Is Gen-Z aging faster than other generations?

BOSTON -  Members of Gen-Z believe they are aging faster than other generations, but is that true?

Gen-Z are people between the ages of 12 and 27, and social media "influencers" are constantly posting about their concerns over wrinkles and frown lines and encouraging young people, even as young as 12, to purchase anti-aging products or undergo procedures like Botox injections. 

This has led many young people to believe that their skin is aging more rapidly than their predecessors.  But according to WebMD, dermatologists say that is just not true.  

They say the two things that accelerate skin aging are the sun and smoking, which younger generations tend to shy away from compared to older generations.  

But when you see influencers on social media with picture-perfect skin touting skincare products, young people develop an unrealistic expectation of how their skin should look.  

Skincare experts warn that getting Botox or using anti-aging creams too early can cause unwanted side effects and that vaping and e-cigarettes, which Gen-Zers gravitate toward, can also cause premature aging.

In:
• Health

Mallika Marshall, MD

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician who has served as the HealthWatch Reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. A practicing physician Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Marshall serves on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center, where she is currently working on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19. She is also a host and contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.

Twitter Facebook