Prejuvenation: When to Treat, and When to Say No

Here is a question you will be asked more often: “I’m 24. Should I start now?” Your answer matters more than any technique you learn.

What prejuvenation means

Prejuvenation is preventative, lower intensity care for younger patients, typically in their twenties and early thirties, before visible ageing sets in. It focuses on the drivers of visible change: collagen and elastin decline, sun exposure and repeated muscle movement. In practice the foundations are skin health, daily SPF and retinoids where appropriate, with in-clinic treatments supporting skin quality rather than changing appearance.

Is earlier always better?

No, and you should be able to say so with confidence. The evidence for preventative use of prescription-only treatments in patients in their twenties is thinner than the evidence for established indications. That is a reason to proceed cautiously, not to promote earlier treatment.

Judgement is the skill

Younger patients often arrive well informed and heavily influenced by social media. Your role is to separate genuine clinical need from demand. That means a proper consultation, honest expectations and, sometimes, recommending better skincare and sun protection instead of treatment. The best practitioners in this space are often the ones recommending less.

Where to go next

Read Skin Ageing Explained and Combination Treatments.

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