Lately, there’s been heightened
conversation
online about how
millennials
don’t
look their age
How is it that
“Bridgerton”
star Nicola Coughlan is
37 years old but appears truly like 19,
What is the age of Penelope Featherington’s character on the show?
Why are individuals born in 1993 now considered as adults?
the same age as George Costanza
in the
first season of “Seinfeld
― 31 ― appearing at least a decade younger? (We apologize for putting you in this situation, Jason Alexander; we greatly appreciate your contributions.)
One of the most intriguing aspects of this discussion is that much of it originates from Generation Z, those who were born immediately following the millennial generation. On the flip side, numerous members of Gen Z express feeling as though they are aging rapidly.
spoiled milk
.
“We find ourselves in an era where millennials appear much younger than their years, whereas Gen Z tends to look considerably older for theirs,” stated TikTok influencer Jordan Howlett, aged 27, in a popular video.
In January, it garnered more than 24.8 million views.
.
I belong to Generation Z, yet everyone doubts me,” Howlett stated. “Whenever my mother and I go out together, people often assume she’s my little sister.” On one occasion, when Howlett requested an autograph from The Rock solely for himself, the actor mistakenly thought “Jordan” referred to his child and wrote on the autograph, “Your father is awesome; he waited here for ages.
“Dude, Dwayne is 52, I’m only 26, right?” the influencer quipped in the popular video.
Howlett attributes the early signs of aging in his cohort to the demands of employment and financial challenges they face.
Although this point may hold true, an essential aspect is overlooked when discussing the varied aging processes between millennials (typically ranging from 28 to 43 years old in 2024) and Generation Z (which includes individuals aged 12 to 27): Generally, millennials were the pioneering cohort to adopt sunscreen use and shun tobacco, whereas certain members of Gen Z seem to be moving in the opposite direction. (This topic will be explored further subsequently.)
“Millennials have certainly learned from both the insights and errors of previous generations,” he stated.
Dr. Anthony Rossi
a dermatologist, professor, and researcher at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
He mentioned, “Overall, they started using sunscreen consistently and properly: Applying it beforehand and reapplying when necessary.” He noted this had an impact, particularly contrasted with previous generations who often shared that they used baby oil combined with iodine along with sun reflectors for tanning and burning purposes.
Incorrect data can cause actual harm.
Shamara Bondaroff
Certainly, we’re discussing this broadly: You can find boomers, generation x members, and gen z individuals who are highly attentive to skincare routines. For instance, consider how meticulous some gen z people are when it comes to their skincare regimens.
Sephora baby craze
Which, somewhat dismally, keeps tweens and teens obsessed with preventing aging.
Certainly, many millennials had monthly subscriptions for tanning beds back in the early 2000s. (Kudos to all those)
“Gym, Tan, Laundry” warriors
And those who would stick Playboy logos onto their outfits for their appointments.
acquire slight rabbit tan lines
Side note: It might be a good idea to get a Tretinoin 0.025% prescription at this point.)
Major blunders occurred in the skincare routine of Millennials as well: Looking back, it seems that treating an apricot scrub as a daily ritual might not have been such a good idea after all.
Sure enough, aging occurs within the demographic: “When people say millennials look young for their age, they’re usually referring to millennial non-legal professionals, so I wanted to clarify,”
One guy made a joke about X
the platform previously called Twitter.
Nevertheless, from what we gather informally, it appears that millennials generally took to heart the counsel offered in Baz Luhrmann’s 1999 unexpected smash hit “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)”.
aka “The Sunscreen Song”
And applied the sunscreen.
“Applying sunscreen is a daily habit for them, not something saved exclusively for beach outings,” he mentioned.
Dr. Danilo C. Del Campo
, a dermatologist practicing at the Chicago Skin Clinic and the CEO of her skincare product line
Los Doctores Cubanos
.
Apart from sunscreen, individuals from the ’80s and ’90s tend to be quite diligent about various aspects of their everyday skincare regimen. As they progress further into their 30s and 40s, these people are increasingly including products with
antioxidants
and
retinoids
to reduce some of the obvious indications of getting older.
Generation Y might have experienced the
golden era of sweetened beverages during childhood
, but now they hold onto their
“emotional support water bottles”
— And staying hydrated also helps maintain a full and young appearance. If they need to get some color, they won’t risk using sunbeds or tanning oils; instead, they’ll opt for a spray tan.
Millennials frequently enhance their skincare routines with advice from dermatologists, adopting a very thorough method,” Del Campo stated. “This includes cleansing, treating, moisturizing, hydrating, and protecting the skin to sustain its overall health and strength.
And, naturally, numerous individuals within this age bracket are decelerating the aging process through
“tweakments”
such as fillers and Botox. Altogether, this includes using sunscreen during their teenage and young adult years, along with highly specialized skincare routines.
maybe even over-hydrating
with their
beloved Stanley water tumblers
, and cosmetic injectables — indicates that society’s perception of how a person aged 30 or 40 should look has significantly evolved in recent times.
Millennials were not influenced by sunscreen-hating TikTok personalities either.
As per a 2023 survey conducted by
the U.S. Academy of Dermatology
, 20 percent of Generation Z individuals think that having a tan is more crucial to them than safeguarding themselves against skin cancer, and 30 percent confessed that they would prefer to have an attractive appearance now with a suntan “even if it means potentially poorer health down the line.”
These statistics might be quite startling for young adults who are cautious about sunlight exposure; however, it’s crucial to understand that millennials benefited from an era when mostly professionals were providing guidance rather than social media personalities or individuals claiming expertise in wellness contradicting the use of sunscreen on platforms like TikTok.
During the 1990s, discussions around skin cancer started gaining attention.
major public health problem
, just like cancer in general did. (Do you remember when everyone was wearing those yellow Livestrong bracelets around 2005 or so?)
Millennials were frequently reminded from an early age about the significance of detecting issues early and how both doctor examinations and self-checks could help identify problematic moles or spots. With the rise of social media, these constant messages became even more prevalent—much like when your mother wouldn’t stop emphasizing that sunscreen can prevent skin cancer.
The message has since become confused. While the formal guidelines from
the American Academy of Dermatology
is to utilize comprehensive sun protection with an SPF of at least 30 that shields against both UVA and UVB radiation; however, some current critics of sunscreen casually spread conspiracy theories about this topic.
sunscreen causes cancer
And it was devised as a strategy by pharmaceutical firms to increase their earnings and harm individuals.
Most recently, “The Hills” star Kristin Cavallari (who belongs to the Millennial generation) faced some criticism — even from ultraviolet rays! — for
dismissing everyday sunscreen use
And featuring a guest who discussed how building a “base coat” with gradual sunlight exposure enables the skin to withstand the sun without burning.
That was certainly not the message Millennials received as they grew up, stated Shamara Bondaroff, an aesthetician and the founder of SB Skin NYC and Miami.
She mentioned that for a period, the messages regarding skin protection disseminated by genuine professionals through social media were more powerful than they had ever been before.
“Some of the strongest visuals will continue to be those showing individuals who applied sunscreen only to certain areas of their skin, thus illustrating the impact this had on their aging,” she explained.
The reality is,
studies show
That sunscreen shields against all three prevalent types of skin cancer: squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Since
At minimum, one out of every five individuals in America will encounter skin cancer at some point.
By the time you reach 70 years old, as stated by the Skin Cancer Foundation, it’s important to make sure you take the time to use sunscreen.
What are some other causes of early aging among Generation Z? Tanning beds, e-cigarettes, and dermal fillers.
Experts in dermatology are concerned about the well-being of Generation Z due to more than just widespread misconceptions regarding sunscreens. There has also been an alarming revival of
usage of tanning beds amongst younger individuals
, thank you once more to TikTok.
“The tanning beds make me shudder,” Rossi stated.
I make sure to inform Generation Z members that any ultraviolet A (UVA) exposure they receive doesn’t provide them with immunity,” he stated. “A so-called ‘base tan’ won’t shield you from ultraviolet B (UVB) burns, and there’s no such thing as a harmless tan since even slight reddening or swelling indicates DNA harm.
What are some other factors that might contribute to early signs of aging?
popularity of vaping.
The nicotine and substances utilized in vaping can lead to the degradation of collagen—a protein crucial for maintaining supple and taut skin—potentially causing wrinkles around the mouth area and swelling around the eye region.
A further explanation for why members of Generation Z might appear somewhat more mature compared to Millennials at the same age could be attributed to the widespread acceptance of dermal fillers within this younger cohort, as mentioned.
Courtney Rubin,
A dermatologist and co-founder of Fig.1, a skincare line.
Of course, millennials do receive Botox and Juvederm nowadays as well, however, they were not using such treatments during their college days. At an influential age, Generation Z experimented with these procedures.
Snapchat’s appearance-altering filters that exacerbate body dysmorphia
and saw their favorite influencers get in-office filler treatments.
I’m noticing that numerous clients are beginning to opt for fillers in their early twenties, something that wasn’t common before,” Rubin explained to SofTech. “Fillers work well as a means of restoring lost volume over time, making them suitable for corrective treatments; however, people in their 20s typically haven’t experienced significant loss of volume yet.
According to Rubin, what occurs is that individuals in their 20s are opting for dermal fillers not primarily to restore volume, but instead to alter their facial structure. For example, they might use chin fillers to achieve a more defined jawline.
“When significant alterations are made to facial features, there’s a higher chance that something might not appear entirely correct,” the dermatologist explained.
Other individuals are taking it to another level by opting for buccal fat removal, a procedure aimed at eliminating facial fat to attain a sharp, Marlene Dietrich-like jawline. (The issue,)
Certain plastic surgeons have observed
, does eliminating a significant part of the buccal fat pad potentially cause premature aging? Facial fat generally adds fullness to the skin, contributing to a youthful appearance; removal might lead to the contrary effect.)
In general, it’s challenging to predict how Generation Z’s attitude toward skincare will evolve because they are still quite young and exhibit a wide range of behaviors: Some within this generation are very mindful about sun protection and hydration but are cautious when it comes to using dermal fillers.
“Regrettably, there continues to be plenty of poor guidance circulating from individuals who shouldn’t be offering advice, yet that’s the reality of our current situation,” Bondaroff stated.
It’s simple to become swayed when browsing without thought, yet Bondaroff stresses to her clients that skincare is about healthcare; it shouldn’t be lumped together with makeup or haircare: “Misinformation can cause significant harm,” she stated.
The aesthetician remains confident, however.
I believe many members of Generation Z use social media to communicate with various professionals such as their estheticians, dermatologists, and primary care doctors regarding skincare issues,” she explained. “This helps them gain a clearer understanding of how to address any concerns they might have.
