Australian women are ageing badly

Australian women have some of the fastest ageing facial skin in the world, according to a new study by Monash University.

The study, published in the Australasian Journal of Dermatology this week, found that Australian women are reporting their facial skin ageing 20 years ahead of women in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.

Monash University Adjunct Associate Professor Greg Goodman said years of spending time outside under the harsh Australian sun was taking its toll and causing deeper damage to our skin.

“It’s not UVs,” Professor Goodman told Starts at 60. “The sunscreens aren’t going to cut it.

“They’ll certainly help the wrinkles part of the equation, but what we found in the study was it wasn’t just wrinkles that were an issue. We actually lost volume in our faces and that’s got nothing to do with ultraviolet light; that’s to do with the deeper rays of sunshine and sunblocks aren’t going to help that.”

The study surveyed more than 1400 women and asked them to complete a questionnaire about their facial ageing.

The results found Australian women reported higher rates of change and significantly more severe facial lines and volume-related features like the lines between the nose and sides of the upper lip than women from other countries.

Professor Goodman says the majority of sun damage occurs during childhood and for Baby Boomers this continued into young adult life thanks to frequent tanning without proper sun protection.

Previous studies have found it is possible to reverse the appearance of wrinkles and sunspots by wearing sunscreen and a hat, but the deeper damage caused to the skin by the sun’s rays is irreversible.

The harsh conditions aren’t just affecting our looks either. According to the Cancer Council Australia, approximately two in three Australians are diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they’re 70 years old.

Melanoma, caused by exposure to the sun with sunburn, tanning and solariums, is the third most common cancer in Australia.

Professor Goodman says it’s never too late to start protecting your skin and even reverse the appearance of ageing. 

“Certainly, you can help your skin in your 60s-plus. People say ‘Oh it’s too late’ but it’s not too late. You need to make a start, so if you help your skin it will do its best to help you.”

Do you wear sunscreen everyday? Did you used to tan out in the sun when you were young? Have you ever had skin cancer removed?