Wrinkles: why they appear, how to prevent them and how to reduce them
Wrinkles affect everyone, they don’t only appear on the face, but also in other areas of the body, generally those that receive the greatest sun exposure: neck, arms. In this article we explain what causes wrinkles to appear, what options exist to reduce them and how they can be prevented.
Why wrinkles appear
Facial expressions (smiling, frowning) are what lead to the development of fine lines and wrinkles. As a person ages, these lines deepen because the skin loses its elasticity. Wrinkles affect people differently, depending on skin structure. For example, darker skin contains more melanin and protects against the harmful effects of UV radiation (4).
There are factors that increase the risk of wrinkle formation (2):
- exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes skin changes. This can involve wrinkles, brown spots, pigmentary irregularities, or broken capillaries. This happens because ultraviolet rays form free radicals in the skin, and these damage elastin fibers and contribute to wrinkling.
- smoking: smokers have more wrinkles than non-smokers, because harmful substances diminish blood supply to the skin. The most common are wrinkles around the mouth.
- alcohol consumption: dehydrates the skin, and dry skin predisposes to wrinkle formation.
- facial expressions: lead to the formation of wrinkles between the eyebrows, or fine lines that appear at the corners of the eyes.
- dehydration: the body needs proper hydration, especially the skin. Dry skin is more prone to wrinkles than properly hydrated skin.
- some treatments can also lead to wrinkle formation (chemotherapy, radiotherapy).
- environmental factors: pollution, toxicity.
- genetic factors.
How wrinkles are treated
The most important treatments against wrinkles are (3):
Mesotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that requires several intradermal injections with a mixture of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids. Mesotherapy helps with:
- Mesotherapy
- elimination of under-eye bags;
- balancing oily skin;
- reducing pore size;
- reducing fine lines and wrinkles
Hyaluronic acid treatment is a minimally invasive corrective method, requires no downtime, the effect can be seen after several sessions, can be used for any area of the body. It is important to know that hyaluronic acid can also be used for lip enhancement, buttock enhancement, or elimination of dark circles.
- Botox treatment
Botox treatment is recommended especially for people who want to improve expression wrinkles (wrinkles between the eyebrows, around the eyes, in the frontal region). Botulinum toxin is actually an anesthetic that numbs the muscles under the skin, thus blocking nerve impulse transmission and preventing wrinkle formation. The effect of a single session can last 6-9 months.
- Facelift
Facelift is a procedure performed by plastic surgeons that aims at facial rejuvenation. New technologies make the procedure safer and easier to tolerate, with more durable results. Facelift can also be performed non-surgically, through injection of one’s own fat for example. However, there is also a surgical variant of the procedure. The best lifting method is recommended by the specialist doctor, following a consultation. The doctor may recommend, for example, temporal and frontal lift, or a mini facelift.
- Laser treatment
Laser skin resurfacing can also be done for pore dilation, not only against wrinkles. It is a procedure that renews the skin’s appearance. The method of use is determined based on necessity (if wrinkles are not deep, the doctor may opt for a laser-based peel).
- Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a less invasive procedure that involves spraying aluminum oxide microcrystals on the skin surface. This method provides a smoother skin appearance, reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles, as well as dilated pores. Results are temporary, so treatment must be applied regularly.
- Radiofrequency treatment
Radiofrequency treatment heats the skin and stimulates collagen production, which affects the outer layer of the skin and improves formed wrinkles. Results are seen after 1-6 months. This procedure requires additional investigations to evaluate results.
Prevention against wrinkles
Here are the best prevention methods against wrinkle formation (5):
- wearing protective clothing against solar radiation.
- avoiding the sun at midday.
- using sun protection for skin parts that cannot be protected by clothing (sunscreen creams, sunglasses, hats).
- daily use of sunscreen with high protection factor (SPF 15 or SPF 30).
- using cosmetic products that delay the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The effects of these products are temporary, ideally the skin should be properly cared for, according to age and needs.
- limiting sugar intake and foods rich in unhealthy fats helps maintain a youthful appearance.
- quitting smoking: because it ages the face prematurely. Even passive smoking has an effect on the skin.
- changing sleep position: it is not recommended to sleep in the same position with your face in the pillow, because this helps wrinkle formation. Compression wrinkles can be prevented or improved by choosing to sleep on your back.
- avoiding ultraviolet radiation: UV light cannot be avoided, but there are ways we can protect ourselves.
- adopting a healthy lifestyle: balanced and healthy diet, hydration, reduced alcohol consumption, physical exercise, adequate rest, stress reduction.
Key points about wrinkles
- Wrinkles represent a normal part of the aging process. First fine lines appear, then they deepen as the skin loses its elasticity.
- There are numerous ways wrinkles can be improved: adopting a healthy lifestyle, good hydration, quitting smoking and alcohol abuse, a healthy diet.
Consult a specialist doctor to find out which is the most suitable method for wrinkle improvement.
Bibliography:
This article was created based on information taken from the following sources:
- Medical News Today, “What to know about wrinkles”. Accessed 08.01.2023.
- BetterHealth, “Wrinkles”. Accessed 08.01.2023.
- Healthline, “How to get rid of wrinkles”. Accessed 08.01.2023.
- Healthline, “Decoding what these 7 wrinkles types might say about you”. Accessed 08.01.2023.
- WebMD, “23 ways to reduce wrinkles”. Accessed 08.01.2023.
