How do you get over ageing?

[Frappuccino2020]

I turned 24 this year. I know I’m still young but the difference between my face now and at 23/pre-COVID is shocking. I have been incredibly stressed, my cheeks have shrunk and my previously heart shaped face looks flat now My tear troughs/nasolabial folds are more pronounced. My hair started to fall out due to stress lol 🤦🏼‍♀️

Can’t help but feel a bit shit and awful. How do I get out of this funk and get over it??

[Anotheruser02]

I don't think you have to accept it at 24, you may think you look shit but I have had times when I felt like that and bounced back from it taking more care with diet, rest, less drinking. I'm 40 now, changes from about 35 I'd say were ageing but you just sound stressed.
Do you need to gain some weight? Is your skin moist enough?, Maybe try hyaluronic acid applied to damp skin under your moisturiser.

[Mum2jenny]

It’s known as life. Just get over it. As you age, your skin will get less elastic. But at 24years old you have many years left before it matters. Enjoy your youthfulness

[thedevilinablackdress]

I don't really think that changes in your appearance can be put down to 'ageing' from 23-24. Stress, diet, sleep, health maybe. Are you eating/sleeping/exercising as well as you can?

[Winter2019]

Are you serious?! You are 24

[Blondiney]

LOL.

[AnyFucker]

Consider the alternative

[JosephineDeBeauharnais]

24? I’m 57 and I’ve recently decided to embrace it. My strategy is to aim to look great for my age for the rest of my life. I’ve got good genes, am very fit, slim. I’m working with the material I have, not yearning for what I’ve lost. You are never more beautiful than you are today.

[CtrlU]

Microcurrent facials or put on weight to fill your face out

[VanCleefArpels]

You give your head a wobble and realise that every day/month/year is a privilege denied to many.

You also put some work in to your skin with a decent regime, don’t smoke (stop if you do) and resolve to keep out of the sun in the summer

[Frappuccino2020]

@thedevilinablackdress

I don't really think that changes in your appearance can be put down to 'ageing' from 23-24. Stress, diet, sleep, health maybe. Are you eating/sleeping/exercising as well as you can?

Thanks. It’s definitely due to high stress levels, but finding it difficult to reduce stress with everything going on right now.

I’m not sure why people are being rude and laughing, there is a change in my appearance and it is affecting my self esteem. I wouldn’t be posting if there was nothing wrong.

[doadeer]

It's not aging between 23 and 24! It's stress and all the other factors you outlined.

[doadeer]

Yoga, mindfulness. Doing things that make you happy.
Self care - drink water, take vitamins, eat well, sleep well etc
Invest in some nice skincare

[IdblowJonSnow]

Agree, it's not ageing, it's stress.
Think about what you could do to relax/become less anxious.
Exercise, sleep, mindfulness and improve your diet?

[Littlefluffyclouds13]

You embrace it. You feel privileged that you are getting older, the alternative is much sadder.
Look after yourself, it doesn't have to be expensive. Eat well, exercise etc
I'm 49 and look way better than I did at 24!!
I look great and I'm often told I do

[Babdoc]

Oh bless. What you look like is the least important and most shallow thing about you. It’s literally skin deep. You will grow old as we all do, if we are lucky. AnyFucker is quite correct!
Why not save your energy for things that actually matter? Like your life, your career, your family, your contribution to the world, your spiritual and intellectual development... Any of these would be a better use of your time than counting wrinkles at 24!

[IntoP20]

By being grateful that you’ve made it to the age you are. How shallow

[Ginfordinner]

Give up smoking if you smoke, drink more water, get more sleep, eat healthily, use sunscreen, try and reduce stress levels.

Also, can I gently state that at 24 you won't look anything as bad as you think you do - said by a 62 year old.

[OrangeIsTheNewTwat]

Ageing is the tax you pay for living longer.

[Northernsoullover]

Its one of those things you think you'll worry about but when you do actually start to age (ie not 24 years old) you don't actually care. As Anyfucker says its certainly better than the alternative. I still turn heads but the heads that turn are older (I probably don't but you get my point?).
Sunblock has been good for me but I still look my age!

[Frappuccino2020]

Thanks to those of you with advice

I’m not counting wrinkles, the change in my face is on my cheeks. I have these lines/indents across them

It is a shallow thing to worry about but this is the style and beauty board after all!

[Frappuccino2020]

The photo isn’t me btw

[DramaAlpaca]

When you are my age (which is twice your age plus quite a bit) you'll look back on pictures of yourself and see how young, fresh faced and beautiful you actually are at 24.

[Echobelly]

I think one thing to remember is most people are not staring at your face from 1cm away like one looks at onesself in a mirror! Nor are they examining it minutely for slight changes.

I'm 43, look youngish for my age but am definitely looking older and definitely getting the middle aged spread. I find getting older quite interesting and quite cool really. I mean, maybe it helps that I am married and have my kids and there's no reason I should be wanting anyone to find me 'young and beautiful' anyway, and I know DH finds me beautiful FWIW.

I guess then, another way to cope with ageing is find someone who appreciates everything you are so you don't have to worry about them being a shallow bastard and somehow expecting you not to age like him and everyone else!

[Ingridla]

Plenty of water, sleep, healthy eating and fresh air - you'll be right in 2 weeks, it's nothing to do with ageing, just stress.

[Sunshiney1981]

Tackle your stress OP and your skin will improve.
Some people just show their stress on their face more than others sadly. It’s been a very fearful time recently for many.
Recommend yoga, Headspace (meditation app), deep belly breathing, jogging/walking in nature, comedies, a massage, , good healthy food, good sleep, good friends. A therapist if you’re very stressed.
Also worth investigating is those puffy areas in that photo you posted made me think ‘hormone imbalance’, which could be linked to stress hormones, cortisol etc.