What causes wrinkles?
There are numerous causes of wrinkles, those pesky folds or ridges of the skin. Basically, they are simply a sign of aging. As your skin becomes less elastic and more fragile, and as it produces fewer natural oils, it appears increasingly wrinkled. At the same time, the fat under your skin diminishes (also a natural process), making your skin sag. This makes the lines and crevices of your skin more noticeable.
What factors besides aging cause wrinkles to form?
Several factors, some under our control, some not, cause wrinkles to worsen. These include:
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light — Ultraviolet radiation, which speeds the natural aging process, is high on the list of causes of early wrinkling. This is due to the fact that exposure to UV light breaks down the collagen and elastin fibers that compose your skin’s connective tissue. This causes your skin to lose both flexibility and strength which in turn causes it to sag and prematurely wrinkle.
Smoking — Because many of the thousands of chemicals in tobacco smoke also damage collagen and elastin, and because smoking dehydrates the skin by diminishing its blood supply, smoking is also a major contributor to wrinkling.
Persistent or repeated facial expressions — Facial movements, especially squinting, frowning, or grimacing, which form lines on the forehead and around the eyes, may make wrinkles more likely, particularly as the skin ages and loses elasticity.
Genetic Factors — As with so many other aspects of our appearance, heredity plays a part in our tendency to wrinkle. If your parents are very wrinkled, you are likely to have more wrinkles than average.
Skin Color — Fair skin, more easily damaged by the sun and other factors, is more prone to wrinkle. Dark skin tends to stay smooth longer.
Dehydration — Dehydration, whether caused by not drinking enough fluids or by certain illnesses or medications, can also be a factor in the development of wrinkles.
Hair, Clothing, Use of Sunscreen — Wrinkles can also sometimes be worsened by the absence of hair on the head of the pulling back of hair from the forehead so that it provides less shade to the face. Failing to wear a hat that shades the face, or failing to use adequate sunscreen can also contribute to wrinkling.
Occupation or Hobby — Individuals who work or spend a great deal of recreational time outdoors — such as farmers, boaters, golfers, landscapers, construction workers, baseball players, or lifeguards — are at greater risk of developing wrinkles, as well as of developing skin cancer.
Even though the factors mentioned can worsen wrinkling, everyone experiences some wrinkling as they age. Even those who wear 50 SPF, hats and long sleeves, will end up with some wrinkles, both surface lines and deep furrows. While surface lines sometimes respond, at least in the beginning, to creams and lotions, deep furrows and bags require more aggressive treatment in the form of FDA-approved aesthetic injections.
If you would like to rejuvenate your appearance, you should consult with a highly trained facial aesthetician, preferably a certified nurse injector, who can explain your options and administer the treatment that will be most effective in your particular case.
Wrinkle Treatments
Some injections, including Botox, relax muscles that produce the “frown lines” on the forehead, fine lines around the eyes, and other wrinkles.
