There are many things that contribute to and cause facial wrinkling. They are simply a sign of time passed and there is no disgrace in having them.
No matter how much we dislike them, they are an inevitable part of aging.
Everyone remembers the first one they got. Who could forget? Its not something we expect really, although we know they are coming. Then we work very hard trying to get rid of them. Its not something most women take sitting down! If there is something that can be done, we do it!
There are numerous OTC options for diminishing fine lines and wrinkles. Alpha Hydroxy Acid and Glycolic Acid products work well for removing some of them. However if you seek optional treatments, there are other methods that are available.
We buy creams, lotions, ointments, fillers, serums, and more beauty products that we can conceive to treat them. Yet they are still waiting for us the next time we happen to glance at our reflection in the mirror. They creep up on us like a vampire in the night, and suddenly we find ourselves older and looking less youthful. The best way to approach wrinkles is to use some anti aging care prevention. But first lets explore why we get them.
Contributors
Aging
Wrinkling is a by product of aging. With age, skin cells divide more slowly, and the inner layer of the skin, called the dermis, becomes thin. The network of elastin and collagen fibers which support the outer layer of the skin become loose and detached, causing depressions on the surface of the skin. The depressions are called wrinkles.
Elastin is the protein that allows the skin to stretch, and collagen fibers are the major structural proteins within the skin. With aging, skin also loses its ability to retain moisture and sebaceous glands (oil glands) become less efficient. The skin also reacts slowly in the healing process as we age. All of these things contribute to their development.
Stress
Stress is the one of the number one causes of premature aging. The more stress you have, the more facial contortions you make. Stress also releases all kinds of harmful chemicals in your body. The more you stress out, the more harmful chemicals are released into your bloodstream. The more harmful chemicals your body has to handle, the less its able to do it job repairing your skin.
Facial Muscle Contractions
Lines between the eyebrows (frown lines) and lines around the corners of the eyes (crows feet) develop largely because of small facial muscle contractions. We do them unconsciously without thinking as they are an autonomic responses to stimulus around us. Smiling, frowning, squinting and other facial expressions cause wrinkles to become more prominent. Facial expressions coupled with gravity contribute to the formation of double chins, baggy eyes, and drooping eyelids.
Sun Damage
Exposure to UVA and UVB rays can result in premature aging of skin. Premature aging of the skin is sometimes called photoaging. The ultraviolet rays that cause photoaging damage collagen fibers and cause an excessive production of abnormal elastin cells. When UV light damages any skin tissue, an enzyme called metalloproteinase is produced. This enzyme re-creates and re-forms collagen. During the process however, some healthy collagen fibers get damaged, which results in a disorganized formation of fibers called solar scars. Wrinkles develop when the rebuilding process occurs perpetually.
Alcohol and Smoking
Healthy skin continually regenerates itself. While old collagen breaks down and is expelled from the skin, new collagen is subsequently produced.
Research has found that alcohol consumption and smoking cigarettes cause a marked reduction in the formation and production of new collagen. Depressions and fine lines develop when there is a lack of new collagen being produced. They also deplete the body of vital fluids causing dehydration. Skin can become dull and sallow if these products are consumed in high amounts.
Treatment Options for Wrinkles
There are numerous OTC options for diminishing fine lines and skin depressions. Alpha hydroxy acids and glycolic acids work well for removing fine lines. Many women have had great success with products like Neutrogena Healthy Skin and other alpha hydroxy lotions.
Both DERMAdoctor Wrinkle Revenge and other glycolic acid products, create the same effect on your skin. Acids actually help reduce wrinkles and fine lines by sloughing off the dead skin on the surface and bring new cells to the skin's surface. This regeneration of cells helps renew your skin from the outside in.
* New studies have emerged about the benefits of hyaluronic acids and its uncanny ability to reduce more wrinkles. If you don't know about hyaluronic acid, you absolutely should! HA products could be the fountain of youth you've been searching for! Learn more about Hyaluronic Acid and its benefits!
Anti aging products only do but so much. You must treat wrinkles from the inside out too! Taking your daily vitamins ensures that your body is getting the nutrients that it needs to function at a cellular level! They are a vitally important part of anti aging and are necessary for your body to perform properly. Antioxidants help reverse damage done by the negative forces in your environment and stop free radical cells from forming in your body. Once I started taking a handful of vitamins everyday, my friends were awed! It took years off the visible signs of aging for me, and it can for you too!
You also need to consume as much water as possible. Water helps keep your skin properly hydrated and plumped. It also helps with the production of collagen and elastin, which are vital to your skin. Without ample water, your skin will sag even more!
If you seek additional treatments, there are other methods that are available.
Removing skin layers to reduce wrinkling is an effective way to regain smoother, more youthful looking skin. Dermabrasion (scraping layers of skin) and chemical peels (dissolving skin) are two of the traditional methods used in resurfacing skin. Two newer procedures have been developed however, which are laser skin resurfacing and Botox injections. These are the latest techniques to repair aging skin.
Medical Treatments
Tretinoin, Renova, or Retin A - Retin A is a derivative of Vitamin A and are the treatment of choice for acne, whiteheads and blackheads. Vitamin A creams work by increasing skin cell turnover promoting the extrusion of the plugged materials in the follicle. It also prevents the formation of new comedones. Tretinoin is also the only topical medication that has been proven to improve fine or deep lines over time. Vitamin A creams and retinol creams are OTC products that you can use if you don't have the money for Retin-A.
Botox - Botox is the brand name of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Small, diluted amounts can be directly injected into specific muscles causing controlled weakening of the muscles.
Chemical Peel - Chemical peels, also known as chemexfoliation or derma-peeling, are a technique used to improve the appearance of the skin. These are now available for home treatment, which makes using them particularly great! You can find a variety of different peels such as glycolic acids, lactic acids, and trichloroacetic acids.
Dermabrasion, Botox injections, and laser treatments are done by dermatologists. Be sure they are medically certified if you seek treatments.
Whatever your stage of wrinkling, you can be assured that there are techniques or products that will work for your skin. Experiment around with some OTC products to find out if they will work for you. Retin A has helped many women reverse the clock when OTC's don't quite 'git er done' for you!