None of us want to get
wrinkles but as time goes by, we all get wrinkles to
some degree. Maybe if we understand what causes these
wrinkles and what we can do to lessen them, we will
keep them away that little bit longer.
Wrinkles are especially visible on the face, neck
and hands and unfortunately these are the areas that
we, as well as everybody else, see the most frequently.
If the collagen and elastin in the connective tissues
of our skin is weakened or if they decrease in number,
wrinkles can then appear. Skin damaged in such a way
appears thinner, loses fat content, elasticity and
smoothness. Gravity also plays a part as it allows
the lax tissue to sag. Skin ages all over the body
but of course the process is hastened where there
has been sun exposure.
Wrinkles can be divided into two categories: there
are those fine surface lines and then there are deep
furrows. The areas usually most affected are the sensitive
skin near the eyes, the lips and the neck.
Contributing factors to the appearance of wrinkles:
o The ageing process.
o Dryness and lack of moisture.
o Damage from the sun – overexposure when the
ultraviolet rays cause a condition called photoageing.
Light skin type (those with blue eyes and easily burned
skin) are more prone to this.
o Hairstyle and dress (some styles provide more cover
and protection against sun damage than others).
o Occupational and recreational habits (if you work
or play out in the open a lot)
o Tanning booths.
o Heredity (some families wrinkle more than others).
o Gravity.
o Injury to the skin.
o Surgery to the skin.
o Acne.
o Various other skin diseases which have a tendency
to scar
o Smoking – this habit hastens the ageing process
and cigarette smoke is one of the biggest culprits
for premature wrinkles.
o Pollution – environmental problems such as
air pollutants, dust, chemicals and harsh lights can
cause damage.
o Muscle movement or repeated actions – squinting,
smiling, frowning can all contribute to wrinkles while
if you tend to smile or frown more on one side or
sleep all the time on the right or the left cheek,
this can lead to more wrinkles on one side of the
face than the other.
o The use of drugs.
o Stress.
o Weight loss – rapid weight loss can lead to
wrinkles because the volume of the fat cells is drastically
reduced. In fact as you grow older, it is better from
an appearance point of view to be slightly overweight.
The volume of the fat cells will then plump out any
wrinkles.
o Loss of vitamin E – if you do not get enough
of this vitamin, the skin quality can deteriorate.
What can you do to avoid or diminish wrinkles?
Whether you are young or old, it is never too late
to start looking after your skin:
o A twice daily regime of properly cleansing the
skin of all impurities and make-up is vital. A special
cleanser for the eye area should be used (baby oil
makes a good substitute). And don’t use soap
on the face as this can be very drying. In the mornings,
apply moisturizer (and if you are going to be outdoors,
include a UV-protection) before the rest of your make-up.
Ageing skin feels and looks better when moisturizer
is applied regularly. It improves the water-holding
capacity of the skin. Choose one that feels nice to
apply and does not sting or burn. In the evening,
after cleansing, apply a night moisturizer with added
nutrients (look out for an ingredient topical retinoids
which is supposed to be effective for anti-aging).
Don’t forget to use an eye cream for that especially
delicate area. Eye cream should always be applied
with the third finger as that digit has the lightest
touch.
o Avoid smoking and don’t forget to avoid exposure
to second-hand smoke or other pollutants. In this
day and age, no one should be allowed to smoke indoors
thereby putting you at risk.
If you look after your skin and avoid harmful habits
and environmental toxins, your skin will age gradually
and naturally with the minimum of wrinkling.
However, some will want to take that extra step of
seeking help from an expert and often combinations
of different cosmetic procedures are required for
the best results. You will need to do your own research
and talk to different practitioners before deciding
which is the best option for you. Some of the options
are:
o Resurfacing which refers to various techniques
in which the top layers of the epidermis are peeled
off using chemical or mechanical means. Such peels
may even out pigmentation and improve the skin texture,
the fine lines and static furrows.
o Implantation where individual lines and furrows
can be lifted up with implants
o Botulinum toxin (or Botox) is used to paralyze the
muscles that are responsible for frown lines, crow’s
feet and forehead lines. Also useful for changing
the shape of the eyebrows and to soften those smoker’s
lines around the lips.
o Cosmetic surgery involves actual repositioning
of the facing tissues and altering the structure of
the sagging tissues.
So although wrinkles are part and part of the ageing
process, you will want to avoid any unnecessary or
premature wrinkles.
