Aged terribly in last 3 years - anyone else?

[LovelyJubbly12345]

I looked okay at 50. I'm now almost 54 and my eyelids are a bit droopy and I have a saggy neck! How can that happen in 3-4 years??!!

I think it is both, the lack of sleep, the stress, the lack of self care then you hormones crashing after the birth. If you breast feed the hormone prolactin supresses estrogen so it's like a mini menopause except you lose weight! Having babies definitely ages you.

HRT definitely helps with some aspects of aging I think.

There are estrogen receptors in every cell of our bodies and lack of estrogen makes everything dry up, all mucous membranes.

There’s 2 elements I think, firstly if you feel good and you sleep well then you look better and also maybe are more motivated to look after your skin and have the energy to exercise, eat well.

Secondly there’s quite a lot of research that shows estrogen keeps the skin thicker, maintains more collagen and that includes the skin of the scalp.

So it’s not reversing aging but may slow it down a bit.

This is a daily mail article but there are other studies on PubMed. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9853095/amp/The-surprise-new-boost-HRT-LOOK-years-younger-too.html

I've got friends who are on HRT and friends who aren't and some look a bit younger than their age, this isn't dependent on who's the HRT takers. That's just my anecdotal experience I know.

Oh yes OP, me too. The last year has been brutal - I'm nearly 53. It doesn't help that I've lost a lot of weight recently either, I look like a deflated balloon 🤣I keep reminding myself I'm lucky to be alive after losing 3 good friends before they were 50. It's working...sort of 😉

Yes, I'm not looking great at 52.
Melasma on my face.
A Horners left eye.
Tired.
Menopause.

Avoid mirrors at all costs now ☹️

Shit happens when you get older and that's ok.
I'm looking forward to when my friends and I all looked a bit aged and saggy.
I think I'll love that not giving a shit era where I can just be me without thinking about appearances!
I'm 46 now and so not far off?

Yeah I felt that way to really and then it actually happened to me and it makes me feel like shit. Its not even looking young or attractive its just wanting to look like myself again. Wish I had done more earlier to be honest!

Hmmm don't think you get to a don't give a shit stage ever,you just realised there's not a lot you can do about it unless you go down the full surgery route.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor Yep, I used to think when I was 40 + I'd not care how I looks I'd be so old but I do. My mum is in her 70's and still cares.

Also this is a great song

@JusthereforXmas thanks so much to the song link - it's fab!

Thanks to everyone that commented.

I had the consult this morning. I was hoping for upper and lower eyelids and HIFU on my neck, but the Dr said the only thing that would work on my neck is a proper neck lift!

I’ve made a provisional booking for 21st October. Keep swinging between thinking just do it, think how fabulous you’ll feel…..to thinking I’m being a twit.

Truth is though, that I actually don’t want to go out any more because I feel unattractive, so I think I need to try this.

Yes I've aged a lot in last 3 years from mid to late 50s. Used to look young for my age, but no longer. It's not just my face though, in fact that's no too bad . It's generally feeling tired and changes in my body . Post menopausal now, but I do half-wish I had gone on HRT a few years back . I'm taking early retirement in a couple of months and plan to really focus on my health .

Personally, I found I kind of looked a bit bedraggled following the stress of Lockdowns - only now do I really see how much it impacted me and my friends/family. After the novelty of those very sunny early days it became such a wearing trudge especially late 2020/early 2021, I felt like I was going groundhog day batshit crazy and, working in education, I was mentally drained as I gave everything to the kids I worked with who had such a tough time. I sort of gave up caring for myself but I'm back in track now with taking care of my inside and outside. For me, HRT DEFINITELY helps my skin and mental well-being. I was at a really good point at the start of 2020 with diet and exercise and I felt and looked the best I had in years and lockdown scuppered that but I'm back in a good mindset now after several false starts! Walking every day helps me loads - good for body and mind.

I had an early-ish menopause, just after my 46th birthday.

Now 51, and I'm quite wrinkly. One month into Dermatica and using facial oil and I do think I can see a difference.

I've been off work for a year due to illness, and was putting the grey, sagging and wrinkly skin down to that, but I think it's just not looking after myself at all.

I don't even recognise the old woman in the mirror anymore. I have lost my way, lost my body shape and have suddenly become acutely aware that I have more years behind me than ahead. I don't like it.
Will I waste valuable time and resources trying to wish things weren't so? No I won't.
I have gradually accepted that this is another chapter to embrace and I'm happier for getting my head round it all and embracing it, even though it took a while to do.

I’m really noticing the loss of volume in my face. You’d think it would just mean better cheekbones, but somehow it doesn’t. I’m 52.

If you already have them naturally it definitely acts as scaffolding in that area.

But I see too many when they've overfilled the cheekbone area to create cheekbones. Think of celebrities in their late 40s and 50s with the chipmunk look. It doesn't work. The skin hangs oddly underneath- look for the lines in some cases.

I had an eyelid lift when I was 59 … an absolute game-changer. So glad I had it done. We are lucky now that we have so much available to us.

Change your GP and get HRT.

The 2 friends in my group that have decided to ‘manage without HRT’ have aged rapidly.

I don't think that happens to every woman who doesn't take hrt as I honestly do look younger than my 60 years. I use cheap face creams but don't smoke, don't drink much, vegetarian and must be blessed with good genes I think. Age is catching up with me but at a pretty slow rate thankfully .

Change your GP and get HRT.

The 2 friends in my group that have decided to ‘manage without HRT’ have aged rapidly.

Absolutely agree. It might not work for everyone but I started HRT early, as in early peri menopause. Coming up to month three and I'm seeing some positive changes already, even my hair is growing faster.

Everyone should take vit C, D cod liver oil and a good multi vit. More veg, less meat. Use a high spf, don’t drink and don’t smoke, and don’t worry!

Surgery isn’t for me. I’m too scared and even things like Botox can go wrong. What happens when it doesn’t work? Does it stop working? I know a few ladies who get it and honestly don’t think it looks good, fillers even worse. There may be some talented people who can do it very well perhaps, but not from what I’ve seen and they aren’t going to cheap places.

If I took HRT it would literally only be to see if my looks improved, as I have no negative menopause symptoms! Surely that's not worth the cancer risk.

HRT is also beneficial for maintaining bone density and warding off osteoporosis. For that alone I plan to take it even if my menopause symptoms seem mild and manageable. I don't want to be brittle and stooped in old age.