Prejuvenation: Preventive Tactics To Stave off Signs of Aging Skin

What if you could help your skin stay youthful and resilient, not by reversing aging, but by getting ahead of it? That’s the idea behind prejuvenation, a growing trend in dermatology focused on proactive skin care. 

What Is Prejuvenation?

Prejuvenation means taking steps early — often in your teens or twenties — to prevent the visible signs of aging before they start. This approach goes beyond traditional anti-aging routines by emphasizing daily habits like sun protection, healthy lifestyle choices, and, when appropriate, gentle treatments that support your skin’s natural defenses.

The best prevention for skin aging is sun protection and not smoking. Use a broad-spectrum sun protection (a sunscreen that protects you from both UVA and UVB rays) daily. Additionally, a good moisturizer is important. 

As you age, you may hear about using topical retinoids, such as Retin-A or adapaline. Retinoids stimulate the production of new skin cells and help fade dark spots caused by photoaging (sun exposure), hyperpigmentation (when patches of skin become darker than the surrounding skin) and hormonal changes. Speak with your doctor prior to adding to your skin care regimen as these may not be appropriate if you're in your teens or 20s. 

Nonsurgical Treatments for Aging Skin

Other prejuvenation tactics that a growing number of younger women are opting for include these nonsurgical skin treatments:

• Botox: This injectable substance relaxes targeted facial muscles to prevent repetitive movements that create deepening lines and wrinkles over time. It's most often used on forehead lines, crow's feet (lines around the eyes) and frown lines.
• Laser skin rejuvenation, skin tightening, microneedling: These techniques stimulate collagen production. We lose collagen as we age, which causes our skin to thin and lose its youthful plumpness. By keeping collagen production up, we can help slow down our skin's aging process. Laser skin rejuvenation also helps to brighten skin tone so you can maintain that youthful healthy glow.
• Chemical peels: A peel is a form of chemical exfoliation that allows your skin to shed a layer, making room for new, healthier skin and improving the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.

Another vital component of prejuvenation is to keep your skin healthy by seeing a dermatologist if you have a condition such as acne, eczema or rosacea. Timely, accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment not only can help you look your best and feel better about your appearance, but also prevent complications, such as infection and scarring. 

Just as we take care of our bodies by exercising and eating right, prejuvenation can help keep our skin, our largest and most visible organ, healthy and looking its best as we age.