Getting older can be a tricky thing. In many ways, it's a privilege. More time with family and friends, more time to explore the beautiful world around us, and more time to enjoy the small things in life.

However, it also comes with a few complications.

The symptoms and side effects of ageing range far and wide and vary greatly depending on genetics, skin types and a variety of lifestyle factors, but for almost all of us, one thing that is bound to change as the years go by is our skin.

Ageing skin can reveal itself through the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, changes in the overall texture, a reduction in skin laxity or the beginning of sagging skin.

While some signs of ageing skin — such as those caused by direct sun exposure — can lead to serious complications, sagging skin is completely natural as we get older. It is not necessarily dangerous for your health, so if you want to embrace it, good for you!

However, if you would like to reduce signs of ageing skin or are simply keen to ensure you're doing the right skin treatments in advance (after all, preventative measures are better than cures!), you're in the right place.

When it comes to ageing skin, there are a variety of different treatments you can opt for, depending on your requirements. A customised option, such as Software's ageing treatment, which is designed by dermatologists to suit your individual skin needs and goals, is ideal as it will cater to exactly what you need.

Alternatively, something like the Advanced Ageing Set is also a great option as it encompasses a complete regimen designed to target fine lines, wrinkles, dullness and skin elasticity, and promote healthy skin at any age.

Before beginning any new regimen though, it is important to make sure you are equipped with as much knowledge and understanding, particularly when it comes to skin tightening.

There's a lot to unpack though, so we're going to take you through it all one by one. Let's get started.

What causes skin to become loose as you age?

There are numerous factors that lead to ageing skin, which can be categorised as intrinsic and extrinsic. Extrinsic ageing refers to lifestyle and environmental factors, such as smoking, sun exposure, pollution and nutrition, whereas intrinsic reflects genetic background and time [1].

Additionally, things like weight loss — particularly if it has happened quickly and/or through a surgical procedure — can cause loose skin at virtually any age.

Regardless of lifestyle factors, as we age, our elastin and collagen production slows down [2]. These are both crucial ingredients in the strength of skin tissue, so when we don't produce collagen and elastin fibres as efficiently as we used to, we begin to experience sagging skin [3].

Older skin is also more vulnerable to the effects of gravity, which results in sagging skin that we often see in the eye area, cheeks and neck [1].

Can you prevent skin from sagging?

When it comes to any type of damage, prevention is generally always better than a cure, and skin tightening is no different. While there are no guarantees, there are certain steps you can take to promote skin tightening and prevent skin damage.

As we've mentioned above, collagen production is a highly important factor when it comes to tighter skin. However, increasing your collagen production is unfortunately not as easy as you might think!

There are a lot of oral products on the market today (think powders, vitamins, and even gummy lollies) that promise to increase your body's collagen production, and while we have seen some promising anecdotal evidence, it's important to note the industry is not well-regulated, and scientific evidence is still somewhat limited [4].

In terms of general signs of ageing, UV radiation is the most important factor [1]. UV radiation can result in damaged skin cells, and sun damage can contribute to skin cancer, wrinkled skin, changes in skin texture, and can increase the production of collagen-degrading enzymes.

If you can avoid direct sun exposure as much as possible, you will be doing your skin a favour. And, no matter the weather, be sure to wear sunscreen every single day.

Can loose skin be tightened?

In short, yes! As we've mentioned above, when it comes to skin, ideally it is best to take action early to avoid any kind of damage. If you're a little past that though, it's not the end of the world!

While some things can't be undone, with the right skin treatments, it is certainly possible to tighten skin, reduce wrinkles, and modify overall texture.

What is the best skin tightening treatments for the face?

Now, the moment you've been waiting for, the skin tightening!

If you're looking to firm sagging skin up but aren't sure which skin tightening treatment is best for you, here are five of the most popular that you might want to consider.

Active skincare ingredients

Before you look into surgical skin tightening treatments or laser skin tightening, we recommend starting out with a good skin tightening treatment in the form of a routine, packed full of the right firming products.

Software's Advanced Anti Ageing Set can suit a variety of skin types, and deeply cleanses, hydrates, brightens, and repairs, with potent dermatologist-approved formulas that tighten skin and help it appear more radiant. The four-step regime includes our Vitamin C + Ferulic Serum, Retinol Complex Oil, Salicylic Acid Foaming Wash, Ceramide Repair Balm and Solar Fluid.

These ingredients are designed to promote new collagen growth, improve skin elasticity, protect the skin's barrier, clear away dead cells, reduce wrinkles, and protect your skin from sun damage.

Radiofrequency facial rejuvenation

Radiofrequency facial rejuvenation might sound intense, but it's actually one of the more gentle non-surgical skin tightening treatments and it can be a good way to ease into the world of skin tightening.

Essentially, a dermatologist places a device on your skin, which is designed to stimulate dermal collagen production.

Laser therapy

Laser therapy is perhaps the most popular option when it comes to non-surgical skin tightening, and for good reason. There are a few different types of laser treatments on the market, so of course, we recommend speaking to a dermatologist before starting this treatment.

Skin needling

Skin needling, also known as microneedling, can be another highly effective option in the realm of non-surgical skin tightening treatments.

If none of the above is suitable for you, there are surgical options you could consider. The most well-known are facelifts and neck lifts, but these procedures are costly and require significant downtime afterwards.

It's also worth noting that as long as your skin is healthy, you don't necessarily need any of these treatment options — it's all about your skin goals and how you want to approach treatment.