Skin Care and Medical Aesthetics in Your 20s: What Is Necessary, and What Is Not?

What is happening in your skin at this age?

In your 20s, the collagen and elastic fibres that make up the structure of the skin are usually in good condition, and the skin’s ability to repair itself is high. Even so, the effect of the sun on the skin begins to build up in these years. It is known that a significant part of the wrinkles, pigment spots and deterioration in skin texture seen with age is linked to sun damage that accumulates over the years.

That is why the most effective thing you can do in your 20s is not to try to change your skin, but to protect it. The habits you form today will greatly affect how your skin looks in your 30s and 40s.

What is really necessary: sun protection

Sun protection is one of the well-established ways both to reduce the risk of skin cancer and to slow premature skin ageing. There is also a randomised study showing that regular sunscreen use can slow the signs of skin ageing.

• Use a broad-spectrum (protecting against both UVA and UVB) sunscreen with a high protection factor every morning, including on cloudy days and in winter.
• If you are outdoors for a long time, reapply sunscreen about every two hours, and more often after sweating or swimming.
• A hat, sunglasses and shade complement sunscreen.
• Stay away from sunbeds. A sunbed is a source of ultraviolet radiation that increases the risk of skin cancer.
• A tan is the skin’s response to damage; it should not be seen as a sign of a healthy appearance.

A simple basic routine is enough

Long skin care routines made up of many steps do not make the skin healthier; on the contrary, using many products together can lead to irritation and sensitivity. For most people, three basic steps are enough:

1. Wash your face morning and evening with a gentle cleanser; avoid harsh scrubbing and abrasive practices such as exfoliating mitts.
2. Use a moisturiser suited to your skin type. For oily or acne-prone skin, products designed not to clog pores (non-comedogenic) can be preferred.
3. Apply sunscreen in the morning.

When adding a new product to your routine, add only one product at a time and watch how your skin reacts for a few weeks. That way, if irritation occurs, it is easier to understand the cause.

An expensive product or one with many ingredients is not necessarily more effective. When choosing a product, looking at the active ingredient and at how your skin reacts is more useful than looking at the claims on the packaging.

Acne: treatment rather than waiting

Acne is common not only in adolescence but also in your 20s and beyond. Mild acne can often be brought under control with suitable skin care and treatments recommended by a physician. Moderate and severe acne, however, carries a risk of scarring, so it is recommended to see a dermatologist without delay.

• Do not squeeze or pick spots; this can deepen the inflammation and increase the risk of scars and dark marks.
• Home mixtures recommended online and remedies such as toothpaste can irritate the skin.
• Some medicines used to treat acne must not be used in pregnancy; if you are planning a pregnancy, be sure to tell your physician.
• If acne comes with signs such as irregular periods or excess hair growth, a hormonal cause may need to be investigated.

If acne has left scars, the types of scars and the treatment options are explained in our article “Acne Scars”. For dark marks left after spots, you can also look at our article “Dark Spots and Melasma”.

Why are medical aesthetic procedures often unnecessary at this age?

In your 20s, the changes targeted by medical aesthetic procedures, such as wrinkles, volume loss or sagging skin, are usually not yet noticeable. For this reason, there is no strong evidence that many procedures offered as preventive are necessary in this age group.

For example, although the view that botulinum toxin given at a young age, before wrinkles form, brings long-term benefit is widespread, the evidence on this is limited. Similarly, using filler in a young face at an early age can change the face’s natural proportions and may mean an unnecessary risk.

This does not mean that no procedure is ever appropriate. In some situations, such as acne scars, excessive sweating, unwanted hair or pronounced pigment spots, a treatment may be considered after a physician’s assessment. What matters is that the procedure is aimed at a real problem and that the decision that it is necessary for you is made together after an examination.

If you are considering a procedure for the first time, our article “A Guide for First-Time Medical Aesthetic Patients” explains the questions you can ask yourself before deciding.

Warning signs in social media trends

There is a great deal of content about skin care and aesthetics on social media, and a significant part of it lacks a scientific basis. If you see one of the signs below, it is advisable to be cautious:

• Products or treatments that promise extraordinary results in a short time
• Before-and-after posts presented with filtered or edited images
• Treatments done at home with microneedling devices, pens or injectable products bought online
• Content claiming that sunscreen is harmful and that natural oils are enough instead
• Routines that recommend using acid-containing products, retinoids or peeling products unsupervised and together
• Injections or procedures carried out by non-physicians outside a healthcare facility
• Offers designed to rush you, such as discounts or time limits

To check who is performing a treatment and where, you can use our article “A 10-Point Safety Checklist for Choosing a Clinic and Physician for Medical Aesthetics”.

When should you see a physician?

Final word

In your 20s, the most valuable things you can do for your skin are often the simplest: protecting yourself from the sun, staying away from smoking, keeping up a simple skin care routine and having problems such as acne treated in good time. When you are considering a procedure, deciding without rushing, after an examination and with good information, is always the safest path.