Pandemic Droop: How Three Lockdowns Aged Brits.
Posted on 1st July 2021 by Dr Yusra Al-Mukhtar
Living through a pandemic and three lockdowns in the space of a year has taken a toll on many Brits’ health and wellbeing. As well as affecting the mental and physical health of the nation, it seems that lockdown is the gift that keeps on giving, in that it has also aged us with what internationally-renowned, Harley Street aesthetics expert Dr Yursa has termed “Pandemic Droop.”
Last year two independent surveys commissioned by cosmetics companies suggested that six million Brits fear that lockdown has aged their looks by at least five years.
Prolonged stress, increased screen time and fighting back the boredom with food and drink are just some of the reasons why many are emerging from the pandemic looking far from fresh-faced. Chronic stress harms the integrity of the collagen in your skin. Collagen gives your skin elastic support and when this breaks down, skin appears thinner and shows the signs of ageing, with fine lines and wrinkles appearing.
6 ways lockdown has aged us
1. More stress
2. Poor diet & drinking
3. Less exercise
4. Less sleep
5. More screen time
6. Maskne
Dr Yusra says “I am currently seeing more clients than ever affected by Pandemic Droop and concerned about the visible signs of ageing brought on by the stress of lockdown. Dark circles, tech neck, dull skin, sunken hollows and lockdown weight gain are some of my clients’ top concerns.”
She adds: “We often see the first signs of ageing in the area of the face often referred to as ‘the triangle of youth’. As we age this youthful triangle becomes inverted and the face becomes more oblong, cheeks flatten due to midface volume loss and jowls appear due to the descent of superficial fat pads and recession of the chin. The lower face and jawline becomes square and the triangle inverts.”
6 signs of Pandemic Droop
1. Wrinkles
2. Dark circles & sunken hollows
3. Loss of facial fat padding
4. Weight gain
5. Tech neck
6. Dull skin
However, Dr Yusra advises that Pandemic Droop can be slowed down and, in some cases, reversed through non-invasive treatments and non-surgical tweakments, such as bioremodelling, radiofrequency and microneedling. Also switching to medical grade skincare and using a SPF daily can make a huge difference.”
Here, Dr Yusra shares the best ways to address Pandemic Droop and get your glow back:
6 things you can do to prevent Pandemic Droop
1. Reduce stress
2. Manage blue light exposure
3. Wear SPF daily
4. Wear sunglasses
5. Get your beauty sleep
6. Vitamin D supplements
6 things you can do to reverse Pandemic Droop
1. Upgrade to medical grade skincare
2. Eat a Mediterranean diet
3. Take regular intensive exercise
4. Make time to meditate & have ‘me time’
5. Book in an ULTRAcel treatment
6. Invest in injectables
6 products to invest in, coming out of lockdown
1. Mineral SPF – Colourscience face shield (plus an SPF spray)
2. Retinol – Obaji Retinol
3. Vitamin C – Skinceuticals Phloretin CF
4. Niacinamide – Skinceuticals Niacinamide Discolouration Defense Serum
5. Liquid exfoliant (Glycolic acid, Lactic acid, Polyhydroxy acid) – Exfoderm forte by Obaji
6. UV blocking sunglasses
6 aesthetics treatments to invest in to get your pre-lockdown glow back
1. Skin booster hyaluronic acid injections to rehydrate skin
2. Profhilo fillers
3. Dark circle correction
4. Chemical skin peel
5. INTRACEL radiofrequency and microneedling
6. ULTRAcel face tightening and lifting
To find out more, or to book an appointment at the Dr Yusra clinic centre of excellence, contact us.
Dr Yusra Al-Mukhtar
Dr Yusra is a distinguished dental surgeon and a skilled medical aesthetic clinician with a wealth of experience in maxillofacial head and neck surgery and skin cancer surgery. She holds an impressive academic background, having graduated with first-class honours in Medical Science and Healthcare Management from Imperial College London and earned Honours and Distinction as a dental surgeon from King’s College London. Dr Yusra is a Level 7 Trainer in medical aesthetics, in line with Ofqual guidelines, and is renowned for her expertise in providing natural-looking non-surgical facelifts and a range of aesthetic treatments. Her commitment to patient well-being and safety is unwavering, making her a trusted practitioner in the field.