Wrinkles

Even if wrinkles are often cited as an indication of wisdom attained through age, most people agree that they are undesirable. There are droves of products that promise fast results in wrinkle reduction but few actually do what they promise. The real solutions to a problem that almost everyone will eventually face lie in proper skin care through diet, limited exposure to the sun and abstaining from smoking and alcohol consumption.

Your skin is made up of three separate layers. These layers are the epidermis (outer layer), the dermis (middle layer) and the subcutaneous (inner layer). When you are younger, your skin is still fully capable of containing moisture and supporting collagen (a material that prevents skin from sagging).

As you age, your skin begins to lose its natural supply of collagen and moisture and the epidermis begins to sag. This sagging effect is what causes wrinkles.

Causes of Wrinkles

Almost everyone will eventually get wrinkles. Some causes of wrinkles are impossible to control while others can be managed to prevent or minimize large amounts of wrinkles. A few major causes of wrinkles include:

1. Smoking cigarettes or cigars

2. Having light skin (blue eyes and lighter skin have been shown to increase the risk of sun damage.

3. Heredity

4. Style of Hair (some hair styles allow for more protection from the Sun)

5. Typical Clothing (again some clothing choices provide more protection from UV rays)

6. Occupation or Typical Activities (some jobs or activities require longer and more frequent exposure to the Sun)

Cures and Treatments for Wrinkles

A regular cleansing and moisturizing routine can go a long way towards preventing wrinkles in the first place. There are, however, methods to reduce or remove wrinkles that your doctor can either suggest or prescribe. These methods include:

• Vitamin A Acid: The most reliable and successful method of treatment, vitamin A acid is available by prescription and comes in a cream form that is applied on a regular basis. In some cases, this treatment has been known to cause irritation but a simple reduction in the amount or frequency of use can solve any issues.

• Alpha-hydroxy Acids: A derivative of fruit juices, these acids are very safe and are known to cause very little irritation. They are, however, not known for very remarkable results.

• Antioxidants: Normally consisting of the vitamins A, C and E, these creams can not only serve as good protection from UV rays but have also been shown to mildly improve the appearance of wrinkles.

• Glycolic Acid Peels: For very light wrinkles, glycolic acid peels are often used by skin professionals.

• Microdermabrasion: This seemingly painful treatment works by grinding the skin down to reduce wrinkles. The changes are subtle enough to not change the make-up of your skin. Products that are designed for use at home are usually a waste of money.

• Plastic Surgery: Although expensive, face and brow lifts are very effective in stretching the skin back into a younger form and eliminating wrinkles.

• Botox Injections: Although it often has a negative reputation, botox is actually very safe if it is administered by a professional. This "muscle poison" actually paralyzes your facial muscles so that they contract and stretch the skin on your face to remove wrinkles. Treatments can be expensive as they normally last over several months.

• Heat and Radio Frequency: Although typically not as effective as plastic surgery, heat and radio frequency treatments have been known to produce fast and reliable results in many cases. These treatments work by heating the tissue of the face and thus causing it to stretch and tighten.

What To Do If You Get Wrinkles

It can't be said enough that wrinkles are almost always unavoidable. If you do begin to notice wrinkles, ask yourself a few questions:

1. How do they really affect how I feel about myself?

2. Do they change how I view my physical appearance?

3. Can I accept that they are a normal part of life?

4. Do I have the money to obtain an expensive treatment?

Depending on your answers, you may decide that you can live with a few wrinkles or need to undergo some form of treatment to reduce or eliminate them. Do not be hasty in your decision as you may regret spending a great deal of money to correct something that you may later decide is wasteful or trivial.

Prevention of Wrinkles

• The Sun is at it harshest during the hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you can avoid spending lone periods of time outside (even with sunscreen), do so.

• If you must spend a great deal of time outside, wear a sunscreen that has an SPF rating above 15. Add more sunscreen approximately every 2 or 3 hours.

• Regular tanning (outside or in a salon) can be very damaging to the skin. Avoid tanning if you can help it.

• Wrinkles have been shown to develop very early in smokers. When you smoke, moisture is actually taken out of your skin by the chemicals contained in cigarettes.

• Drink plenty of water every day. Eight normal glasses of water is fine on normal days but more may be required on particularly hot or active days.

• Use a moisturizer when you have dry skin or when the weather is dry and cold.

• Adhere to a regular cleansing and moisturizing routine that uses products low in alcohols. Products that contain alcohol may do more to dry skin and cause wrinkles than they do to protect skin from them. www.irtces.com

How common are Wrinkles?

A recent Australian study cited that about 75% of men and 50% of women have some wrinkles due to sun damage or repetitive facial expressions by the age of 30. In addition, the study also found that people with light skin and blue eyes had a far more common occurrence of wrinkles. 90% of people in this group had some wrinkles by the age of 30.

Without some form of cosmetic surgery or treatment, 100% of people will develop wrinkles by the age of 60. Proper diet and a good skin treatment routine have been shown to reduce or even stave off wrinkles in people until the age of 60 at a ratio of 3 out of 5.

Living with Wrinkles

The faster that you accept that aging (and its effect on the body) are natural occurrences in life, the happier you may be. Although good hygiene and abstinence from bad habits can have remarkable effects on the appearance of age related skin conditions, you will probably have some wrinkles as you age.

Thinking of wrinkles as a common occurrence can have a positive effect on self esteem and your personal outlook on life. In other words, accepting the fact that you are going to develop some level of wrinkles as you age can better prepare you for when they actually do begin to occur.

If you do decide to get professional treatment, take the time to research and find a good doctor. Spending money on expensive treatment that yields less than satisfactory results can be frustrating and demoralizing.

Never feel ashamed for either refusing to or seeking treatment. Your body is your most important possession and how you treat it or accept it can be an important factor in the quality of your life.