Why Your Knees May Be Ageing Faster Than Your Face
If you meticulously care for your facial skin in hopes of delaying visible ageing, you might be overlooking a crucial area that reveals the passing of time first. According to aesthetic physician Dr Ross Perry, the knees, which bear the body's weight, can make individuals appear older than their actual years if not properly maintained. In an exclusive discussion with the Daily Mail, the Founder and Medical Director of Cosmedics Skin Clinics highlighted how sagging, wrinkles, and sunspots affect the legs just as much as the face, particularly around the knee region.
'Knees are among the initial body parts to betray ageing,' Dr Perry stated. 'The skin there is thinner, contains fewer oil glands, and is susceptible to laxity, creping, and subtle sagging.' He further elaborated that collagen breakdown in this area can weaken the knees' appearance, potentially ageing a person even if their face remains youthful.
Celebrity Knees: A Window into Ageing
Dr Perry has analysed several high-profile individuals, comparing their knee age to their real age, revealing fascinating insights into how this body part reflects lifestyle and genetics.
- Brooke Shields: Knee age: Late 40s; Real age: 60. Dr Perry noted her well-preserved knees with mild textural changes and good muscle mass, attributing it to genetics, training, or subtle treatments.
- Hugh Jackman: Knee age: Early 60s; Real age: 57. Despite his fitness, his knees show mild looseness and wrinkling, indicating they tell a different story from his face or torso.
- Kate Moss: Knee age: Mid 50s; Real age: 52. Her hedonistic youth with sun and smoking has accelerated collagen breakdown, making her knees appear older.
- Sarah Jessica Parker: Knee age: Early 60s; Real age: 60. Her knees show natural looseness and creping, consistent with her age, despite toned legs from fitness routines.
- Mila Kunis: Knee age: Late 30s; Real age: 42. Her knees appear youthful due to good muscle tone and low body fat, with no dramatic sagging.
- Gwyneth Paltrow: Knee age: Early 50s; Real age: 53. Gentle textural changes and faint creping are visible, aligning with her age bracket.
- Jennifer Aniston: Knee age: Mid 50s; Real age: 57. Creping and faint lines are present, likely from sun exposure, though muscle tone from exercise softens these changes.
- Michelle Yeoh: Knee age: Mid 50s; Real age: 63. Minimal sun damage and physical discipline keep her knees looking younger, with gentle creping.
- Kris Jenner: Knee age: Mid 50s; Real age: 70. Her knees are remarkably smooth, possibly aided by non-invasive treatments like fillers or laser therapies.
- Lindsay Lohan: Knee age: 49; Real age: 39. Thin skin and fair tone make folds more noticeable, ageing her knees prematurely.
- Madonna: Knee age: 45; Real age: 67. An active lifestyle has kept her knees toned and youthful, defying typical ageing patterns.
- Amanda Holden: Knee age: 30; Real age: 55. Exceptional genes and a strict fitness regime maintain her knees' smooth appearance.
- Margot Robbie: Knee age: 28; Real age: 35. Amazing genetics and stable weight keep her knees toned and seemingly untouched by age.
Factors Influencing Knee Ageing
Dr Perry emphasised that knees age differently from faces due to several key factors:
- Thin Skin: The skin around knees has fewer oil glands and is prone to laxity.
- Collagen Breakdown: This leads to wrinkles and sagging, accelerated by sun exposure and lifestyle choices.
- Muscle Tone: Good muscle mass can disguise early signs of ageing, as seen in fit celebrities.
- Genetics and Treatments: Some individuals benefit from natural traits or interventions like dermal fillers and laser treatments.
He concluded that while facial care is important, paying attention to knees can provide a more holistic approach to anti-ageing, as they often reveal the truth about one's years and habits before the face does.
