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About Skin

Where Do You Sit on the Glogau Wrinkle Scale Today? 

Glogau—hang around in aesthetician circles as much as we do, and you’ll hear this unusual word quite a bit. 

But what is it, and what’s it got to do with your skin? 

This classification system, officially called the Glogau Wrinkle Scale, developed by Dr Richard Glogau, helps you (or your Authorised Treatment Provider) identify how much photoaging has affected your skin. It’s a helpful tool for analysing skin and deciding upon appropriate measures to improve the skin’s overall look. 

Keep reading to understand where your skin might sit today and how you can get better results in the future. 

Introducing the Glogau Scale 

When you think of ageing skin, you might think of wrinkles. But discolouration is as much a sign of prematurely ageing skin as wrinkles. The Glogau Scale assesses wrinkle development and pigmentation to determine the degree of photoaging. 

There are 4 types on the Glogau Scale, and each corresponds with an estimated age range where this type is predicted. 

4 Glogau Scale Types 

G1: “No wrinkles”

ageing 20s 30s

Mild photoaging 

Age group: 20s-30s 

 What it looks like: 

  • Early on in your photoaging journey 
  • Minimal to no wrinkling and pigmentation 
  • No age spots, also known as liver spots 
  • No keratosis 

G2: “Wrinkles in motion” 

ageing 30s 40s

Moderate photoaging 

Age group: 30s-40s 

What it looks like: 

  • You’ll start to notice the signs of photoaging 
  • Wrinkles may appear when your face moves 
  • Skin texture starts to change; pores become more visible 
  • Age spots start to appear 
  • Keratoses are palpable but not visible  

G3: “Wrinkles at rest” 

ageing 40s 50s

Advanced photoaging 

Age group: 40s-50s 

What it looks like: 

  • Wrinkles are present even when face is relaxed 
  • Brown pigmentation and age spots are more visible 
  • Small blood vessels are prominent (telangiectasia) 
  • Visible keratosis  

G4: “Only wrinkles” 

ageing 60s 70s

Severe photoaging 

Age group: 60s or 70s 

What it looks like: 

  • Wrinkles are present on entire face when at rest or moving 
  • Skin has a lacklustre yellow-grey colour 
  • Pre-cancerous skin changes (actinic keratosis, which is a rough, scaly patch of skin) and prior skin cancers  

Glogau Scale & Dermapen Treatments 

This easy-to-use classification system helps your Authorised Treatment Provider select the right therapies to get you the best results. The higher the classification, the more potent products and procedures may be needed to correct existing photodamage.  

What’s photoaging? 

photo ageing

It’s easy to blame the passing of time for the ageing of our skin, but the sun plays one of the biggest roles in any change you see in the mirror. 

Photoaging is the damage caused by exposure to UV rays. This causes the skin to age prematurely and puts you at risk of skin cancer. UV rays are responsible for up to 90% of visible signs of ageing. 

Every individual will experience photoaging in a slightly different way. However, symptoms of photodamage include: 

  • Pigmentation changes, such as melasma, sunspots, or age spots 
  • Wrinkles, as seen in the Glogau Scale 
  • Broken blood vessels, redness, blotchiness 
  • Skin is less elastic, resulting in loss of tone 
  • Rough, leathery skin texture 
  • Yellowish tint 

How to Prevent Photoaging 

One of the ultimate topical creams you can use on your skin is good quality sunscreen. While there are plenty of great ways to reverse the signs of ageing, it’s often much easier to try to prevent them from occurring (or getting worse) in the first place. 

Ways that you can help prevent the sun from damaging your skin include: 

  • Staying inside when the UV is the strongest, usually between 10 am-2 pm 
  • Wear a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection of at least 30 SPF or higher 
  • Regularly reapply your sunscreen every couple of hours or after your sweat or go swimming 
  • Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses 
  • Wear loose-fitting SPF factor clothing 

How to Choose the Right Sunscreen 

how to prevent photo-ageing

If you’re going to wear sunscreen all day, it needs to block the sun’s harmful rays, but it should also feel good. 

Gone are the days of wearing sticky, smelly SPF to keep your skin safe. COVER RECOVER uses organic mineral sunscreen ingredients Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide to offer SPF 30/PA+++ level of protection.  

While you might be familiar with SPF (which helps shield UVB rays), the PA+++ rating refers to the level of UVA protection. UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin than UVB rays and play a greater role in skin ageing. 

COVER RECOVER also contains anti-ageing actives (Peptides and Hyaluronic Acid) and antioxidants (Vitamin A, C, and E) to help erase signs of premature ageing. 

How to Reverse Photoaging 

How to Reverse Photoaging 

No matter where you sit on the Glogau Wrinkle Scale, Dermapen Treatments can help your skin look its best. While some therapies might focus specifically on smoothing wrinkles OR reducing pigmentation, Dermapen Treatments target multiple signs of aging simultaneously. 

The superior Dermapen 4™ allows your Authorised Treatment Provider to alternate speeds and depths as they go. They are provided with proven Protocols and training on how to get the best results. 

And there’s no heat involved, meaning that Dermapen Treatments are safe and effective for all Fitzpatrick skin types. 

What is Fitzpatrick Skin Types? 

Fitzpatrick Skin Types is another scale used by Authorised Treatment Providers to analyse your skin and determine what products and procedures are suitable. All Fitzpatrick skin types can tolerate Dermapen Treatment and ÜBER PRO Peels. However, Fitzpatrick Types IV to VI may require more extended preparation using Dp Dermaceuticals before a procedure. 

Get Your Skin Professionally Assessed 

glogau skin scale

Figuring out what type of skin you have and how to best restore a youthful glow on your own can be exhausting and inaccurate. Before you know it, your bathroom cabinet is overflowing with abandoned products that haven’t erased a single wrinkle. 

Once you have your skin assessed with an Authorised Treatment Provider, they can provide you with a customised skin prescription, ensuring you’re getting the right balance of active ingredients. They’ll also advise you on how many Dermapen Treatments you may need, at what frequency and whether any at-home accelerators are necessary to get the results you want. Find out more about what to expect, and then book a consult today.    

If you are a professional and wish to learn how to become a DermapenWorld Authorised Treatment Provider, click here.