As you grow older, your skin ages and becomes slacker and loses subcutaneous support (fatty tissue between your skin and muscle). Your skin’s appearance becomes spotted, with wrinkles. For elderly people your skin becomes tougher and more fragile, as well as somewhat transparent. This can be referred to as your natural skin ageing.

Environmental factors such as pollution and exposure to sunlight are the biggest culprits of ‘premature skin ageing’. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light damages elastin fibers in the skin and free radicals can cause damage to skin cells: once healthy molecules become overactive and unstable. This causes the skin to prematurely sag, stretch and lose its ability to regain its position.

Both natural skin aging and premature ageing are responsible for fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and sagging skin. Protecting your skin from the sun and making lifestyle changes (reduce smoking and drinking, adopt a balanced diet) will result in healthier and better-looking skin. Topical creams and in-clinic procedures can help decrease the appearance of visible signs of skin ageing.