Ageing is inevitable but it's possible to take years off with the right skin care hacks.
Plastic surgeon Dr Amir Khan - who specialises in facial rejuvenation - took to YouTube to share the "ageing" skin care mistakes women over 50 make. He urged middle-aged ladies to stop skipping the sunscreen.
Dr Amir explained that a major faux pas women make when it comes to their skin is forgetting to wear sun protection, and consequently, they age faster.
Speaking about sunscreen application, he said: "At any point that you forgo this or you don't take it seriously, you're going to pay the price.
Women over 50 have been given a stark warning about ageing
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"Folks, I can't stress this enough, it's the simplest thing you can do."
The expert shared the alarming statistic that 70 to 80 per cent of an individual's skin ageing is related to the impact of the sun. He urged women to "focus on sun protection", as "there's really no excuse".
As for what kind of sun protection ladies over 50 should opt for, Dr Amir suggested going for ones with zinc or titanium oxide in them. These ingredients create a cover over the skin.
The expert emphasised that while the focus of his video is protecting the face, skin cancer "comes into play for the rest of the body".
The Skin Cancer Foundation said: "When used as directed, sunscreen can decrease your risk of skin cancers and skin precancers.
"Studies show that regular daily use of SPF 15 sunscreen - when used as directed - can reduce your risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by about 40 percent, and lower your melanoma risk by 50 percent."
The use of sunscreen can also "help prevent premature skin ageing caused by the sun, including wrinkles, sagging and age spots".
Staying out of the sun altogether is not necessary, as long as you ensure you take the appropriate measures to protect your skin.
The plastic surgeon suggested: "Wear a nice, UV-protected hat, keep the face covered as much as possible."
Another mistake women over 50 make when it comes to their skin is not using active ingredients. He explained that these "have a measurable impact on the DNA, the cells of the skin".
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Wearing sunscreen is 'the simplest thing you can do' for your skin
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He specifically mentioned fibroblasts, cells that create collagen, and melanocytes, cells that create pigmentation.
Dr Amir said: "So if you stimulate fibroblasts to make more collagen, and suppress melanocytes to decrease pigmentation production, you're winning the battle and your skin's getting better and better every time."
According to another plastic surgeon, women can take years off their age using a green tea hack.
