Why Millennials Seem to Age Slower: Unveiling the Secret
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 ten years younger? (Please forgive us for this, Jason Alexander; we greatly appreciate your contributions.)
One of the most intriguing aspects of this conversation 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 seems to look significantly older for theirs," stated TikTok influencer Jordan Howlett, aged 27, in a widely circulated video. In January, it garnered more than 24.8 million views. .
I'm part of Gen Z, but nobody takes me seriously," Howlett stated. "Whenever my mom and I go out together, others often believe she’s my sibling instead." On one occasion, when Howlett requested an autograph from The Rock, the actor mistakenly thought "Jordan" referred to his child and wrote, "Your dad is awesome; he waited here for ages.
"Dude, Dwayne is 52, I'm only 26! What?" the influencer quipped in the popular video.
Howlett attributes the early signs of aging in his cohort to the pressures of employment and financial difficulties they face.
Although this point may hold true, an essential aspect is absent from discussions regarding the varied aging processes experienced by millennials (typically ranging between 28 and 43 years old in 2024) and Generation Z (comprising individuals aged 12 to 27). Generally speaking, millennials have been the pioneering cohort when it comes to using sunscreen and steering clear of tobacco use; however, certain members within 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 earlier generations who often shared that they previously relied on 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: Among Baby boomers, Generation X individuals, and Generation Z members, some exhibit extreme caution regarding skincare routines. For instance, consider how conscientious many from the younger generations like Gen Z can be when it comes to their skincare habits. 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. (A shoutout to everyone who did!) “Gym, Tan, Laundry” warriors And those who would put Playboy stickers on their outfits for their appointments. acquire slight rabbit suntans . As an aside: It might be a good idea to consider getting a Tretinoin 0.025% prescription.)
Significant errors occurred in the millennial skincare approach as well: Looking back, religiously applying an apricot scrub every night was likely not a good choice.
Sure enough, aging occurs within that age bracket: "When people say millennials look good for their age, they aren’t referring to millennial lawyers; I just wanted to clarify," One guy made a joke about X the platform previously called Twitter.
Nevertheless, from what we can tell, most millennials paid attention to the guidance offered in Baz Luhrmann’s 1999 unexpected chart-topping hit " Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)”. aka “The Sunscreen Song” And applied the sunscreen.
"Applying sunscreen is a daily habit for them, rather than being limited to only beach days," 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 items featuring different ingredients in their routine. antioxidants and retinoids to reduce some of the noticeable indications of getting older.
Generation Y might have experienced the golden era of sweet beverages during childhood but now they hold onto their “emotional support water bottles” — Staying hydrated also helps maintain your plump and youthful 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 this time around.
Millennials' skincare routines frequently receive support from dermatologists, resulting in quite an extensive method," explained Del Campo. "This includes cleansing, treating, moisturizing, hydrating, and finally shielding the skin to ensure 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 twenties years, along with highly specialized skincare routines. maybe even over-hydrating with their beloved Stanley water tumblers , and cosmetic injections indicate that society’s perception of how a person aged 30 or 40 should look has significantly evolved recently.
Millennials were not influenced by sunscreen-hating TikTok personalities either.
As per a 2023 survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology , 20% of Generation Z members think that having tanned skin is more crucial to them compared to safeguarding themselves against skin cancer, and 30% confessed that they would prefer to have an attractive appearance now with a tan, even if it means their skin might suffer later in life.
These statistics might be quite startling for young adults who are cautious about sunlight exposure; however, it's crucial to recognize that millennials benefited from an era when most guidance came primarily from professionals rather than social media personalities or individuals claiming expertise in wellness who often dispute the necessity of using sunscreen on platforms like TikTok.
During the 1990s, discussions surrounding skin cancer started gaining attention. major public health problem As did cancer in general. (Recall how everyone was sporting those yellow Livestrong bracelets around 2005 or so?)
From an early age, millennials were frequently reminded about the significance of detecting potential issues with their skin at an initial stage, as well as the crucial part played by both doctor visits and personal checks for unusual marks. With the rise of social media, these constant messages from parents—like "always wear sunscreen because it prevents skin cancer"—became even more widespread.
The message has since become confused. While the formal guidance from the U.S. Academy of Dermatology is to utilize broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, which shields against both UVA and UVB radiation; however, some current critics of sunscreens casually spread conspiracy theories about this practice. sunscreen causes cancer And was established as a scheme 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 mentioned that building a "base coat" via gradual sunlight exposure enables the skin to withstand the sun without getting burned.
That certainly wasn't the message that was being conveyed to millennials as they grew up, stated Shamara Bondaroff, an aesthetician and the founder of SB Skin NYC and Miami.
She stated that for a period, the messages regarding skin protection being disseminated by genuine experts through social media reached a broader audience than ever before.
"Some of the strongest visuals will continue to be those showing individuals who applied sunscreen to certain areas of their body but neglected others, thereby impacting their aging process," she stated.
The reality is, studies show That sunscreen shields against all three of the most 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 certainly worthwhile to 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 aren’t only concerned about widespread misconceptions regarding sunscreens among Generation Z; they’re also alarmed by a disturbing revival of use of tanning beds amongst younger individuals , thank you once more to TikTok.
"The tanning beds give me pause," Rossi stated.
I make sure to inform Generation Z members that any ultraviolet A (UVA) exposure they receive doesn’t offer them protection," he stated. "A baseline tan does not shield you from ultraviolet B (UVB) burns, and there is no such thing as a harmless tan since even slight redness or swelling indicates DNA damage.
What are some other factors that might cause early signs of aging? The popularity of vaping. The nicotine and substances utilized in vaping can lead to the degradation of collagen—a protein essential 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 by experts. Courtney Rubin, a dermatologist and co-founder of Fig.1, a skincare line.
Certainly, millennials do receive treatments like Botox and Juvederm nowadays as well, but they typically didn't start using these products during their college years. At an influential age, Generation Z experimented with them instead. Snapchat's appearance-altering filters that exacerbate body dysmorphia and saw their preferred influencers get in-office filler treatments.
I'm noticing that numerous clients are beginning to opt for fillers in their early 20s, something that wasn't common before," Rubin stated to 5.180.24.3. "Fillers work well as a method to restore lost volume due to aging; however, this isn't necessary during the second decade of life since volume loss typically hasn't occurred yet.
According to Rubin, what occurs is that individuals in their 20s are opting for dermal fillers not primarily to restore volume, but more so to alter their face shape. For example, they might use chin fillers to achieve a more pronounced jawline.
"When significant alterations are made to facial features, there's a higher chance that something might not appear entirely correct," the dermatologist explained.
Others are going to further extremes, getting buccal fat removal, a surgery where facial fat is removed to achieve a sweeping, Marlene Dietrich-esque jawline. (The problem, as Certain plastic surgeons have observed , does eliminating a significant part of the buccal fat pad potentially cause premature aging? Facial fat usually adds fullness to the skin, making you appear younger; removing it might lead to the contrary result.)
In general, it's difficult to predict how Generation Z's attitude toward skincare will evolve because they are still quite young and their methods vary widely. Some members of this generation are very mindful about sun protection and hydration but are either hesitant or cautious when it comes to using dermal fillers.
"Sadly, there's still plenty of poor guidance floating around coming from individuals who shouldn't be giving advice at all, yet that's just part of the reality we face," Bondaroff stated.
It's simple to become swayed when browsing without thought, yet Bondaroff stresses for her clients that skincare is about healthcare—not just cosmetics like makeup or hairstyling. "Misinformation can result in genuine harm," she stated.
The aesthetician remains confident, however.
I believe many members of Generation Z use social media to communicate with various professionals like aestheticians, dermatologists, and primary care doctors regarding their skin issues," she explained. "This helps them gain a clearer understanding of how to address any concerns they might have.
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