The effect of aging on skin are significant and it’s seen in the form of wrinkles. Wrinkles are inevitable sign of aging. As we age, we become more susceptible to the fine lines, sagging and hollowness on our face. Wrinkles are mostly seen on the parts of the body that get the most sun exposure which involves face, neck, back of hands and top of forearms. Environmental exposure, dehydration, toxins can all make your face more likely to develop pronounced wrinkles.
So what’s the solution? Many products and procedures promise to reduce wrinkles. Some do little or nothing. Other achieve fair amount of success. Generally, there are two basic approaches to the amelioration of these signs of aging:
• Prevention
• Treatment
PREVENTION
Aging is a natural process and eventually everybody has wrinkles and fine lines that become more prominent over time. The following steps may help slow the process:
Regular workout
Exercise slows cell aging. Exercise will help prevent wrinkles and reverse aging. It also makes your skin looks younger. Working out brings more oxygen and nutrients and helps your skin produce more collagen which helps reduce wrinkles.
Stay out of sun
Any exposure can cause wrinkles, speeding up the aging process. UV are the primary cause of early wrinkles. Exposure to UV light breaks down your skin’s connective tissue thus your skin loses strength and flexibility. It can lead to prematurely wrinkles. Hence, it is important for use broad spectrum sunscreen. Sunscreen blocks both UV and UVB Ray’s and protects your skin.
Start using retinol
Retinoid reduces fine lines and wrinkles by increasing production of collagen. They stimulate production of new skin cells. They also helps to fade away dark spots resulting from photo aging, hyperpigmentation and blemish scars. Retinoid renew the skin, reduces appearance of fine lines and helps skin discoloration.
Avoid sugar
Eating lots of sugar can breakdown collagen which leads to wrinkles and fine lines. Limiting your sugar intake and oil rich foods will help your skin retain it’s youthful shape.
Get more sleep
Less sleep increases signs of skin aging. Sleeping on your back to avoid sleep lines that can become etched into surface of the skin. Sleeping in your side increases wrinkles on cheeks and chin.
Quit smoking
Smoking affect the blood vessels, which deliver oxygen and nutrients to the entire body which leads to early aging . Tobacco smoke damages collagen and elastin which can result in sagging of skin and wrinkles.
Moisturize daily
Moisturizer is very important ingredient when it comes to getting rid of and preventing wrinkles. With growing age, skin naturally dries, it starts to appear more wrinkly. To combat the effects, keep your skin hydrated by finding a facial lotion you love.
Limit your booze
Alcohol dehydrates your skin and body. When skin is dry, it is much more likely to look older than you actually are. Drinking too much deprives the skin of vital vitamins and nutrients. Alcohol causes wrinkles and broken blood vessels. Too much alcohol can lead to premature aging.
TREATMENT
For fine lines or basic wrinkles medication and adapting healthy lifestyle works. For deeper creases, there are various other surgical techniques.
Medications
- Vitamin A:
Vitamin A helps reducing wrinkles associated with natural aging. It also acts as an antioxidant and fight free radicals that cause aging and wrinkles. Retinol is pure form of vitamin A that promotes increase production of collagen and reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
- Antioxidants:
Antioxidants delay the aging process by countering the breakdown of collagen fiber in skin. While purchasing the skin care products, always look out for- retinol, vitamin E, vitamin C. Antioxidants in your skin care regimen can help you fight free radical damage and recover from oxidative stress.
Procedural options
- Chemical peels:
Chemical peel is the procedure where the old and damaged skin is peeled off in a controlled way. After the procedure the damages skin becomes red and peels off. Chemical peels will take away age spots, acne, scars and some wrinkles. A light chemical peels or glycolic peel will last 1-2 months. About 4-6 monthly treatments work well to maintain the fine wrinkles.
- Laser resurfacing:
Laser resurfacing reduce the appearance by 45%. Carbon dioxide lasers are generally ablative lasers used to treat scars, warts, wrinkles and other deeper skin flaws. They promote collagen remodeling and helps treating fine lines and wrinkles. It also reduces inflammation and helps hydration levels in the skin.
- Face- lift:
It is a cosmetic surgery that aims to give more youthful appearance to the face by removing excess facial skin. It can last up to for 15 years.
- Botox:
Botox consists of botulinum toxin injections blocks that cause muscles to contract. The injected muscles will not be able to contract, which causes wrinkles to relax. Botox can decrease the fine lines on forehead, fine lines between the eyes and “crow- feet” around the corner of an eye. Wrinkles caused by sun harm and gravity will not reply to botulinum toxins.
- Fillers:
Fillers are injected into the skin to increase the volume and flatten wrinkles and folds. Filler substances consists of collagen, hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, lactic acid and autologous fat transplants. Patient may sometimes experience swelling, redness and bruising. The results are dependent on several factors including the site of wrinkle and it’s depth. The treatment needs to be repeated every few months.
