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? (We apologize for putting you in this situation, Jason Alexander; we greatly appreciate your contributions.)
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this discussion is that much of it originates from Generation Z, those who were born immediately following the millennial era. On the flip side, numerous members of Gen Z express feeling as though they're growing older rapidly. spoiled milk .
“We find ourselves in an era where millennials appear much younger than their years, whereas Gen Z members seem far older for theirs,” stated TikTok influencer Jordan Howlett, aged 27, in a popular video clip. 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, others often assume she’s my sibling instead of my parent." Once, when Howlett requested an autograph from The Rock, the actor mistakenly thought "Jordan" referred to his child and wrote on the autograph, "Your father is a wonderful person; he waited here for ages.
"Dude, Dwayne is 52, and I'm only 26, right?" the influencer quipped in the popular video.
Howlett attributes the early signs of aging in his cohort to the pressures of employment and financial struggles they face.
Although this may hold true, an essential aspect is overlooked when discussing the varying 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 speaking, millennials were pioneers in adopting sunscreen use and shunning tobacco, whereas certain members of Gen Z appear to be moving in the opposite direction. (This topic will be explored further subsequently.)
"Millennials have certainly incorporated both the insights and missteps of previous generations," he stated. Dr. Anthony Rossi a dermatologist, professor, and researcher at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
He stated, "Overall, they started using sunscreen consistently and properly: Applying it beforehand and reapplying when necessary." He noted this had an impact, particularly contrasting with previous generations who often mentioned using baby oil combined with iodine along with sun reflectors for tanning and burning purposes.
Incorrect data can result in actual harm. Shamara Bondaroff
Certainly, we're discussing this broadly: You can find Boomers, Gen X individuals, and members of Gen Z who are highly attentive to skincare routines. For instance, consider how conscientious some Gen Z people are when it comes to taking care of their skin. Sephora baby craze Which, somewhat dismally, keeps young people focused on avoiding getting older).
And surely there were millennials who had monthly subscriptions for tanning beds back in the early 2000s. (A shoutout to all those) “Gym, Tan, Laundry” warriors And those who would stick Playboy logos onto their outfits for their appointments. acquire slight suntanned marks on the small rabbit Side note: You might want to consider getting a Tretinoin 0.025% prescription at this point.)
Significant errors occurred in the skincare practices of Millennials 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 gather informally, it appears that millennials generally took to heart the guidance 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, 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 .
Aside from sunscreen, individuals born in 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 generations are increasingly including items featuring specific ingredients or treatments in their routine. antioxidants and retinoids to reduce some of the obvious indications of getting older.
Generation Y might have experienced the heyday 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 achieve some color, they opt for a controlled spray tan instead of risking sunbeds and tanning oils.
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 finally shielding the skin to sustain its well-being and strength.
And, naturally, numerous individuals within this age bracket are decelerating the aging process through “tweakments” such as fillers and Botox. This combination 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 Moreover, cosmetic injections suggest that society’s perception of how a person should look at age 30 or 40 has significantly evolved in recent times.
Millennials were not influenced by TikTok personalities who oppose sunscreen use.
As per a 2023 survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology , 20 percent of Generation Z individuals think that having tanned skin 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 tan, even if it means their skin may suffer later in life.
These statistics might be quite concerning for young adults who are cautious about sunlight exposure, yet it's crucial to understand that millennials benefited from an era when mostly professionals were providing guidance rather than social media personalities or so-called "health gurus" disputing the necessity of using sunscreen on platforms like TikTok.
During the 1990s, discussions surrounding skin cancer started gaining attention. major public health problem , just like cancer in general did. (Do you remember when everybody was sporting those yellow Livestrong bracelets back around 2005 or so?)
Millennials were frequently reminded from an early age about the significance of early detection and how doctor examinations and self-checks can help identify concerning moles or blemishes. With the rise of social media, these constant reminders from moms about sunscreen preventing skin cancer became even more widespread.
The message has since become confused. While the formal guidelines from the U.S. Academy of Dermatology is to utilize comprehensive sun protection with an SPF of at least 30 that shields from both UVA and UVB radiation; however, some current critics of sunscreen casually spread conspiracy theories about this topic. sunscreen causes cancer It was established as a scheme by pharmaceutical firms aimed at increasing their revenues and harming public health.
Most recently, "The Hills" star Kristin Cavallari (who belongs to Generation Y, let’s point out) faced some criticism — even from the sun itself! — for her actions. dismissing everyday sunscreen use And featuring a guest who discussed how building a "base coat" through gradual sunlight exposure enables the skin to withstand the sun without burning.
That certainly was not the message that 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 experts 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 to certain areas of their body but neglected others, and how this impacted their aging," 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 Americans will encounter skin cancer during their lifetime. By the time you reach 70 years old, as stated by the Skin Cancer Foundation, it's certainly worthwhile to make the effort to use sunscreen.
What are some other factors causing early signs of aging in Generation Z? Using tanning beds, vaping, and dermal fillers are among them.
Experts in dermatology are not only concerned about the widespread dissemination of incorrect information regarding sunscreen use among Generation Z; they are also alarmed by a disturbing 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 protection," he stated. "A so-called 'base tan' won’t shield you from ultraviolet B (UVB) burns, and there is no such thing as a harmless tan since even minor reddening or swelling indicates DNA damage.
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 eyes.
Another factor contributing to why members of Generation Z might appear slightly more mature compared to Millennials at the same age could be the increased acceptance and use 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 also receive Botox and Juvederm nowadays, but these treatments were not common during their college days. At an influential age, Generation Z experimented with them instead. 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 shared with Pawonation.com. "Fillers work well as a means of restoring lost volume due to aging; however, individuals 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, such as using 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 even further by opting for buccal fat removal—a surgical procedure aimed at eliminating facial fat to attain a sharp, Marlene Dietrich-like jawline. (The issue, as Some cosmetic surgeons have observed , does eliminating a significant part of the buccal fat pad potentially cause premature aging? Facial fat usually adds volume to the skin, making you appear younger; removal might lead to the contrary effect.)
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 within this generation are very mindful about sun protection and hydration but may be cautious when it comes to using fillers.
"Regrettably, there continues to be an abundance of poor guidance circulating from individuals who shouldn’t be offering advice, yet that’s the reality of our current situation," stated Bondaroff.
It's simple to be swayed when you're browsing without much thought, but 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 aestheticians, dermatologists, and primary care doctors regarding their skin concerns," she explained. "This helps them gain a clearer understanding of how to address any issues they might be facing.
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