Knowing your skin type and how it changes as you age is essential for good skin health. By focusing on your unique skin concerns you can effectively minimise any signs of ageing and enjoy a lifelong radiant complexion.

Whether you’re in your youth or have a few more years of wisdom on your side, it’s easy to learn how to best care for your skin.

Understanding skin types

Your skin type can change as you age and is influenced by lifestyle factors, hormones and diet.

Normal skin

Normal skin is a bit of a misnomer, as everyone’s skin is their own ‘normal’. And while normal skin doesn’t mean perfect skin – if only there is such a thing – it broadly means:

  • not too oily or too dry
  • few imperfections or blemishes
  • even skin tone
  • smooth complexion with few fine lines or wrinkles
  • small pores not prone to blocking or redness
  • can tolerate most products without skin overreacting.

 

Dry

If your skin looks dull and flaky it may be a sign it’s dry and needs a hydration boost. You’re in the dry skin camp if your skin:

  • looks dull and grey
  • is red, flaky and itchy
  • feels tight, especially after showering
  • becomes easily irritated or inflamed
  • has premature lines and wrinkles.

Causes

Dry skin is often caused by a lack of sebum, an oily substance produced by sebaceous glands, and keeps skin soft and hydrated. Genes are important in how much sebum you make, and production also decreases with age.

Sun damage, harsh soaps and chemicals, hormones and heat can also make dry skin worse.

Oily skin

Shiny skin prone to acne and blemishes signals oily skin. Other signs include:

  • enlarged, visible pores
  • frequent breakouts
  • makeup that doesn’t stay on
  • thicker skin less prone to wrinkles.

Causes

Oily skin tends to run in families and is caused by too much sebum production. Hormone imbalances can also trigger oily skin and can sometimes be caused by underlying medical conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Sensitive skin

You tick the sensitive skin box if it becomes easily red and inflamed. Other signs include:

  • dryness
  • itching
  • flaking
  • bumps and rashes
  • prone to breakouts.

Causes

Often sensitive skin is caused by underlying skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema or rosacea, as well as nutritional or hormonal deficiencies.  And again, genes may be responsible.

Combination skin

For most, our skin is a combination of two or more different skin types including:

  • oily skin on forehead, nose and chin (T zone), dry and flaky cheeks
  • dry in winter, oily in summer
  • breakouts and dry skin simultaneously.

Causes

Sebum production variation in different areas of your face. Hormones, age and genetics all play a part in combination skin.

Skin concerns by age 2

Proactively care for your skin by knowing about common skin concerns at every age.

Teens

Common skin concerns

Not surprisingly, acne tops the list of the biggest skin issue for teenagers. An increase in hormones causes oily skin, meaning pimples, blackheads and sometimes acne scarring. 


Maintaining healthy looking skin

Nourish yourself from within with nutrient-dense foods and plenty of water. Cleanse daily to remove dirt, bacteria and excess oil, followed by a suitable moisturiser. And don’t cover up with too much makeup.

Top tip: wear sunscreen daily, it will pay off enormously when you’re older!

Treatments

  • HydraFacial
  • Laser Genesis
  • Dermapen4
  • Vampire facial

20s

Common skin concerns

Oily skin and breakouts are still common, but skin may become dryer with visible fine lines.

Maintaining healthy looking skin

Inner health is reflected through your skin so go easy on processed foods. Choose skin products rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin C and E and green tea extract to minimise any signs of ageing.

Continue using sunscreen daily and regularly exfoliate to remove dead skin cells.

Treatments

  • HydraFacial
  • Laser Genesis
  • Dermapen4
  • Vampire facial
  • Botulinum toxin

30s

Common skin concerns

Collagen and elastin production decreases and you may notice more fine lines and wrinkles. Uneven skin tone becomes more visible and the skin under your eyes may darken and become thinner.

Maintaining healthy looking skin

Support your skin with supplements such as fish oil, vitamin C, Zinc, multivitamins and a hydrolysed collagen supplement. Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) supplements are great for supporting metabolism.

Use a Vitamin A derived cream and an antioxidant cream regularly at night.

Treatments

  • Titan
  • Laser Genesis
  • Limelight IPL
  • Triple Treat
  • Tone & Titan
  • Dermapen4
  • Vampire facial
  • Dermal fillers
  • Botulinum toxin

40s

Common skin concerns

Dull, dry skin with more fine lines and wrinkles welcome you into this decade and with less elastin your skin loses some of its firmness. But don’t despair, it’s your fabulous 40s!

Maintaining healthy looking skin

Your regular cleansers and creams should include a Vitamin A derived cream or lotion, fruit acids and collagen peptides to support skin cell health.

Invest in a moisturising night cream and prioritise a good night’s sleep.

Correct any internal vitamin, mineral or hormone deficiencies. 

Treatments

  • Titan
  • Laser Genesis
  • Limelight IPL
  • Triple Treat
  • Tone & Titan
  • Dermapen4
  • Vampire facial
  • Dermal fillers
  • Botulinum toxin for frown lines and crow's feet
  • Platelet-rich plasma +/- cellular matrix
  • Plasma Eyelift Plasma BT

50–60s

Common skin concerns

Menopause can cause dryer, rougher skin and you may find the skin around your jaw, eyes and cheeks is less plump. A decrease in estrogen can cause visible face and neck wrinkles.


Maintaining healthy looking skin

Focus on moisturising dry skin and minimising further sun damage. Keep an eye on any suspicious moles and continue to protect yourself from the sun as your skin becomes thinner.

Eat lots of nutrient-dense, antioxidant foods, stay hydrated and enjoy the wisdom that comes with age.

Correction of nutrient and hormone deficiencies safely becomes even more important now. 

Treatments

  • Titan
  • Laser Genesis
  • Limelight IPL
  • Triple Treat
  • Tone & Titan
  • Dermapen4
  • Vampire facial
  • Dermal fillers
  • Botulinum toxin
  • Platelet-rich plasma +/- cellular matrix
  • TruSculpt double chin reduction
  • Brow lift protoco.
  • Neck lift protocol
  • Plasma Eyelift Plasma BT

Understanding how skin varies between ethnicities

One of the main reasons skin colour varies between ethnicities is due to the amount and type of melanin produced in the skin’s epidermis.

How skin pigment works between different ethnicities

Specialised skin cells called melanocytes produce two types of melanin – eumelanin and phaeomelanin. People with darker skin produce more eumelanin and less phaeomelanin and lighter-skinned people produce more phaeomelanin and less eumelanin. Haemoglobin in red blood cells and carotenes also play a small role in skin colour.

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun increases the amount of melanin made and contributes to the characteristics typical of different skin types. Because Asian and darker skin types react differently than fairer skin to our harsh New Zealand sun, let’s delve deeper into some of the differences.

Understanding Asian skin types

People of Asian descent generally show signs of ageing later than fairer skinned people.

Hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation (changes in skin tone) can occur in Asian skin types, through a chronic skin condition called melasma. Melasma is caused by the overproduction of melanin and causes facial skin to become brown and blotchy, usually from sun damage, hormones, internal inflammation, or during pregnancy.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), often recommended for uneven pigmentation may not be suitable for all Asian skin types. Instead, Skinfresh has a specialised internal health approach for Melasma and also has specific treatments for Melasma including:

  • Laser Genesis
  • Dermapen4
  • Vampire Facial Plus 

Other common skin concerns include:

  • oily skin
  • acne
  • sensitive skin
  • skin discolouration.

First, dealing with internal imbalanced and reducing inflammation in the body and skin is a fundamental approach. Establishing a skincare regime that specifically targets these common problems is key. Eating nutrient-dense foods, limiting high-fat, high-sugar and highly processed foods will also ensure skin is nourished from within. And the golden rule of wearing sunscreen daily applies!

Understanding darker skin complexions

People with darker skin also show signs of ageing later, and pigmentation changes are at the top of the list of skin concerns.

Common skin concerns also include:

  • acne
  • eczema
  • keloids – excessive scar growth
  • melasma
  • vitiligo – white patches on skin caused by changes to skin pigment cells.

A skincare regimen for darker skin starts with daily sunscreen and is supported by a good diet and staying hydrated. We also recommend products that contain Vitamin A derived products , hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and vitamin C.

Skincare regimen for all Kiwis

It’s never too early, or too late, to focus on improving the health of your skin and enjoying visible results.

The importance of having your skin analysed

While some problems at the skin surface are easy to see, what’s happening beneath the top layer of your skin is harder to diagnose without specialist knowledge and technology.

Visia is the gold standard skin analysis system that uses specialised photography technology and computer software to paint a complete picture of your skin health. Using the Visia system, the Skinfresh team understands your skin at a microscopic level and can tailor a skincare regime that’s perfect for you.

What’s more, you’ll be able to compare and measure the results and see for yourself the benefits of your skin health investment.

The Visia system analyses areas that can affect your complexion and appearance including:

  • fine lines and wrinkles
  • blemishes
  • pores
  • uneven skin tone
  • redness
  • brown spots
  • sun damage
  • skin bacteria

Steps for your daily skincare routine

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Step 1

Remove bacteria and impurities with a daily morning cleanse. If extra antioxidant protection is needed, apply a Vitamin C serum.

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Step 2

Hydrate your deeper skin levels with an antioxidant serum tailored to your specific needs. Add a Vitamin A derived serum or cream at night for extra benefit. 

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Step 3

Minimise sun damage and age spots by wearing sunscreen daily, especially on your face, neck, chest and back of your hands.

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Step 4

Keep your skin hydrated and bright with a daily moisturiser. Any specific problems require the addition of specific therapeutic sera. 

Our extra tips for radiant skin

    • Exfoliate 1-2 times a week to remove dead skin cells and improve circulation.

    • Remove your makeup each night with a gentle cleanser for clearer pores.

    • Talk with a skincare expert about the benefits of using a face mask to target your unique skin issues.

    • Wash your pillowcases regularly to remove dirt and bacteria.
 
Book your free consultation with our Skinfresh team to start your journey to lifelong great skin health.