Ageing Skin: Causes, Signs and How to Care for Your Skin

The Australasian College of Dermatologists describes skin ageing as “a gradual process that affects the appearance, characteristics and function of the skin over time.” Ageing Skin can present as fine lines and wrinkles, reduced firmness, dullness, uneven skin tone, age spots and thinning skin.

Skin ageing occurs through two primary mechanisms: intrinsic ageing and extrinsic ageing.

• Intrinsic Ageing refers to the natural, genetically determined ageing process. As we age, the skin gradually produces less collagen, elastin and natural moisturising factors, which can lead to thinning skin, fine lines and reduced firmness.

• Extrinsic Ageing, often called photoageing, results from external influences such as sun exposure, pollution, lifestyle and environmental stress. Dermatology resource DermNet NZ notes that long-term UV exposure is one of the most significant contributors to premature skin ageing, accelerating the breakdown of collagen and elastin and contributing to wrinkles, pigmentation and uneven skin tone.

Understanding what causes skin ageing is the first step in choosing the right skincare routine and professional treatments to continue to support your healthy skin.

Along with biological factors, there are many environmental factors that also play a large part in your skin ageing.

Sun Exposure and Photoageing

UV radiation is the single largest contributor to premature skin ageing. Long-term sun exposure breaks down collagen and elastin fibres, leading to wrinkles, pigmentation and uneven skin texture.

While it may not occur in your younger years, skin damage from the sun can appear as you get older and cause your skin to look:

• Rough or leathery

• Uneven in tone

• Marked by sun spots or pigmentation

• Less elastic and more prone to wrinkles.

That's why we always recommend the use of sunscreen in your morning skincare routine.

Loss of Collagen & Elastin

Collagen provides structure and strength to the skin, while elastin allows the skin to stretch and return to its original shape.

From approximately the age of 20, collagen production declines by around 1% per year, gradually leading to:

• Reduced skin firmness

• Fine lines and wrinkles

• Loss of facial volume

This process accelerates with age and can be influenced by environmental stressors.

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal fluctuations, particularly during menopause, can significantly affect the skin.

Oestrogen plays a key role in maintaining skin thickness, hydration and collagen production. As oestrogen levels decline, many women experience:

• Increased dryness

• Thinning skin

• Reduced elasticity

• More pronounced wrinkles

Free Radical Damage & Oxidative Stress

Environmental factors such as UV radiation, pollution and stress produce free radicals, which can damage skin cells.

This process, known as oxidative stress, accelerates the breakdown of collagen and contributes to premature skin ageing.

Antioxidants in skincare help neutralise these free radicals and support healthier skin.

Lifestyle Factors

Lifestyle choices also play an important role in skin health.

Factors that can accelerate skin ageing include:

• Smoking

• Poor nutrition

• Lack of sleep

• Chronic Stress

• Excess alcohol consumption

Healthy lifestyle habits combined with effective skincare can significantly improve the overall appearance of ageing skin.

To combat these skin ageing causes, a consistent skincare routine plays an important role. The right combination of ingredients can help improve hydration, protect against environmental damage and support healthy collagen production.

We recommend professional skincare brands such as Cosmedix. Cosmedix skin care products are formulated with advanced active ingredients designed to support skin renewal while maintaining the skin barrier. Building a simple and consistent morning and evening routine can help improve the appearance of fine lines, uneven skin tone and loss of firmness over time.

Alongside your home routine, professional treatments can also be highly beneficial for more advanced concerns. Learn more about the variety of treatments available to address ageing skin.

Using targeted, professional skincare can help support the skin as it changes with age. One of our most recommended brands is Cosmedix as it is known for its use of advanced active ingredients combined with gentle delivery systems. This makes the range suitable for improving the appearance of fine lines, uneven skin tone and loss of firmness without compromising the skin barrier.

Below are some recommended Cosmedix products that can be incorporated into a morning and evening skincare routine for ageing skin.