“Wrinkles! Oh no!” exclaimed Katherine, all of 35, when for the first time she saw the fine lines below her eyes. Gone are those days when wrinkles and white hair would signify wisdom. People do not love their wrinkles any more. Most of them are ready to spend their dollars on the most expensive over the counter
anti-wrinkle creams to look young.
We are generally of the idea, that only men and women in their 50s or early 60s develop
wrinkles. But people like Katherine who are in their 30s can also develop wrinkles at an early age. However, the most common cause for wrinkles is the age factor. As you age, skin cells divide more slowly, and the inner layer, called the dermis, begins to thin. The skin also loses its elasticity and is unable to retain its moisture and as a result the skin loses much of its shine. Facial muscle contractions like smiling, frowning, squinting can cause wrinkles.
Another important factor that contributes to pre-mature aging of skin is excessive exposure to ultra-violet rays or the sun. When ultraviolet rays damage skin tissue, an enzyme called metalloproteinase is produced which creates and modifies collagen. Some healthy collagen fibers are spoiled in the process resulting in a disorganized formation of fibers called solar scars.
Wrinkles develop with this repeating rebuilding process. And if you are a perpetual smoker, then beware! Smoking also causes a significant decline in the production of new collagen thus resulting in the development of wrinkles.
To prevent or reduce wrinkles, there are several medical and cosmetic treatments available. Medical treatments include Vitamin A Acid, Aplha-Hydroxy Acid, and antioxidants. Among all the medical treatments, Vitamin A Acid has been most successful in treating wrinkles. Antioxidants provide sun protection and as well as mild improvement of fine wrinkles. Proper
skin care should be taken to prevent wrinkles. Cosmetic procedures include glycolic acid peels, deeper peels, microdermabrasion, dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, fractional resurfacing, non-ablative laser resurfacing, and heat and radiofrequency. Plastic surgical procedures can also help prevent
wrinkle formation. They include surgical facelifts, brow lifts, and similar operations which have been proved very successful in many patients. Botox injection is another frequently used method by many to prevent wrinkles. Injection of botulinum toxin or botox, the muscle poison, paralyzes muscles that generate the "frown lines" on the forehead, and around the eyes. Use of botox injection is quite safe and the improvement lasts for several months.
At times fillers are also injected into the skin to increase volume and flatten
wrinkles and folds. The popular filler substance used was collagen but its effect would last for only a few months. Lately, hyalhyaluronic acid (Restylane, Juvederm) and calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse) are the new filler substances that are used and their effect lasts for six to nine months or even more. But prevention is always better than cure and you should avoid smoking, use a sunscreen lotion when going out and avoid visiting the tanning solution.
