Acne: Skincare in your forties

The big four-oh can be an emotional milestone, but it's also an important time for your skin. You'll notice that your skin tone is a little duller and your pores look bigger.

This is also the decade that you can expect to see the signs of sun damage: freckles, age blotches, age spots and discoloration. You may need to see a dermatologist for advice on how to mask these marks. Other bad habits such as smoking and squinting could also conspire to make you look older than you are.

Acne is not completely out of the question at this age. Five percent of women older than 40 may still be troubled by acne. Only one percent of men in a similar group have acne. Fortunately, effective treatment is available to clear up skin problems.

You also need to harness the rejuvenating power of products that contain essential ingredients such as retinoids, anti-oxidants and alpha hydroxy acids. Maintain a regimen of cleansing and moisturizing and start to concentrate more on the skin around your eyes. If you wear makeup, make sure you clean your skin thoroughly.

By now, you have hopefully adopted sun-sensible habits. Keep it up by limiting your time in the sun and using sunscreen.