Why Did Men Used to Look Older? | Make It Make Sense

[Michie]

Conspiracy theorists say it's due to a nefarious plan to weaken and feminize men so they're more subservient to evil overlords. But there are actually quite a few rational explanations that explain why men in the past looked like wrinkled, hairy ashtrays and men today look like the princess from Neverending Story. I'm going to dive in and try to Make It Make Sense.

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[ChubbyCherub]

why men in the past looked like wrinkled, hairy ashtrays and men today look like the princess from Neverending Story

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[Tuur]

Men used to work outside most of the day to make a living. Today, you can work inside for most of your life. Exposure to UV does a number on the skin.

That said, there's also genetics. Being my hair has turned black instead of gray, simply being clean shaven makes me look younger. I'm at the age where I don't care about that, though. And if I look my age, I can get senior discounts.

 

[RileyG]

Some high school students in the 1990s look older than me in their yearbook, and I'm nearly 30! LOL

 

[RileyG]

Men used to work outside most of the day to make a living. Today, you can work inside for most of your life. Exposure to UV does a number on the skin.

That said, there's also genetics. Being my hair has turned black instead of gray, simply being clean shaven makes me look younger. I'm at the age where I don't care about that, though. And if I look my age, I can get senior discounts.

Not just men, but women too!

I think a lot of people used to smoke a lot back then, and it also aged them.

I had two aunts (RIP) died in their late 60s from lung cancer, they were heavy smokers for 40+ years and looked much older.

 

[Jerry N.]

I think low testosterone in younger males has a lot to do with it.

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

Drinking and smoking used to be much more common than they are now. Both of those can age a person fast. I can compare pictures of my husband (early 60's) to my grandfather at the same age, and my grandfather looks MUCH older. Hubby looks his age, mind you, but my grandfather looks at least 20 years farther along. But then, Pappaw was a smoker, and Hubby never has been.