Wrinkles Prevention Tips

I am getting older and I have noticed small fine lines that are forming on my face. It is rather shocking because I am not ready for this to happen. What are wrinkles and what I can do to prevent them?

You are not alone – wrinkles are part of normal aging but fortunately, there are things that you can do to prevent them from dominating your life.

Most wrinkles are caused either by excessive sun exposure or by repeated action of facial muscles. The vertical lines between the eyebrows are the direct result of years of squinting and frowning caused by the muscles of the forehead. These lines are called “dynamic wrinkles” as repeated muscle action is at the core of their formation. After many years of frowning combined with the weathering action of the sun, the skin is left with deep vertical lines (frown lines) that are present even at rest. The examples of other “dynamic wrinkles” of the face include squint lines (crow’s feet) around the eyes and forehead horizontal lines. The presence of these lines can add years to our appearance making us look worried, tired, and angry even when we are not.

The key to the treatment of facial wrinkles is our understanding of the specific causes. Generally speaking, facial wrinkles are caused by the interaction of environmental damage (e.g. excessive sun exposure, pollution as well as smoking), repeated muscle motion during facial expression, gravity, the general health status of the patient as well as genetic background. Wrinkles that are caused by excessive sun damage require both preventative as well as active treatment measures. For optimal results, patients need daily application of sunscreen with an SPF factor of at least 30.

Active wrinkle treatment measures include, individually or in combination, topical vitamin A acid derivatives, alpha hydroxy acids, chemical peels, laser or intense pulsed light Photo-Rejuvenation. Furthermore, an appropriate diet can augment the results of the above treatments.

Deeper facial lines, resulting from repeated muscle contractions as well as other factors discussed above will likely need filler substances in addition to Botox treatments in order to achieve ultimate results.

The good news is that we can control, to some degree, the number of wrinkles that we have. Our understanding of facial aging continues to improve and the progress in new technologies to prevent and reverse excessive wrinkling is fascinating. Dermatologists, as skin experts, are the best source of advice. If you are concerned about excessive facial wrinkles, I would encourage you to see a dermatologist specializing in facial rejuvenation.

As one of my friends said – “Getting old is inevitable, looking old is optional.”