This will be my face in five years if I stop using SPF

The supposed redness on my cheeks and chin is probably due to sun damage, but it’s also very common to develop rosacea in middle age, or I just have hypersensitive skin, and I’ve noticed that you can suddenly become intolerant to a skin brand I’ve used for years.

So what can I do to repair this damage and help prevent future damage to my skin, both from the sun and the aging process?

Wrinkles

“The good news,” says Dr Veraitch, “is that applying SPF 50 every day to your entire face and neck is the most effective thing you can do for skin health and preventing future wrinkles and all forms of skin ageing.”

Amy Ford, owner of SPF brand Hello Sunday, is campaigning for VAT to be removed from sun creams. “The goal is to make high-quality sunscreens available to everyone. And with 16,000 new cases of melanoma skin cancer every year in the UK, it seems like the right time to do it.”

“Lines and wrinkles can be treated in the clinic with different injectables depending on your area of ​​concern,” explains Dr. Veraitch. “Botox works well for forehead wrinkles and skin enhancers like Profhilo work well for things like smoothing out thinner, wrinkled skin on the neck. But your skin care routine is a good place to start to get your skin in the best shape possible. Retinol remains one of the few clinically proven ingredients to treat lines and wrinkles, so look for brands that specialize in retinoids.”

Retinol is a type of retinoid that is a universal agent for a number of vitamin A-based products used on the skin. Brands like Medik 8 and Invite have very good retinoid products that are well tolerated. And the new Alastin brand is getting rave reviews for its wrinkle-smoothing collagen serums.

Redness and rosacea

“Some lasers and IPL treatments can help get rid of redness or broken capillaries caused by rosacea,” says Dr Veraitch, “and recent studies from Harvard University show that using the Fraxel laser can also reduce the risk of skin cancer by 55 per cent.”

One of the most effective anti-redness skincare products I’ve used is the Meder Beauty Red Apax range from £18. The new Polish brand Proxn is excellent for deworming sensitive skin, giving the skin a noticeable radiant glow and also smoothing out wrinkles.

Pigmentation

“Pigmented patches can respond well to IPL treatment,” explains Dr Veraitch, “but there are many other options such as chemical peels in clinics or taking tranexamic acid orally as well as topical applications. Ingredients to look for in skin care products that can work well are kojic acid, niacinamide, retinol and vitamin C.”

Skinceuticals CE Ferulic, £165, is expensive but one of the most effective products with vitamin C to help fade and prevent age spots. Medik 8 C-tetra £39 is also very good.

Excavations at temples

“As we age, we lose volume on the sides of the forehead,” explains Dr. Veraitch, which can cause facial aging. “Dermal filler is a quick and effective way to solve this problem if it bothers you. If done well, dermal filler injected into this area can provide a framework for the rest of the face, help with sagging skin and gently lift the cheekbones.’

Darkness under the eyes

“One of the most effective treatments in the clinic for the treatment of darkness and wrinkles around the eyes is the injection of small amounts of polynucleotides,” says Dr Veraitch. “Polynucleotides are not fillers.” They are injectable biostimulators made from fragments of fish DNA that mirror human DNA to trigger our cells to produce more of our own elastin and collagen. They are popular because patients say they naturally improve the quality of the skin, as opposed to changing your appearance, which some fillers can do.”

Skin laxity

“Skin laxity – in other words, loose skin – especially in the mid-face and jaw area, can respond well to radiofrequency treatment,” says Dr. Veraitch. “Radio frequency works by heating the lower layers of the skin and the existing collagen shrinks. This makes the skin think it is injured, so it starts producing growth factors and new collagen to heal the perceived wounds. Over time, this collagen will show up on the skin’s surface as smoother, firmer and tauter skin. While not cheap, Thermage FLX is one of the most intense radiofrequency treatments available. Patients say it has a ‘shrink wrap’ effect on the lower face.’

I tried the Thermage FLX a few months ago and I think the results are impressive. The skin around my jawline and mid-face looked firmer and lifted. The results last up to two years. If my predicted picture of sun damage actually plays out in real life, this is a treatment I will be booking again.

As for everything else, it’s good to know what options are available. My immediate response was to increase my SPF 50 application every day as this will help with any concerns. And I started using a topical vitamin C product daily to help with pigmentation. I also now use a separate eye SPF, Hello Sunday Mineral Eye Cream SPF 50 The One for your Eyes, £18. The great thing is that it doesn’t smear my contact lenses at all. And if I remember, I put on sunglasses, even though it makes me feel a little like Mariah Carey when I’m walking the dog.