The skin changes naturally throughout life. From the age of 25, collagen synthesis gradually slows, cell renewal becomes less effective and the first changes in skin quality appear. Although physiological, this process remains strongly influenced by lifestyle, sun exposure, the environment and daily skincare.
Contrary to a still widespread belief, aesthetic medicine is not solely about correcting visible signs of ageing. Its role today is also preventive. The aim is to support the skin over the years to preserve its balance, quality and radiance while respecting each face's distinctive characteristics.
There is therefore no universal routine. The needs of skin at 25 naturally differ from those at 45 or 60. Adapting skincare to each life stage not only slows skin ageing, but also maintains healthy, radiant and harmonious skin over the long term.
Why does the skin age?
Skin ageing results from two complementary mechanisms.
The first is chronological ageing, directly associated with time. Over the years, collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production gradually decreases. The skin becomes thinner, less elastic and gradually loses its ability to retain water.
The second is environmental ageing. This mainly depends on daily external exposures: ultraviolet radiation, air pollution, smoking, chronic stress, an unbalanced diet or lack of sleep.
In practice, this second component is largely responsible for premature ageing observed in many patients. It is also the component that appropriate prevention can effectively address.
Between 20 and 30: preserving your skin's resources
The twenties often mean naturally toned, well-hydrated skin rich in collagen. Yet this is already a key time for establishing good habits.
The aim is not to treat wrinkles that do not yet exist, but to preserve the skin's resources for the long term.
A simple routine remains more than sufficient: cleansing that respects the skin barrier, daily moisturising adapted to skin type, a vitamin C antioxidant serum and sun protection every morning.
Protection against UV radiation is the most effective anti-ageing habit. Repeated sun exposure accelerates collagen breakdown, promotes pigmentation spots and gradually impairs skin quality.
Which aesthetic medicine treatments should be prioritised before 30?
The aesthetic medicine treatments most frequently recommended before 30 are:
- HydraFacial®: this medical treatment deeply cleanses the skin, removes dead cells, unclogs pores and intensely hydrates through infusion of serums rich in antioxidants and hyaluronic acid. It immediately improves complexion radiance, refines skin texture and helps prevent blemishes while respecting natural skin balance.
- Aesthetic mesotherapy: this treatment involves multiple superficial injections of a personalised mixture of vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants, minerals and non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid. It improves skin hydration, stimulates cellular metabolism and restores freshness and radiance.
- Skinboosters: these injections of lightly cross-linked hyaluronic acid directly into the dermis provide lasting improvements in hydration, suppleness and skin quality and prevent the first fine lines.
- Superficial peels: performed with low-concentration acids, they promote cell renewal, soften pigmentation irregularities, reduce blemishes and bring greater complexion radiance.
- Photorejuvenation lasers: by gradually stimulating skin renewal and collagen production, they improve skin quality without substantial social downtime.
Introduced early and adapted to each patient's needs, these treatments maintain skin quality over time.
Between 30 and 40: addressing the first signs of ageing
From the thirties, the first age-related changes gradually become visible. Expression lines become established and the complexion loses radiance.
This progression is mainly associated with a gradual decline in collagen production.
The skincare routine should then evolve.
Serums containing vitamin C, retinol, peptides or niacinamide support cell renewal and protect the skin against oxidative stress. A richer moisturiser, particularly at night, also helps strengthen the skin barrier.
The eye area deserves particular attention. Its especially thin skin is often the first to reveal signs of time.
Which aesthetic treatments should be considered between 30 and 40?
Aesthetic medicine procedures play a preventive role here. Introduced early and personalised, these treatments can often slow the appearance of visible ageing signs.
The most frequently offered treatments are:
- Mesotherapy: through injections of non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid, vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants, mesotherapy deeply hydrates the skin and stimulates its metabolism. It improves complexion radiance and skin suppleness and is an excellent preventive treatment from the thirties.
- PRX-T33® peel: this new-generation biorevitalising peel stimulates cell renewal and collagen production without causing peeling. It improves skin quality, tightens pores, softens blemishes and restores complexion radiance. Activities can be resumed immediately.
- Botulinum toxin injections: used precisely, they prevent expression lines becoming established on the forehead, glabella and around the eyes. The aim is to relax certain repeatedly contracting muscles moderately while preserving a natural, harmonious expression.
- Hyaluronic acid injections: when the first signs of volume loss appear, small amounts of hyaluronic acid can subtly restore certain facial areas. According to patient needs, this may also form part of a non-surgical lifting strategy to support tissues and preserve facial contours without surgery.
- Photorejuvenation laser: this technology gradually stimulates collagen synthesis and improves skin texture.
Between 40 and 50: preserving firmness and restoring skin quality
From the forties, skin changes become more pronounced. The gradual reduction in collagen and elastin causes loss of firmness, and cell renewal slows. Expression lines gradually become established, facial volume starts to change and the complexion may lose radiance.
Ageing is not simply the appearance of wrinkles. Overall skin quality (thickness, hydration, elasticity and ability to reflect light) plays an essential role in the youthful impression of a face. Healthy, radiant skin naturally looks younger, even with a few wrinkles.
The daily routine should then become more targeted. Products containing retinol, peptides, hyaluronic acid or antioxidants support natural skin repair mechanisms. Richer moisturising strengthens the skin barrier, often more fragile at this life stage.
The neck, décolletage and hands also deserve particular attention. These often sun-exposed areas frequently show earlier ageing signs when neglected.
Which aesthetic medicine treatments are suitable between 40 and 50?
Treatments are adapted to each patient's needs to improve skin quality, correct early sagging and restore volume when necessary. Treatment choice always relies on personalised assessment.
The treatments most frequently offered between 40 and 50 are:
- Botulinum toxin injections: these soften forehead lines, glabellar lines and crow's feet by selectively relaxing certain facial muscles. Performed precisely, they preserve natural expressions while limiting wrinkle establishment.
- Hyaluronic acid injections: used for volume restoration or non-surgical lifting techniques, they compensate for early volume loss, redefine facial contours and improve support.
- Sculptra®: this collagen stimulator gradually stimulates natural collagen production. It improves skin quality, gradually restores tissue firmness and offers progressive rejuvenation particularly suited to early skin sagging.
- Mesopeel: a combination of mesotherapy and peeling.
- Photorejuvenation laser: by stimulating synthesis of new collagen fibres, it improves skin texture, softens pigmentation spots and gradually increases skin density.
- Fractional ablative laser: indicated when wrinkles, enlarged pores or skin irregularities become more pronounced, it intensely stimulates dermal remodelling. It provides lasting improvements in firmness, smooths wrinkles and restores more even skin texture.
After 50: addressing hormonal skin changes
After 50, skin ageing is strongly influenced by hormonal changes, particularly in women after menopause. Skin generally becomes thinner, drier and loses more density. Facial volume changes, pigmentation spots may appear more readily and skin sagging becomes more visible.
These changes are physiological.
At this life stage, moisturising becomes a priority. Products rich in ceramides, hyaluronic acid, peptides and lipid-replenishing ingredients restore skin comfort and strengthen its protective function.
Daily sun protection remains just as essential as at 30. Ultraviolet radiation causes pigmentation spots and accelerates collagen breakdown at any age.
Which aesthetic medicine treatments are suitable after 50?
After 50, aesthetic medicine treatments aim to restore volume, improve skin quality and correct skin sagging. In many cases, several techniques are combined in a personalised plan. This comprehensive approach provides harmonious, lasting results while respecting facial proportions and each patient's natural expression.
The most frequently offered techniques are:
- Hyaluronic acid injections: these restore volume gradually lost with age, particularly in the cheekbones, temples or jawline. Performed using non-surgical lifting techniques, they support tissues, redefine facial contours and provide natural rejuvenation without surgery.
- Photorejuvenation laser: this treatment stimulates collagen production, improves complexion radiance, softens redness and pigmentation spots and gradually increases skin density.
- Fractional ablative laser: indicated for more pronounced skin ageing, it promotes deep dermal remodelling. By intensely stimulating cell renewal and collagen synthesis, it improves firmness, smooths wrinkles and provides lasting refinement of skin texture.
Daily anti-ageing habits
In-clinic treatments never replace daily habits. Their effectiveness largely relies on the quality of the home routine.
A varied diet rich in fruit, vegetables, quality proteins and essential fatty acids provides nutrients needed for collagen synthesis and helps protect cells against oxidative stress.
Adequate hydration, restorative sleep and regular physical activity also promote better tissue oxygenation and help maintain more radiant skin.
Conversely, smoking, repeated unprotected sun exposure and chronic stress accelerate skin ageing by increasing free radical production.
Prevention remains the best anti-ageing treatment
Waiting until signs of ageing are very established often leads to more substantial treatments.
Gradually addressing physiological skin changes provides more natural, longer-lasting results.
Summary
Preserving radiant skin at any age relies above all on a comprehensive approach combining a suitable skincare routine, healthy lifestyle and, when indicated, personalised aesthetic medicine treatments.
The aim is not to transform the face, but to address skin ageing appropriately to preserve healthy, radiant and naturally harmonious skin over the years.
Article written by Dr Valeria Romano
Dr Valeria Romano supports each patient through a comprehensive approach to facial, body and intimate aesthetics, as well as skin and hair quality. Every treatment is based on a personalised medical assessment.
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