Why the Glogau Scale is the Holy Grail of Anti Ageing

When we think of ageing, we usually think of wrinkles.

But discolouration is as much a sign of prematurely aged skin.

Skin texture starts to change, and dark, mottled spots appear.

Your skin may become thicker, and your pores may become more visible.

Hello and welcome to the world of photo ageing.

Fortunately, there is a cool little tool, the glogau scale, that can assess changes in your skin.

But what is it, and how do you use it?

Fear not; we, the clinical estheticians here at NC, have you covered.

To help you determine the degree of ageing in your skin.

What Exactly is the Glogau Scale?

Dr Richard Glogau developed the Glogau scale classification system.

A method that allows you to objectively measure the severity of wrinkles and photoaging, or premature ageing in your skin.

Photoageing, a broad term often used in esthetician circles, is caused by excessive exposure to damaging ultraviolet radiation.

Why? Because we use it to assess the development of wrinkles and pigmentation in our clients’ skin.

Once we know where their skin sits on this scale, we are better positioned to select appropriate treatments and preventive aftercare for them.

Helping them reverse some of the damage done and prevent accelerated ageing.

What Does Photo Ageing Look Like?

• Rough, scaly patches may be evident.
• Brown pigmentation and age spots are more visible
• Small blood vessels are prominent (telangiectasia)
• Wrinkles are present on the entire face when at rest or moving
• The skin may be thickened and yellow
• Pre-cancerous skin changes, such as actinic keratosis, may be evident

The Glougau Scale

Recognising where you are on the scale is relatively straightforward.

But to make it easy for you, we have broken it down below. There are essentially four types on the Glogau Scale; each category corresponds with an estimated age range:

Mild Photo-ageing

Type 1

• Minimal pigment change
• Keratosis is not yet visible
• Little or no makeup for coverage is required
• This is typical of someone who is usually aged between 28 and 35
• There are few, if any, wrinkles or scars present at this age

Moderate Photo-ageing 

Type 2

• Crow’s feet may appear around the eyes
• Typically aged between 3 and -50
• Keratosis is palpable but not visible
• Some mild scarring is usually present
• Smile lines may start to become visible
• The skin type still requires only light coverage
• Early signs of lines and wrinkles may be evident

Advanced Photo Ageing 

Type 3

• Typically aged between 50 and 65
• Keratosis may now be present
• The need to wear makeup is more apparent
• Noticeable discolouration of the skin is evident
• Wrinkles are more pronounced, even when not smiling
• Telangiectasia, often referred to as broken capillaries, is frequently visible

Severe Photo Ageing 

Type 4

• Aged between 60 and 75
• Sallow-yellow, greyish skin colour
• Deep wrinkling throughout the face
• Little to no sign of normal skin
• Gravitational lines are apparent
• Skin can be very dull, flaky and dry
• Dynamic actinic keratosis, with or without skin cancer, may be evident, as this research shows.

The Types of UV Radiation?

When discussing the Glogau scale, it’s crucial to address the different types of UV radiation.

Whilst UVA is dubbed the ageing ray, it is essential to note that UVB also causes wrinkles and breaks down collagen, creating damaging free radicals that inhibit your skin’s natural repair mechanisms.

So, correctly using sunscreen to block UVA and UVB radiation is essential in your battle against ageing.

The types of UV can be divided into three different categories, each based on different wavelengths:

UVA Radiation

It is dubbed the ageing ray. This penetrates deep into your skin and the dermis, undermining collagen and elastin in your skin’s structural scaffolding.

UVB Radiation

This is known as the burning ray because it is the primary UV responsible for sunburn.

This affects the outer layer of your skin, the epidermis.

The intensity of this UV light will depend on the time of day your skin is exposed to it and the season. Interestingly, it does not penetrate glass.

UVC Radiation

This is the UV rays absorbed by the atmosphere and does not damage your skin.

To conclude. The naked truth

Hopefully, you now have a much greater understanding of the Glogau scale, photoaging, and how they can affect your skin.

Just in case, here is a quick recap to help you understand where you sit on the Glogau scale.

When we start in life, we are all type 1, with smooth, unblemished, wrinkle-free skin.

But as we move into our late twenties and mid-thirties, we may notice a little smile line at the corner of the eyes or mouth, or a small brown spot that seems to appear out of nowhere. Yes, welcome to type 2.

A few years later, and uh oh, that smile line is now apparent, and yet when you are no longer smiling, that line is still showing, and those faint brown spots have morphed. This can only mean one thing: it’s type 3.

Suddenly, wrinkles appear everywhere, your skin texture is irregular, and your skin seems sallow and dry.

All those years of sun-worshipping and ignorance of UVA rays are starting to take their toll.

And now it’s official: you’re at type 4.