Besides the usual crow’s feet and frown lines, there’s a host of other pointers that can give away your age – but luckily they’re all easy to treat. Follow our advice…

FACIAL HAIR
At least 25% of middle-aged women have unwanted facial hair but most are reluctant to discuss it, or even admit they have this problem, despite it being very common. It is usually down to hormonal changes, which can lead to increased hair on the upper lip, chin and sides of the face. These unwanted hairs can be quite dark and coarse too, which makes them more noticeable. There are many ways of removing hair though – from the short-term solution to more drastic long-term measures – so don’t despair.

Treat it

• Depilatory creams dissolve hair at the follicle. They are best used on the body and results only last two to three weeks.
• Waxing is good for removing hair on the upper lip and sides of the face but not for chin hair. It can irritate the skin and leave red, raised bumps. Treatment needs repeating every two to six weeks.
• Laser hair removal causes selective destruction of hair follicles and can achieve long-term hair reduction after several treatment sessions. It must be performed by an experienced doctor, nurse or licensed aesthetician.

VARICOSE VEINS
These frequently develop after the age of 40 and worsen as people age. Bluish, lumpy, swollen veins, they are typically found on the legs and are generally caused by damage to the valves in the veins. This prevents blood from travelling up the veins easily, causing it to pool. While they can just occur as part of the ageing process, being overweight and standing for long periods of time can worsen the problem – and it tends to run in families.

Treat it

• Simple measures, such as avoiding prolonged standing, exercising regularly and keeping legs elevated while sitting can help. Losing weight also has an impact and many people find wearing compression stockings can ease swelling.
• Laser removal involves the heating of the vein from within by inserting a fine tube into the veins and using laser beams to shrink them. The treatment is usually performed under local anaesthetic, so is relatively pain free. Patients can normally return to work the next day, and there
  is usually no scarring.

HANDS
Constantly on show and rarely protected – hands are often the biggest giveaway of your age. Not only are they permanently exposed to the elements, they’re continually immersed in hot water and detergents. Most women would never dream of treating their faces the way they do their hands, yet the skin is just as delicate, meaning they develop wrinkles, age spots and raised veins well before the face. And aside from wearing gloves all the time, there’s no way of hiding them once the damage has been done. Modern treatments however mean that the thinning of skin, prominent veins and sun damage can now all be reversed or at least made to look less noticeable.

Treat it

• Hyaluronic acid in the dermis (which keeps the skin hydrated and looking fresh) begins to deplete with age, leaving the skin parched and rough in texture. But products that contain hyaluronic acid itself, or vitamin A derivatives can help to plump up thinning skin.
• Glycolic acid peels remove layers of damaged skin on hands, meaning that fresh new skin underneath is revealed.
• Restylane injections, which increase skin’s thickness and stimulate natural collagen production, leave hands smoother and plumper for about six months. A course usually involves 25-30 injections and with a little anaesthetic cream should be painless.

DISCOLOURED TEETH
With age, the hard enamel that coats teeth begins to thin, revealing more and more of the yellow-grey colour underneath. To make things worse, excessive coffee drinking and cigarette smoking can lead to staining of the front teeth. However, recent developments in both cosmetic dentistry and at-home treatments mean it’s now possible to get a brighter, whiter smile – taking years off your appearance – without too much hassle.

Treat it

• Do-it-yourself, at home whitening products are usually diluted versions of those used by cosmetic dentists. Unfortunately, this means their effect is significantly reduced, and they typically only whiten teeth by a few shades.
• Professional bleaching is far more effective, though it isn’t cheap. A rubber shield is put on the gums for protection. Then your dentist applies the whitening product. The active ingredient is usually hydrogen peroxide, which makes tooth enamel lighter. Successful treatment usually takes three to four weeks.
• Laser whitening provides a more instant result. A rubber dam is used to protect the gums, and a bleaching product is painted on the teeth. A laser is shone on the teeth to activate the bleach. A colour change happens quickly, as the light speeds up the chemical reaction of the bleach product.

HAIR LOSS
Traditionally associated with men, hair loss is actually a reality for an astonishing number of women as well, particularly during menopause when hormones are thrown out of balance in the body. Indeed, thinning hair is often one of the first symptoms of menopause that a woman notices. The softer hair on your head also begins to change in texture as you reach your forties. A loss of lustre occurs because individual hair shafts begin to thin and dry as a result of hormonal changes. The replacement process for normal daily hair loss becomes slower, and new replacement hair is generally dryer, with less shine.

Treat it

• Avoiding over-styling can help minimise changes in hair texture and thickness. Too much heat from hairdryers and straightening irons, as well as harsh chemicals in hair dyes can strip hair of its natural defences.
• Good nutrition can also slow the brittleness of hair that comes with normal ageing. Increasing your intake of protein, vitamins B and C, and iron all help. Exercise and stress reduction techniques, such as yoga or meditation, help to improve overall health, which affects the quality of your hair.
• Medications or hair transplant surgeries are available for more extreme cases of hair loss but care should be taken, as these can be risky and side effects are commonplace.
• Most experts recommend that women who suffer from hair loss and wish to treat it begin with lifestyle changes, then move onto alternative medicines and finally, look to drugs or surgery if nothing else seems to work.