Young HK women declare war on wrinkles
Many professional women in their 20s and 30s believe they need anti-ageing products even though they don't see themselves as old.
More than half of the women, aged 25 to 39, who took part in a survey said they used the products.
A similar percentage said they did not see themselves as old, while many also said they saw work-related stress as the chief cause of ageing.
They were among 609 women aged 25 to 64 polled by the Chinese University's Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies. Of these more than 80 per cent said they had used some kind of product to improve their skin and protect it from ageing.
Half said they used cosmetic skincare - mostly costing less than $500 - while others tried to avoid sunlight and had facial treatments.
Only 2.2 per cent said they had done nothing to protect their skin from ageing and a further 14.6 per cent said they had never spent money on skincare products.
About 34 per cent of those surveyed said they thought work-related stress was the chief cause of ageing - and 60 per cent of these were professionals and executives.
Inadequate sleep and environmental pollution were other causes cited.
The month-long survey was conducted in conjunction with Chinese herbal product maker NutriGreen, with which the university has developed an anti-ageing formula.
Commenting on the survey, the dean of the Chinese University's school of medicine, Che Chun-tao said it was a myth that ageing could be combated, although it could be delayed. 'Ageing is a natural health process.'
