Surreal illustration of skin transformation

Decoding Your Skin's Age: How to Take Control of Facial Aging

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Beau Callahan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A groundbreaking study reveals how personalized education empowers you to make informed decisions about age-related skin changes."


As we age, the skin on our face undergoes various changes, from the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to shifts in texture and volume. Navigating the myriad of available treatments and understanding which are best suited for your unique skin can be overwhelming. Often, patients rely solely on the expertise of practitioners, but what if you could play a more informed and active role in the decision-making process?

A 2011 study published in the Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology journal explores the effectiveness of a new patient education software program called "Home Of Younger Skin" (HOYS). This innovative program aims to empower individuals by providing a structured and personalized assessment of age-related skin changes, ultimately leading to more satisfying treatment outcomes.

This article will delve into the key findings of the study, explaining how HOYS works, what benefits it offers compared to standard education methods, and why understanding your skin's 'esthetic age' is crucial for making informed choices about cosmetic procedures.

HOYS: A Personalized Approach to Understanding Skin Aging

Surreal illustration of skin transformation

The HOYS program moves away from the traditional, often subjective, methods of assessing skin aging. Instead, it utilizes a database of digital images depicting various aspects and degrees of aging across seven key geographic regions of the face, neck, décolletage and hands. These regions are further divided into 35 subregions, each represented by a five-point photonumeric scale.

Here's how the program works:

  • Self-Assessment: Patients, while looking in a mirror, compare their own appearance to the images on the photonumeric scale for each of the 35 subregions.
  • Scoring: Patients select the image that best matches their current appearance, effectively assigning a score to each subregion.
  • Skin Age Calculation: The HOYS software then uses a proprietary algorithm to calculate the patient's overall 'skin age,' as well as individual skin ages for each of the seven regions.
  • Treatment Prioritization: Based on the difference between the patient's chronological age and esthetic age (skin age), the program generates a personalized treatment prioritization list, highlighting areas where intervention may be most beneficial.
This personalized approach allows patients to identify specific areas of concern and understand how their skin is aging relative to their actual age. It provides a framework for more meaningful conversations with their practitioners, moving beyond general concerns to a targeted discussion of individual needs and potential solutions.

Empowerment Through Knowledge: The HOYS Advantage

The study compared the HOYS program to standard education methods, which typically involve providing patients with general information sheets on age-related skin changes. The results demonstrated a significant advantage for patients using HOYS.

Key findings included:

Patients in the HOYS group reported a greater understanding of age-related skin changes, felt more empowered to participate in treatment decisions, and were more satisfied with the recommended treatments. They also valued the skin age scores generated by the program and were more likely to recommend the program to a friend. By providing a structured, personalized assessment of skin aging, HOYS empowers patients to take control of their cosmetic journey, leading to more informed decisions and ultimately, more satisfying results.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.2147/ccid.s23329, Alternate LINK

Title: Patient'S Self-Evaluation Of Two Education Programs For Age-Related Skin Changes In The Face: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study

Subject: Dermatology

Journal: Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Authors: Linda Williams

Published: 2011-09-01

Everything You Need To Know

1

What is the Home Of Younger Skin (HOYS) program and how does it work?

The Home Of Younger Skin (HOYS) program is designed to give you a structured, personalized way to assess age-related skin changes. You compare your appearance to digital images representing different degrees of aging across 35 subregions of your face, neck, décolletage and hands. This self-assessment helps determine your 'skin age'.

2

How does the Home Of Younger Skin (HOYS) software actually calculate my 'skin age'?

The Home Of Younger Skin (HOYS) software calculates your overall 'skin age' and individual skin ages for seven key regions by comparing your self-assessment scores to a database of digital images depicting various aspects of aging. It utilizes a proprietary algorithm to analyze the data and provide a personalized assessment.

3

How does the Home Of Younger Skin (HOYS) program help me decide which treatments I should consider?

The Home Of Younger Skin (HOYS) program generates a personalized treatment prioritization list based on the difference between your chronological age and your 'esthetic age' (skin age). This list highlights areas where interventions may be most beneficial, helping you and your practitioner focus on the areas of greatest concern and potential improvement.

4

Is my 'skin age' the only thing I should consider when thinking about facial aging?

The Home Of Younger Skin (HOYS) program helps to quantify and visualize the subjective experience of facial aging. It uses photonumeric scales to represent varying degrees of aging in different facial subregions. However, it is important to remember that 'skin age' is not a direct indicator of overall health, and lifestyle factors such as sun exposure, diet, and smoking can significantly influence it.

5

Does the Home Of Younger Skin (HOYS) program tell me exactly which products or procedures I should use?

While the Home Of Younger Skin (HOYS) program helps prioritize treatments based on 'esthetic age', it does not directly recommend specific products or procedures. The study focuses on empowering individuals to have more informed conversations with practitioners, enabling a collaborative approach to choosing the most suitable treatments based on individual needs and priorities. To gain treatment specifics, consult with your doctor.

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