To think these aren't normal wrinkles for a 32 year old?

[worried3456]

Just that really. These developed a few years ago (during a period of high stress) and have got worse quite quickly. They are always present and clearly visible (not the bags, the defined line under each eye). I smoked a bit too much and ate a bit too much chocolate/sugar when younger but otherwise always been active and healthy and slept well. It seems to be getting worse with more lines coming off it.

Other people have crow's feet but nothing this defined and under-eye. AIBU to feel this isn't normal and worry about the fact it's getting worse? And anyone else have the same or know what to do?

Everyone is different and now with Botox/fillers/filters people have lost sight of normal ageing. I’ve noticed that ‘old shaming’ is the new fat shaming - it’s not acceptable to fat shame anymore but the go to insult is ‘she looks sooo old.’

you could try a prescription strength retinoid and collagen supplement to help minimise wrinkles and improve skin elasticity

Looks normal

They're normal for you.

Not all skin is equal.

I think it’s quite normal. Everyone’s skin is different
that said there are things you can do. None of this is going to be new news:
glycolic acid eye cream
retinol once a week
spf 50 daily
hydrate
sleep
reduce stress (yoga/meditate/walk in the park)

also people rave about reducing sugar and eating more plants etc - personally haven’t managed that yet but have done the above (finally in my late 30s) and it’s made a big difference to the appearance of my skin

no need to spend ££££ - boots no7. And TK Maxx Often have bargains

looks normal and fine to me

Thanks all.

Just want to add that I have a loving DH and I am a feminist and know looks aren't everything. If I saw this from another woman I think I would want to not reinforce this worry about ageing that is so pernicious and negative for women.

BUT none of my peers - all natural - have anything even nearing these lines. And getting 'this looks normal' from everyone around me is making me feel a bit crazy and alone, doubting my eyes and my perception of reality. And wonder whether people are secretly thinking things they aren't saying.

Deeper wrinkles like this may also be a symptom of something going wrong inside.

I came here for honesty and truth - which has its own comfort. And advice. Not reassurance, which is what I get from others around me. I know worrying won't help and am already trying to reduce stress. I would like honest opinions on whether this is normal as having more clarity will help me accept and process this and put a plan in place which will make me feel better.

my comment was genuine, not meant just as reassurance. Everyone is different. I have friends that had fully grey hair in their early 20s. Lots of things impact skin - genetics, melanin, ethnic background. It’s not a signal of something being wrong, especially if you have a generally healthy lifestyle.

I’m the same age and have had pronounced forehead lines and crows feet from my mid 20s. It always annoys me when people act like that’s only something people deal with in middle age. It’s not the case.

Some people are more prone to wrinkles through genetics, so not just things like diet and skincare etc. To me, they look fine, not like actual deep wrinkles. Maybe your skin is a bit dehydrated? They don’t look particularly bad or out of the norm to me.

It will have been the smoking. Smoking is known to cause premature skin ageing. A smoking 40yr old will look like a nonsmoking 70yr old.
https://dermnetnz.org/topics/smoking-and-its-effects-on-the-skin

Also if you haven’t been using SPF on your face daily, that will be contributing as well.

I have answered honestly - it looks entirely normal to me

I understand what you’re saying about wanting the truth, not niceties, but the truth is I wouldn’t look twice at you about it.
It doesn’t look old, they don’t look horrible, they’re barely noticeable if I’m honest. I think the truth is your hung up about them, which is fair enough, I’m hung up about my arse, but others don’t see what we see about ourselves, also no one gets close to your face and looks at it, like you do in the mirror, so that also reinforces others don’t see us like we see ourselves.

Maybe you could try creams and stuff. I think Vit c, sun cream and some sort of retinol helps with aging?? But is under your eyes ageing or is it due to something else?

Everyone ages differently, genetics play a massive part - you’d be better off looking at pictures of your older family at the age you are now to judge, rather than your friends. It does look normal though and as a PP mentioned, we’ve all developed skewed views of what people look like as they age - most celebs - aren’t presenting their true faces 🤣

Do you have a heart shaped face? Sometimes that shape gets earlier eye wrinkles.
I have a square face, I'm 47 and barely and any wrinkles. But I'm getting jowls which are a hazard of my face shape

If you go on 'the ordinary' website you can put in your skin concerns and it makes a AM and PM skin routine for you and the products are pretty cheap. Also agree with spf.

It'll be your smoking. It's massively aging. Do you use sunbeds or have regular sunbathing holidays? Also aging. Nothing else compares to those two.

Is there a 'normal'? It's normal for you.

If they're bothering you then a good aesthetic clinic could recommend treatments to reduce them.
They are fairly noticeable for 32 imo but nothing that can't be fixed