We cannot stop the passing of time and that means that wrinkles are inevitable for most of us. Why? Wrinkles are the result of several factors, and the aging process is a major cause of skin changes that lead to the development of wrinkles.
Essentially, our bodies change over time and the elastin and natural oils or fats that our “young” skin contained will decrease in quantity as the years pass. This eliminates the underlying support of the skin and our once rounded faces will begin to sag and the skin to loosen.
However, it isn’t just this set of unavoidable changes that causes wrinkles, and groups like the American Academy of Dermatology will tell you that you can use a lot of different “remedies” for wrinkles.
Of course, if you know how to avoid some of the biggest causes of wrinkling you will find much less need for remedies. So, let’s first look at the most common causes.
Why Do We Wrinkle?
Okay, we know that our aging skin becomes less elastic because of the loss of some essential fats and oils as well as elastin. This causes the skin of the body to sag and wrinkle. There is also the famous “laugh lines” that come not so much from lost elastin as repeated facial expressions. We have frown lines and fine lines around the eyes from wrinkling them and smiling, and so many other ways we “hold” our faces.
As time passes, and as the content of the skin changes, the lines that would once disappear as soon as we ceased to make that facial expression can begin to stay locked into the tissue. So, if you are a brow wrinkler, deep frowner, or someone who squints, you may be causing wrinkles!
Many people don’t realise that their habits also cause wrinkles to develop. Smoking is a prime example of this as the chemical compounds in cigarette smoking are known to actually accelerate aging processes in the skin. This is due to the way that nicotine and tobacco impact the circulation in the skin, and the way that toxins in smoke create free radicals in the skin. The repeated expression on the face that is made when inhaling on a cigarette also creates wrinkles and lines on the face too.
Smoking and alcohol can both deplete the skin of vital nutrients, but also bad for the skin is a diet that is low in general nutrients too. When you don’t drink enough water and eat an unhealthy diet, one of the first places it will show up is in the skin. Acne and dry skin may be the first signs, but aging of the skin is definitely a typical result of poor diet.
Unfortunately, gender also tends to play a role in your wrinkles and it is women more than men who show the earliest signs of wrinkling on the face and neck. Many believe this has to do with the lack of facial hair (which loads the skin with an oily substance known as sebum) and the few sweat glands on women’s faces too.
Finally, damage done to the skin by exposure to sunlight and UV rays is a major source of aging and wrinkling. This light destroys collagen and elastin and leads to that important supportive tissue to disappear and wrinkles to show on the face.
The simplest steps to avoiding wrinkles are to know how they are caused. You also want to use sun block on the skin each day, drink plenty of water, moisturise morning and night, and keep the number of skin care products that you use to a minimum to prevent damage to the skin cells.
If you have questions about managing wrinkles, contact your local doctor who will arrange for you to see a dermatologist.
Reference
American Academy of Dermatologists. Wrinkle Remedies.
