Does Latina Skin Age Slower? Experts Reveal the Secret of Latina Skincare

A good skincare routine can benefit your skin for a long time; the earlier you start, the better. This is what the skincare industry has taught many women chasing that plump and well-hydrated skin. A consistent routine helps, but what if good skin might actually be in genes? For Latinas, this might be the case.

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles found that Latinos age slower than people of other ethnicities, according to an Allure report.

The research analyzed 6,000 DNA samples from men and women mostly between the ages of 30 and 90 with genes from seven different ethnicities, such as Latinos, Caucasians, and two groups of people from Africa.

The study also includes African-Americans, East Asians, and Tsimane, who are indigenous people in Bolivia and is genetically related to Latinos.

Scientists concluded that women in all ethnicities live longer. However, blood samples from Latino women were noted to be 2.4 years younger than blood samples from other ethnicities.

A professor in human genetics and biostatistics at UCLA, Steve Horvath, said that more research is needed to identify the cause of this discrepancy.

However, he added that he does not think external factors contribute to this.

Horvath was also the lead researcher of the study.

"For example, it is probably not due to differences in smoking or obesity because we looked into that. It's also not due to differences in income or education because our analysis adjusted for that," Horvath was quoted on a report.

Horvath added that it is not due to psychological stress or diet.

Skin Expert Point of View

Miami-based dermatologist Alicia Barba, M.D. sets the record straight as to why Latinas seem to be aging slowly compared to other ethnicities.

Barba claims that Latinas are prone to aging especially if they have habits and a lifestyle that could accelerate the process such as sun abuse, smoking, poor diet, and excessive smoking, according to a Glamour report.

However, Latina women have advantages when it comes to their skin, according to Barba.

The dermatologist said that Latina women tend to develop fewer expression lines, particularly those with medium or dark skin tones.

They also exhibit minimal muscle movement around the eyes, between the eyebrows, and on their forehead. Barba said that this helps minimize some of the wrinklings that can come from repeated facial movements.

Latina women are not the only ones to possess this advantage as studies show that African-American women have this characteristic too.

In addition, Latina women's darker skin protects them as they tend to have less photodamage, which is a UV-damage caused by sun exposure, as compared to fairer skin types.

This is due to the higher levels of melanin in Latina women, making it look like a built-in SPF.

Latinas' Skincare Needs

Latinas have certain skincare concerns such as the risk of developing brown patches on their skin, which is a condition called melasma.

Latina skin also tends to be oily and oiliness can lead to breakouts. To prevent breakouts, it is important to cleanse twice a day with a cleanser containing salicylic acid.

This will exfoliate the skin's surface and help keep pores clear. Always moisturize with SPF and use a non-comedogenic moisturizer so it will clog pores, according to Olay's advice.