What Causes Wrinkles & What are the Best Treatment Options?

There’s nothing wrong with gracefully accepting the many changes that occur in the skin as it ages, but there’s also nothing wrong with trying to stave off the onslaught of fine lines, wrinkles, and loose skin for as long as possible. This is especially the case if you’re dealing with premature aging – ie. wrinkles that start to develop in your 20s and 30s.

Of course, the only way to really tackle those creases and slow down the skin aging process is to first understand what causes facial wrinkles in the first place, and that’s what we’re here to explain. Read on to learn more about the reasons behind your fine lines and wrinkles, along with the most effective ways to turn back the clock on aging skin.

What Exactly are Wrinkles and What Do Wrinkles Look Like?

Wrinkles are creases that develop on the skin. At first, they look like very light lines that are barely noticeable. However, over time, they deepen, resulting in permanent furrows.

What are Wrinkles Caused By?

Wrinkles form due to the skin aging process. As we grow older, our skin begins to produce less of its structural proteins. Even worse, the collagen and elastin fibers that are already in our skin degrade with age.

These fibers are what hold the skin up from beneath – think of them like scaffolding. Once they start to deteriorate and loosen, the skin loses its firmness and volume, which causes it to fold and wrinkle.

What Causes Premature Wrinkles? The Environmental Factors Responsible for Your Face Creases

It’s easy to blame wrinkles solely on the aging process – a natural part of life that’s out of our control. However, the skin aging exposome encompasses many external factors too, and each one contributes to wrinkles in its own way. By protecting your skin from the following environmental factors, you’ll be able to slow down the development of wrinkles, even as your skin ages.

Sun Exposure

UV rays are responsible for up to 80% of facial aging [1], including fine lines and wrinkles. UVA rays are the main culprit – they penetrate deep into healthy skin cells, where they then cause serious damage. Not only does sun damage weaken collagen fibers, leading to wrinkles, but it also triggers dark spots and other skin issues.

Smoking & Pollution

Both smoking and pollution leave your skin vulnerable to free radical harm, which causes skin damage and accelerates aging. Even worse, the nicotine in cigarette smoke also constricts blood vessels and disrupts blood flow. This suffocates skin cells and deprives them of vital nutrients, which can cause the skin to wrinkle prematurely.

Repeated Facial Expressions: Does Squinting Cause Wrinkles Between Eyes? Does Raising Your Eyebrows Cause Wrinkles?

It’s true – repeated facial expressions lead to wrinkles. Frequently squinting causes crow’s feet, while consistently frowning or raising your eyebrows will result in forehead lines. The same applies to pursing your lips, such as when drinking through a straw – this causes lines to appear around the mouth.

Does Makeup Cause Wrinkles?

While makeup itself doesn’t cause wrinkles, there are a few makeup-related habits that can lead to premature aging. One example would be raising each eyebrow when applying mascara – these repeated muscle contractions will slowly lead to wrinkles.

Likewise, if you often forget to remove your makeup before bed, then all of that product residue and congestion will only speed up the rate at which your skin ages.

Now That You Know What Causes Skin Wrinkles, Here are the Best Treatment Options

Ready to put a stop to those pesky wrinkles? Here are some of the most effective anti-aging treatment options available:

Retinoid Products to Improve Elasticity & Tighten Wrinkling Skin

Retinoids are an anti-aging classic. These vitamin A derivatives are capable of helping with even deeper wrinkles in just four weeks, with studies showing that they also strengthen the skin to protect it from future harm [2].

There are plenty of over-the-counter retinoid products to choose from, but if your wrinkles are severe, speak to a board-certified dermatologist about a prescription retinoid.

An Antioxidant Blend to Firm Up Sagging Skin & Reduce Wrinkles at Young Age

Antioxidants are fantastic at neutralizing free radicals, preventing them from damaging your skin cells and protein fibers. They’ll also encourage new collagen production, which will diminish fine lines and give your skin a firmer and bouncier finish.

Some of the best antioxidants out there are vitamin C, vitamin E, resveratrol, niacinamide, and green tea.

Botox and Other Injections for Forehead Wrinkles & Crow Feet

Botox and hyaluronic acid injectables are great for treating dynamic wrinkles, meaning those that have been caused by facial movements and expressions.

Some dermatologists have noticed that getting these injections almost “trains” a person to stop making those expressions quite so often, which means that they need fewer injections over time.

Laser Treatment to Boost Collagen Production & Improve Skin Moisture Levels

There are various laser treatments out there, but they all work to stimulate collagen production in the skin. This leads to firmer, fuller, and more elastic skin in the treated area.

Another benefit of this increase in collagen is a rise in skin moisture levels, making this one ideal for people with dry skin.

A Chemical Peel to Tackle Wrinkles + Other Signs of Aging

Chemical peels are available in various strengths. Superficial peels, meaning the ones that you can use at home, will only really help with fine lines.

For deep wrinkles, you would need to consider a deeper peel. These should always be carried out by a professional, as they come with a greater chance of side effects. However, the plus side is smoother, firmer, and brighter skin.

Don’t Forget SPF to Protect Your Face, Neck, and Hands

As mentioned earlier, UV light and sun damage is a huge contributor to wrinkles. So, in addition to picking from the treatment options above, it’s imperative that you also constantly wear sunscreen to keep your skin protected. Look for a broad-spectrum formula – this will shield you against both UVA and UVB rays.

Don’t forget that long and protective clothing, along with sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat, will also help big time in physically blocking UV rays.

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FAQ

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Conclusion

As you can see, there are so many different factors that contribute to the onset of wrinkles. While some of them may be out of your control, there are several others that you can heavily influence, from UV damage to smoking.

Fortunately, even if your wrinkles seem to have gotten ahead of you and it’s too late for prevention, there are plenty of treatment options out there that’ll enable you to bid farewell to those folds and creases.

References
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3790843/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6791161/