This Retinol Has ‘Pesky Wrinkles Backing Off Like They Just Got Yelled At’ — And It’s 25% Off

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As dermatologists have previously told HuffPost, retinol helps your skin produce more collagen. The most common protein in our bodies, collagen, helps keep skin bouncy and tight. But as we age, our bodies produce less of it — which is where retinol comes in. A form of Vitamin A, experts say retinol enables your skin to both make and retain more collagen, helping skin stay firm and smooth. (It’s even been clinically studied.) If you’re looking to see for yourself, reviewers call this Paula’s Choice retinol treatment their “secret weapon” to “fend off Father Time.” And lucky for you, it’s currently 25% off at Amazon and Sephora.

Fans call it “the best retinol without a prescription.” Some even say it’s better than their prescriptions…

Made with 1% retinol, brightening vitamins C and E, firming peptides, hydrating hyaluronic acid and soothing botanical extracts (like licorice, oat and willow bark), fans call Paula’s Choice one of the strongest, most effective OTC retinols on the market.

Because retinol creams boost collagen production and retention, they “can help prevent and soften wrinkles, smooth uneven skin texture and improve skin complexion,” Dr. Y. Claire Chang, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist, previously told HuffPost.

“It has completely met my expectations,” a 58-year-old shopper wrote. “I have tried prescription strength tretinoin and many other types and strengths of retinol. This one firms, turns over new skin and strengthens. My skin is radiant in the A.M.”

“Best retinol I’ve ever used, including prescription,” another said.

Though there may be an adjustment period, users agree this stuff “renews the cells, revealing younger, healthier skin.”

Per the brand, this potent treatment works to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, keeping skin clear and firm, while the other rockstar ingredients nourish, protect and plump the skin. Though, as with all retinols, it’s a strong product. As your skin adjusts to the influx of new cells, it’s common for skin to get irritated, red, flaky and angry — a process not-so-lovingly deemed “the retinol uglies.”

The brand recommends starting with 1-2 pumps about three times a week, then gradually increasing to nightly use. Reminder: retinol makes you more sensitive to the sun, so you need to be diligent with that SPF and make sure to apply it at night. Many reviewers had an adjustment period, encouraging you to go easy, but stay with it.

“This is the product I’ve been looking for my entire adult life,” Lyn wrote. “Gradually lightly peels off leathery top skin to give me 20 years younger soft skin.”

Another shopper said after about three weeks of use, their skin “developed a mild ‘leathery’ hard feel.” After exfoliating and moisturizing, “what was revealed underneath was a prettier, more alive-looking skin,” they said.

No wonder reviewers call it a “miracle cream,” “holy grail-level skin care,” and a “can’t live without” for their face, neck and chest.

Fans say the treatment brought their skin “to a new level of smoothness and evenness.”

“My skin looks brighter and younger,” another wrote. “Many people have asked me what I’ve done.”

Another reviewer, an army vet, joked that after just a few weeks, “my skin is smoother, and those pesky wrinkles are backing off like they just got yelled at in boot camp.”

“I have tried so many other things for a saggy neck and wrinkles,” a 62-year-old reviewer wrote. “Now, I can’t live without this! The lines are gone and I cannot believe how the sagging in my neck has gone away.”

Reviewers say this retinol treatment keeps their skin feeling soft and smooth. Read more 5-star reviews and get some for yourself on sale.

“Grumpy Old Vet Approved! As a 35-year-old guy who’s never touched a skincare product in his life, I have to say—I’m impressed. I figured I’d give this Paula’s Choice Retinol Treatment a shot because, let’s face it, my reflection was starting to look like a grumpy old vet who’s seen better days. Well, this stuff freaking works! After a few weeks, my skin is smoother, and those pesky wrinkles are backing off like they just got yelled at in boot camp. I never thought I’d be the guy raving about skincare, but here we are. If you’re a fellow grump trying to fend off Father Time, this is your new secret weapon. Trust me, it’s worth it!” — Grumpy Veteran

“I never leave reviews, but as someone who has tried a multitude of face moisturizers over the years I just had to provide feedback on this. FINALLY I have found something that actually does what it says. My skin has never felt so soft and smooth. The product is the perfect consistency and does not make my skin feel sticky. It absorbs relatively quick. In a couple weeks I have already noticed my skin is more smooth. Less fine lines/wrinkles and brightening of some dark spots. I am so happy to have found it and it is well worth the money with the results so far!” — Lia

“Definitely worth trying. Visibly reduced my minor wrinkles in just a week. I’ll definitely be buying the bigger one.” — Jill Taylor

“This is a great retinol! I’ve used ROC, LaRoche Posay, Sunday Riley, etc which were all good but this one is amazing. Since I’ve been using a retinol for 2 years I use it nightly. I’ve only been using it for 2 weeks and can already tell the difference. I’m 66 and it really firms my skin up in addition to softening it. I highly recommend this product!” — Jenny Lyn James

As a dermatologist previously told HuffPost: “If you’re not using sunscreen, don’t spend your money on retinol.” To ensure your skin stays protected, check out these three dermatologist-recommended sunscreens, courtesy of HuffPost Shopping.

Dermstore

EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46

Dr. Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD, board-certified dermatologist, says that “the best SPF for daily use is one that you’ll actually wear — lightweight, invisible and comfortable under makeup.”

She recommends a mineral SPF with low irritation potential, like this cult-fave SPF that is beloved by both HuffPost readers and editors alike. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid to deeply moisturize skin while the inclusion of lactic acid lightly exfoliates skin and can help to reduce hyperpigmentation and shine. It’s a great option for people like me with sensitive and acne-prone skin. I turn to it anytime I’m going to be spending a lot of time in the sun, or when I’m post-procedure and want to protect my skin without irritating it.

Amazon

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Sunscreen Dry Touch SPF 60

Having earned The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation, this La Roche-Posay is Dr. Alexander Witkowski, MD, PhD, board-certified dermatologist and Melanoma Research Alliance Dermatology Advisor’s personal favorite and “go-to” sunscreen, both for daily use and for days with extended sun exposure. It’s also what he uses on his 4-year-old child on beach days, bike rides or hikes. He noted that this oil-free SPF is very popular among dermatologists and is formulated with antioxidants that can help protect the skin from environmental damage. He also noted it contains senna alata, “a tropical leaf extract known for its ability to combat oxidative stress and support the prevention of premature skin aging.” You can’t go wrong with this non-comedogenic, water-resistant formula that is also well-suited for sensitive skin.

Sephora

Ultra Violette Future Screen SPF 50

The cult-fave Australian brand Ultra Violette is finally available in the U.S. at Sephora! If anyone knows how to protect their skin from harmful rays, it’s Southern Hemisphere-dwelling Australians. I stock up on their sunscreens and lip balms every time I’m Down Under, and this development is a real thrill for skincare lovers. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jessie Cheung of Chicago’s Cheung Aesthetics & Wellness told HuffPost that this must-have SPF is “packed with mineral blockers to protect from the harsh Aussie sun, but feels silky and lightweight.”

The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)

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Some Associate Autism With Lower Empathy – But The Opposite May Be True

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To be frank, I was always surprised to read that some people associated autism with a “lack of empathy” or “empathy dysfunction”.

I know autism is a broad spectrum, meaning a “rule” that applies to one person doesn’t necessarily show up in another. But I’d noticed some loved ones with autism seemed to experience more empathy (or at least a more intense empathy) than average, not less.

In 2024, researchers found a high percentage of “hyper-empathy” among autistic people.

Here, we spoke to one of the study’s authors, Dr Stephen Connolly, a Senior Lecturer in Autism from the Sheffield Hallam Institute of Education, about his team’s findings.

What is hyper-empathy?

Hyper-empathy is “an intense emotional response to people, plants, objects, animals, even fictional characters, often to the point of distress. It is intense, all-consuming thoughts and feelings that can make it hard for someone to distinguish their own feelings from another person’s.”

Sometimes, Dr Connolly said, this overwhelming hyper-empathy can be so intense that it can lead to vomiting, nausea, pain, agitation, crying, depression, anxiety, and burnout.

A person with hyper-empathy might even lose money over it. This can happen when “someone wants to pay to try resolve the problem such as taking in an animal from a shelter, paying for someone’s shopping, [or] replacing an item someone has lost or broken”.

And the trait could even cause issues in relationships, as people’s friends and family may wonder why “someone is seen as putting emotional resources into a damaged piece of furniture, an injured bird, or a homeless person but not their partner or friend… Some people can blame the hyper-empathic person for their responses, leading to breakdowns in relationships.”

Dr Connolly added that people with hyper-empathy might avoid situations that elicit this often extremely intense response.

Therefore, they might not “be willing to enter some environments or be there for people when they are needed.

“There is an immense emotional, cognitive and physical load attached to a hyper-empathic response that can be all-consuming. At best it can halt a person’s day, at worst it can lead to suicidal ideation.”

What link is there between hyper-empathy and autism?

Dr Connolly’s research is not the only study to link autistic people with a greater likelihood of experiencing hyper-empathy.

“Early and growing research is suggesting it can be a fairly common response in autistic people, but understanding it can be difficult,” the lecturer told us.

“One of the challenges is that some people have talked about how they felt empathy so much they had to ‘shut it off,’” meaning that while their baseline levels of empathy might be very high, they could have adapted to hide it.

Meanwhile, many autistic people may have alexithymia, or difficulty naming, identifying, and/or expressing their own feelings.

“There is also a well-researched issue of the double empathy problem, where someone’s empathic response is not validated or accepted as empathy and so goes unacknowledged by those around the person,” Connolly continued.

This can happen when two people have very different experiences of the world.

“All this can lead to the person [being] seen as not having empathy.”

Of course, hyper-empathy is not a universal autistic trait. In his 2024 research, Connolly and his team found a “huge amount of variation in the empathic experiences of participants”; some identified with having lower empathy, while others described very powerful empathetic reactions.

So… why don’t we see autistic people as empathetic?

The expert told us that hyper-empathy is “substantially” underplayed and ignored in discussions about autistic people, partly due to “historic misunderstandings”.

For instance, he said, early autism research from people like Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger suggested that people with autism seemed to have less emotional reactivity in empathetic scenarios.

Experts like Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, a student of Uta Firth who created the first UK clinic for adults seeking a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome in 1999, may have been influenced by their ideas, Connolly claimed.

(Asperger’s is no longer a diagnostic term; it’s now seen as part of the autism spectrum).

Baron-Cohen has since expressed regret over characterising autism using an “extreme male brain” theory, telling The Guardian: “Some of those terms were very easily misunderstood… It can lead to simplistic headlines like ‘autistic people lack empathy’, which is not true”.

However, he said that the underlying science still stands, calling the idea that autistic people lack empathy a “myth”.

Dr Connolly said that later, researchers Dr Luke Beardon and, separately, Dr Damian Milton suggested that major studies might have missed empathy in autistic people because they were only looking for the kind typically expressed by those without autism.

But the problem is that many of the ideas that influenced popular thought about autism were set in the ’80s and ’90s, overtaking newer ideas, he added. They may have even been “central to the development of understanding of autism in the DSM [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the standard diagnostic tool used by mental health experts in the US].”

So, Connolly said, potentially outdated tropes were “reproduced in media (e.g., Rain Man, The Big Bang Theory) and spread the message that autistic people lack empathy. It is even a core element of the diagnostic process still in 2026”.

Therefore, “When [autistic] people express hyper-empathy, it [can] go unacknowledged, and often the impact (burnout, physical, and other costs) will be attributed to something else… people can also be seen as challenging because of their hyper-empathic responses,” he ended.

“We have a significant number of autistic people who society deems to lack empathy but experience intense emotional responses that can lead to psychological, physical, social, and economic impact[s], and this will all go unsupported, or even [be] seen as challenging, or a problem leading to potential long-term impacts.”

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Exclusive: Andy Burnham Should Call An Election Before It’s Too Late, Says Former Labour Adviser

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Andy Burnham should call an early general election before his popularity inevitably begins to decline, according to a former Labour adviser.

Liz Bates, who served in Keir Starmer’s government, said the prime minister should go to the polls because “it’s probably not going to get better than this” for him.

Labour has enjoyed a bounce in the polls since Burnham replaced Starmer in No.10 last month, leading to speculation that the new PM may be tempted to call an election to secure his own five-year mandate.

However, he appeared to rule out such a move last month, saying: “I don’t think people want it.”

Nevertheless, Bates – who was a special adviser to former housing secretary Steve Reed before he was sacked by Burnham – insisted he should keep the option on the table.

Speaking to HuffPost UK’s Commons People podcast, she said: “Whilst he is popular, and people like him and he’s brand new, and we have the Burnham bounce and he’s shiny and different, everything seems ok.

“When the pressure starts to come on, and you have to make difficult decisions and you go through tough periods – and there will be tough periods, there always is in British politics – then these questions of mandate really start to fester.

“The pressure to have an election starts to come on and it gets pretty intense.”

Bates added: “I would be tempted, if I was him, to go for it because you get the new manager bounce, Farage is looking bonkers to be honest … the Greens seem to be in a bit of a tricky spot as well.

“It’s probably not going to get better than this [for Burnham]. They will think it’s going to get better than this because it feels like ‘we’re great, we’re better than Keir, look at us’.

“When things get tough and the pressure comes on to have a general election, if you’re down in the polls at that point, all your options narrow. I would do it when things feel sunny and positive.”

Her comments echo those of former Theresa May pollster James Johnson, who this week said an election by next spring is Burnham’s best chance of securing his own Commons majority, defeating Reform and all-but destroying the Tories.

Elsewhere in the podcast, Bates – who is also a former Channel 4 and Sky News journalist – fights back tears as she recalls the day she and other government advisers were told in No.10 that Starmer was resigning.

She also reveals that supporters of the former PM were told to wear sunglasses and stand at the back of the crowd if they thought they would cry when he gave his farewell speech in Downing Street.

You can listen to the full interview below, or just download it from wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

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Doja Cat Has Choice Words For Tyga After His ‘AI Album’ Admission: ‘He Is A Penis’

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Doja Cat has taken aim at fellow rapper Tyga after he shared that he’d use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to produce his latest musical project.

While taking part in a recent Twitch livestream, the Jealous Type performer told her followers, seemingly completely unprovoked: “Nobody asked me anything about Tyga, but I just felt like saying this. Tyga is a penis for making an AI album.”

The Grammy winner was referring to the latest musical offering from Tyga, which he released at the end of July under the moniker Starface.

Starface marked a musical departure for the Ayo performer, taking inspiration from 80s synth music rather than his usual hip-hop and rap.

He subsequently told Vibe: “We definitely used AI as a [tool on the album]. And I know people are going to be mad about me saying this, but it’s where technology is going.”

Tyga
Tyga

via Associated Press

Tyga insisted: “It’s no different than when autotune came out. Some people were opposed to it, but real artists took it and used it.”

“We were like, ‘You know what? I need some ‘80 synths for a certain part of this song. I need a guitar solo done ASAP’. It is what it is,” he added, but insisted that all of the vocals heard on the album are his own.

Starface, and the news that it was created with AI, have been met with a predominantly negative reception – most notably from the music outlet Pitchfork, which gave the album a 0.0 rating for the first time in 20 years.

AI remains a contentious issue across the entertainment industry, with artists like Madonna, Beyoncé and Ariana Grande among those to have spoken out against its increased usage.

The technology has proved to be just as contentious a subject among creatives in television and cinema, and was a major factor in the industry-wide Hollywood strikes of 2023.

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Did the eclipse damage your eyes?

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An eye surgeon says that fewer people have been seeking treatment for eye damage than after the UK’s last total solar eclipse in 1999.

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Eclipse warning: The key signs you may have damaged your eyes

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Symptoms after looking at the sun without eclipse glasses can include blurred vision

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Leading doctor rebukes NHS chiefs over transplants

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NHS Blood and Transplant’s medical director says waiting lists for organ operations are unfair but leaders are not solving the issue.

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This ‘Luxurious’ Oil Leaves Lips ‘Looking Plump Without That Gross, Tacky Gloss Feel’

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Say goodbye to crumb-magnet, sticky, gloopy lip glosses and dry-as-a-bone stains that make your mouth look thirsty. Made with *nine* plant-based oils, the non-sticky, non-drying Dream lip oil from TikTok-beloved beauty brand Summer Fridays is a pleasure to wear and it looks good. Boasting skin care ingredients and a slight plumping effect, it’s like a lip gloss, treatment, balm and stick all in one. Reviewers call it “subtle and shiny at the same time,” saying it heals even “ultra dry lips” after just one day. Even better? A selection of colors is close to 30% off on Amazon, with the best deals on “Rose Bud” and “Bare Sand.” These rarely go on sale, so we suggest acting fast.

Yup, you heard us, this nourishing oil offers “a little plump and color” — without feeling sticky.

The culprit behind sticky lip products? Usually a silicone or wax base. This brand doesn’t have that. Made with castor, shea, avocado, jojoba and grape seed oils, Summer Fridays glides over your lips, combining the juicy and reflective finish of a gloss with the comfort and nourishing effects you might receive from a balm.

“What I love most is the moisture this oil provides, without leaving a weird film or line on the inside of my lips — which I feel most lipsticks and glosses do after a while,” Sasha wrote. “I’m already on my second tube of this stuff.”

Shoppers rejoice in the smooth, oil-based formula that “looks shiny and not overly glossy” and is somehow, majestically “not sticky at all.”

“Adds so much color and moisture without being sticky,” one reviewer wrote. “…Has made a great difference in my dry lips,” another said. “Best for people who like a high shine without stickiness.”

A Sephora shopper says the oil “makes my lips look so full and moisturized,” without irritation. “Not sticky, not heavy, just super comfortable,” Hector wrote. “It leaves your lips looking plump without that gross, tacky gloss feel.”

Though shoppers celebrate that it’s not too oily, with one noting it “moisturizes my lips without providing discomfort.”

The brand says it’s like a hybrid of a lip gloss and treatment, giving you shine, a buildable color and a plumping effect, thanks to a cooling, tingling agent (called menthoxypropanediol) and cocoyl hydrolyzed collagen for firming. “The tingle is subtle and mild, though, so it’s not irritating,” one writes.

“I also appreciate that it doesn’t seem to have any noticeable fragrance.” Plus, you get the skin care-like aid of vitamin E for protection and softening. Shopper Renee says the oil is “perfect for adding a little glam to my look,” with long-lasting moisture and a dreamy texture. “It feels luxurious on my lips,” she said. “Not as dry as lipstick.”

Others say they use it more as a lip balm, “healing” their chapped lips, and keeping their kisser “moisturized and shiny even after the gloss wore off.”

Because it’s so smooth and light, fans say it looks “effortlessly put‑together,” giving a “perfect natural-looking tint.”

Fans credit this oil for bringing a “low-maintenance lip glow,” with long staying power. “I was initially worried it might be too dark, but it applies more like a flattering, glossy tint rather than a heavy, opaque color,” shopper Catsandcolognes wrote. “On my fair, cool-toned skin with pink undertones, it shows up as a soft, cool, plummy brown that looks very beautiful. It’s definitely pigmented, but not heavily so or challenging to pull off. The tint deepens slightly if layered, but it still stays soft and glossy rather than opaque.”

Others call the buildable tint “subtle,” especially for hot summer days and “no-makeup” makeup looks. “This lip oil isn’t heavy like lipstick, and you only need a little bit for lasting color,” one wrote.

“I don’t usually wear lipstick but wanted something to enhance my lip tone and give them a natural-looking but glossy pop,” another said. “This product is perfect for me.”

Reviewers are loving this Summer Fridays lip oil for plump but non-sticky lips through the summer and beyond. Read more promising reviews and grab some for yourself on a rare Amazon sale.

“I have been using this for weeks, and it has made a great difference in my dry lips. It doesn’t feel greasy. Best for people who like a high shine without stickiness! I will definitely purchase again!” — Amazon customer

“This Summer Fridays lip oil is perfect for adding a little glam to my look, whether it be for family pictures, date night or just getting dressed up. It is easy to apply and long-lasting color. Additionally, it feels luxurious on my lips. Not as dry as lipstick.” — Renee McCalla

“This is my favorite lip oil/gloss in the world. The color is really beautiful, subtle shade of pink, but what I love most is the moisture this oil provides, without leaving a weird film or line on the inside of my lips – which I feel most lipsticks and glosses do after a while. I’m already on my second tube of this stuff, which says a lot, because how often do you actually use up an entire tube of lip product!?” — Sasha Spencer

“This lip oil feels incredible—like a cushiony gloss but with way more hydration. It gives a beautiful shine and subtle tint that makes my lips look healthy and plump. Not sticky at all, and the moisture lasts for hours. My new go-to everyday lip product” — luhcardoso, Sephora customer

“Genuinely this is probably the best lip oil I’ve ever used. It not only plumps without a tingling effect, but it makes my lips look so full and moisturized. I absolutely love the shade soft mauve. I want this in every single color.” — karleebuggggg19, Sephora customer

Want more lip oils? We know you do! Check out these three finds, courtesy of HuffPost Shopping.

Sephora

A conditioning cherry lip oil

Fenty’s take on lip oil promises to condition and strengthen dry lips by combining sweet cherry oil, which is rich in essential lipids and fatty acids, with jojoba and rosehip oils to soothe and bind moisture to lips. It leaves a clear and supremely juicy finish that is delightfully scented like cherries.

Etsy/Yinnabelle

A handmade vitamin E lip oil

Etsy might not be the first place you think of when it comes to lip oils, however, this sweet cream-scented one is a formulated by a star seller and has a five-star rating. It has a clear finish and contains tried and true hydrators like almond oil and cocoa butter, along with nourishing vitamin E.

Amazon

An affordable squalane lip oil (22% off)

NYX may be best known for their adored and creamy Butter Lip Glosses, but their Fat Oil Lip Drip is also gaining some traction. This affordable and never-sticky formula uses vegan squalene, an oil known to increase hydration and impart a lasting and protective shine. There are eight tinted shades to choose from. Save 22% when you use the coupon on Amazon.

The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)

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‘Is Heat Ruining My Cycle?’: Why Your Periods Are All Over The Place This Summer

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As someone with endometriosis, fibroids and adenomyosis, I have a LOT of beef with my menstrual cycle. I don’t ever have a calm period and I usually am confined to the sofa until it’s over with. It’s grim.

This summer, however, it has been WILD. The one thing I can always rely on is my period being on around the same day every single month. It’s a small win but a significant one in terms of understanding where I am in my cycle, what to expect and when it’s safe to make plans. Until these past couple of months when that has gone OUT the window.

My periods this summer have been late. My last period was very, very light to the point that I wondered if it was implantation bleeding and I was actually pregnant. This month? It’s diabolical. I am getting through sanitary towels faster than I thought possible and my cramps are unbelievable. Energy levels? Depleted. RIP to feeling awake.

I wondered if this could have anything to do with the heatwaves we’ve been experiencing and while there is limited research on this matter, Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor did have some insights for me.

How summer can impact menstrual cycles

Dr Wylie says: “When it comes to heatwaves and periods, the research is still relatively limited, but that doesn’t mean women’s experiences should be dismissed. We know that the reproductive hormone system is closely linked to the rest of the body, so anything that places additional stress on it, including prolonged periods of very hot weather, has the potential to influence the timing of ovulation and, in turn, the menstrual cycle.

“During a heatwave, people may become dehydrated, sleep less well, feel physically exhausted or experience higher levels of physiological stress, all of which could contribute to temporary changes in hormone regulation in some individuals. That means some women may notice their period arriving earlier than expected, later than usual, experiencing a lighter or heavier bleed, or even spotting between periods.”

She advised that while we don’t have strong evidence showing that heatwaves directly cause widespread menstrual disruption, “it is certainly plausible that extreme heat may affect some women more than others, particularly when combined with other factors such as stress, travel or illness, and this is an area where more research would undoubtedly be helpful.”

Honestly, this makes a lot of sense. I am definitely struggling with the temperatures this summer and have been well out of my usual routine as I am throwing myself into summer socialising. My body is likely completely out of whack and I’m not surprised on reflection that my periods have been impacted by this.

Dr Wylie urges, though, that if you’re concerned about your periods, you should speak to your GP, saying: “I would also advise seeking medical advice if several periods have been missed without an obvious explanation, if menstrual cycles suddenly become much more irregular than usual, if bleeding is unusually heavy, persistent or occurring between periods, or if there is a positive pregnancy test accompanied by pain or bleeding, as these are situations where we would want to investigate further to rule out any underlying medical concerns.”

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GP Explains The Difference Between Healthy And ‘Pathological’ Ageing

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You might think that some changes, like memory loss, are inevitable as the years roll by. And that can be true – but serious conditions like dementia, though more common among older people, are not an ordinary part of healthy ageing.

In general, Dominic Greenyer, a private GP at The Health Suite, told HuffPost UK: “Ageing naturally brings some change. People may notice a modest reduction in muscle mass, bone density, cardiovascular fitness, hearing, vision or the speed at which they process information.

“However, severe or rapidly progressing decline should not automatically be dismissed as an inevitable part of getting older.”

Sometimes, people call non-standard deterioration “pathological ageing”. Here, we asked the GP to explain what the term means, as well as the signs you may be experiencing one or the other.

What is pathological ageing?

It’s not a single formal condition, the doctor said.

Instead, pathological ageing describes “deterioration driven or accelerated by disease, rather than the gradual biological changes we would ordinarily expect as a person grows older… [it may] involve illness or damage that significantly affects a person’s function and independence”.

That might include cardiovascular disease, poorly controlled diabetes, osteoporosis, dementia, chronic lung disease, severe frailty or substantial muscle loss.

“One of the dangers of describing every new symptom as ‘just old age’ is that treatable conditions can be missed,” the GP continued.

“Persistent exhaustion, unexplained weight loss, repeated falls, worsening breathlessness, new confusion, significant memory changes or a sudden loss of strength should be properly assessed.”

Older people may be led to believe that “pain, fatigue or loss of mobility is something they simply have to tolerate”; but that’s not always the case.

“The important questions are how quickly the change has happened, whether it is affecting everyday life, and whether an underlying condition may be contributing to it.”

How can I tell pathological ageing from normal ageing?

Dr Greenyer said that healthy ageing doesn’t mean reaching old age without any disease whatsoever. In fact, he considers healthy vs pathological ageing as more of a “spectrum” than separate poles.

“Many people live well with arthritis, high blood pressure or other long-term conditions when these are recognised, treated and properly controlled,” he said.

But a person’s level of functionality matters here.

“Healthy ageing means preserving as much physical capacity, cognitive ability, independence and social engagement as possible. A person may have a diagnosis but still remain active, make their own decisions, maintain relationships and continue doing the things that matter to them,” the GP explained.

“Pathological ageing is more likely to involve decline that is disproportionate, accelerated or driven by disease. It can begin to restrict mobility, memory, resilience and the ability to manage ordinary tasks.”

People can move between pathological and healthy ageing, he added. “Early diagnosis, rehabilitation, better disease control and changes to daily habits can sometimes slow decline and restore a meaningful amount of function.”

Can I decrease my odds of pathological ageing?

Dr Greenyer stressed that lifestyle changes alone can’t guarantee healthy ageing – genes and other factors outside our control can play a part here.

Therefore, he said, “people should never be blamed for illnesses that are not entirely within their control”.

With that said, some habits can make a “significant difference” to how likely we are to age well.

Not smoking “remains one of the most important steps a person can take,” the GP stated, while controlling and monitoring blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar can go a long way too.

“Good-quality sleep, meaningful social contact and continuing to challenge the brain are also important,” he said, while depression and hearing loss are often “overlooked” factors that can make ageing well less likely.

Calling regular physical activity “one of the most powerful things we can do.” Dr Grenyer stated that “Aerobic activity supports the heart, lungs and circulation, while strength training helps preserve muscle, bone density, balance and the ability to perform everyday tasks”.

You don’t need to hit the gym every day, either. Brisk walking, cycling, swimming, gardening, carrying shopping and simple resistance exercises can all help, the expert advised, while balance work is great for better ageing (especially among those prone to falls).

Diet is important, as well – “Older adults need sufficient protein to help preserve muscle, alongside vegetables, fruit, wholegrains and sources of healthy fats. People should also pay attention to hydration, as the sensation of thirst can become less reliable with age”.

Lastly, the GP told us that prevention isn’t just about lifestyle choices. Getting vaccines, attending screenings, and seeing your doctor about new concerns matters, too.

“The goal is not to stop ageing, because that is impossible. It is to protect resilience, function and independence for as long as possible, while recognising that it is never too late to make changes that may improve health and quality of life.”

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