
Since aging skin often lacks collagen and moisture, this can lead to painful and irritating dryness. Using too many harsh cleansers can disrupt your skin’s natural pH balance, potentially accelerating the aging process and causing jowls, lines, and wrinkles. Gentle cleansers, used in lukewarm or cold water, are ideal for most skin types. Use exfoliants or harsher cleansers only if necessary, and follow the directions carefully. Consult with a medspa for any major treatments, such as chemical peels.
Skipping Your Neck and Chest:
Many people forget that their neck and chest should be incorporated into a good skincare routine. In fact, your hands and the rest of your body will benefit from moisturizing, a balanced vitamin intake, and sun protection. Don’t skip your neck, hands, or chest in particular; these areas are particularly prone to wear and tear, making them more vulnerable to irritation and weathering. A lack of collagen in menopause will cause these areas to sag and wrinkle. Keep them moisturized, clean, and treated for a brighter appearance beyond just your face.
Too Much Sugar:
We all love a sweet treat once in a while, but too much sugar isn’t just bad for your overall health; it affects your skin, too. Excessive sugar, especially glucose and fructose, kick-starts glycation. This process makes collagen and elastin less effective, impairing your skin health. At middle age, when you don’t have a lot of collagen, you’ll speed up the aging process of your skin with wrinkles, sagging, and more.
You don’t have to eliminate sugar, but rather maintain a healthy balance. Experts recommend that no more than 10% of your daily calories should be added sugar. Aim for an antioxidant-rich, balanced diet with natural sugar from fruits or vegetables instead. You’ll have different dietary needs when you get older, so don’t be afraid to consult with a nutritionist who specializes in your changing metabolism.
Not Embracing Wrinkles:
It can be easy to succumb to external pressures that encourage you to hate wrinkles and signs of aging skin. There’s no way to eliminate wrinkles completely; they’re a sign of wisdom and experience, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with having them. In fact, more people—especially women—are embracing their natural beauty as they age.
Panicking at the sight of every wrinkle will only hurt your stress levels and self-esteem, which can lead to more skin health issues. You’re free to do as many cosmetic procedures as your heart desires, but a good step in your skincare routine is embracing the skin you’re in, wrinkles and all. I’ve found that incorporating a skincare routine that helps me feel good in my current skin is the best way to stick to it.
Not Knowing Your Skincare Options:
With so many skincare products and services available, it’s challenging to determine what you truly want, need, or should have. You can start with a simple cleanser and moisturizer; that’s all most people need unless there are specific issues you want to address. It’s beneficial to learn about your skin type and the factors that contribute to the particular problems you’re trying to address. Menopause and aging can make your skincare routine less effective or create new areas of concern that you may want to address. Even if you don’t want any aesthetic skincare services, just knowing what your skin needs to be healthy is a great way to stay on top of things.
Dermatologists:
You can consult with a dermatologist for health-related concerns or a medspa for more aesthetic issues. You’ll want to get a referral from your primary care physician for a dermatologist in most cases, especially if you have health insurance. They should be your first stop for checking your skin for moles, sun spots, or age spots. They may be able to prescribe some skincare treatments that are helpful for menopausal or hormonal skin concerns. If you’ve got eczema or are worried about it, they can help with this.
Medspas:
You should also know how to choose a medspa. While medspas aren’t required, some of their treatments can be ideal for middle-aged skin health. Check for reviews, experience, and the services they offer. The best choices will provide solutions for aging skin, such as vein treatments for spider veins, metabolism boosters, chemical peels for age spots, or laser treatments for unwanted hair growth caused by hormonal imbalances.
Consider locations that use convenient medspa software for improved patient efficiency. The right software makes provider communication, payments, and appointment scheduling a breeze, which reduces stress for first-timers and provides easy access to consult with the staff about your skincare concerns as you navigate those middle-aged changes.
The best type of skincare routine saves time, is accessible, and easy to use. I know I’m more likely to book an appointment with online scheduling, and my first medspa experience was so simple and soothing as a result.
Skincare Mistakes To Avoid After 50–The Bottom Line For Healthy Aging:
As you age, your skin becomes more vulnerable to stress, vitamin imbalances, skin cancer, and more. You can keep your skin healthy and glowing by protecting it from the sun, preventing age-related dryness, maintaining a gentle cleansing routine, and extending your skincare beyond just your face. Be aware of the products and services available to you, should you need or want them, including dermatologists and medical spas. Be sure to reduce your stress and love the skin you’re in for the best results.
Did you enjoy this contributed article? The information shared in this contributed article reflects the perspective of the author and is not intended as medical advice. Sign-up for our Sunday newsletter and get your expert content delivered straight to your inbox.
