Aging is a part of life and beauty won’t hang on forever. It’s an unfortunate fact that as we get older, our skin will start to sag and wrinkle, turning our once fresh face of youth into a lined map of age and experience. But is there a difference between the aging characteristics of men and women?
Researcher from the University of Vienna have recently published a study in which they used computers to measure and map the changes in almost 600 parts of the face in men and women ages 26 to 90. The results showed that there were similar rates of change for the two sexes between the ages of 40 and 50, but after 50, age-related changes began to speed up in women. Not coincidentally, 50 happens to be the average age at which menopause starts.
Once women hit menopause, they rapidly experienced noticeable changes such as their nose and ears lengthening, eyes appearing smaller, and faces becoming flatter due to loss of fat and thinning of the skin. This accelerated process continued until age 60, after which the changes over time were less drastic.
The researchers believe that this acceleration is due to the loss of the sex hormone estrogen after menopause. Estrogen has significant effects on the protein collagen, which is what gives skin its elasticity, and causes bone to be re-absorbed, which has an effect on the chin and cheekbones.
In their study, the research team found that features of aging were generally similar between men and women. This included a flatter face, sagging skin, deeper lines between the nose and corner of the mouth, smaller visible areas of the eyes, thinner lips, and a longer nose and ears. However, even before age 50, women’s faces aged twice as fast as men. And between the ages of 50 and 60, the “aging trajectory” was up to three times faster.
“Men and women age similarly up to the age of 50,” says Sonja Windhager, who led the research. “It’s a linear progression. But at the age of 50, for women, it goes really fast. It doesn’t speed up at 50 for men.”
Windhager is quick to point to menopause as the main culprit behind this acceleration.
“After the age of 50, the best predictor of how old you look is your age from menopause,” she says. “The onset of menopause varies in women quite a lot. On average, it is around the age of 50, with a variation of around ten years, with on average some women starting at 40 and some as late as 60. This seems to determine facial shape more than actual age.”
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By Connor Ertz, Earth.com Staff Writer
Image Credit: Shutterstock/Evgeny Atamanenko
FAQs
The human body loses collagen as it ages, which is why skin takes on a different appearance. Males lose collagen earlier and more consistently throughout life. Females tend to keep more until menopause, when they lose it at a dramatic rate.
Why do women age faster after 50? ›
The human body loses collagen as it ages, which is why skin takes on a different appearance. Males lose collagen earlier and more consistently throughout life. Females tend to keep more until menopause, when they lose it at a dramatic rate.
Why do women get older faster than men? ›
On the flip side, estrogen, a hormone typically present in much higher levels in women than men, can prompt collagen degradation. Because men have lower levels of estrogen, the decline in healthy collagen production tends to be less dramatic with age.
Do women age faster than men after menopause? ›
Basically, yes, because they do not have estrogen and estrogen determines all the changes as they enter later life stages. Women age twice as fast as men from the menopause onwards – from the moment they lose estrogen. Hormone replacement therapy does not work for all women.
At what age does a woman age the most? ›
Women tend to experience accelerated ageing around the ages of 30 and 50, according to a study that analysed a wide range of molecular and physical markers. This may be due to hormonal changes that occur when some women give birth or go through the menopause.
At what age does a woman look most attractive? ›
After surveying over 16,000 individuals across eight different countries who were all asked at what ages they think men and women are most beautiful, the data found that the overall average age where women are found to be most attractive is 28.
How can I slow down my aging at 50? ›
Physical activity: Move your body
And with good reason: Exercise is one of the best ways to offset the effects of aging. In addition, too much time sitting (sedentary behavior) is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and an early death.
At what age does your face change most women? ›
Most people begin to notice a shift in the appearance of their face around their 40's and 50's, with some also noticing a change in their 30's. But with these physical changes brought on by aging also comes a change in the appearance of our face - Luckily, there is treatment available.
At what age do women's looks decline? ›
In this study, the respondents were generally accurate in estimating the stimuli's ages from the photos of their faces and there was a strong negative association between age and perceived attractiveness for both male and female face stimuli, suggesting that any age-related decrease in skin quality or health occurring ...
How do you tell if a girl will age well? ›
Will You Age Well? 7 Signs to Tell You Now
- Your folks have aged well. That's right, check out mom and pop. ...
- A baby face. ...
- High cheekbones. ...
- Strong teeth and bones. ...
- Thick hair. ...
- Facial symmetry. ...
- Olive-to-darker skintone. ...
- More from YouBeauty:
What you can do
- Protect your skin from the sun. This can reduce visible wrinkles and prevent new wrinkles. You'll find other ways to treat wrinkles at, Wrinkle remedies.
- Consider using a skin care product that contains retinol or peptides. These ingredients can increase collagen in your skin.
Regardless of age, men have a higher density of collagen within their skin than women. This is why women appear to age faster than men of the same age. It's even been said that women are visually about 15 years older than men of the same age in terms of collagen maintenance.
Does late menopause keep you younger? ›
Helps women stay younger longer: Menopause is considered a stage in the aging process in women, so late menopause also means women will stay younger longer. Maintaining female hormones in the body will help them limit wrinkles, skin pigmentation and deterioration of their physique.
Is 50 considered old for a woman? ›
Consider yourself young until you reach age 60 (male) or 65 (female), then middle-aged until age 75 (male) or 80 (female).
What happens to a woman at age 50? ›
It is common to see a decrease in muscle mass, causing your body to feel less strong than it did in your youth. Women may also develop wrinkles from reduced elasticity and firmness of their skin, or thin and graying hair.
