There are many great aspects to getting older, but one which seems to be very unpopular is the appearance of lines and wrinkles. These appear when the collagen behind our skin starts to break down, giving it less structure.
However, if you are not happy with this, there are things that you can do to reduce the appearance of these wrinkles. In this article, Skin Inspection, specialist dermatologists in London look at what wrinkles are and how we can reduce them.
What are wrinkles?
Simply put, wrinkles are the creases in our face that start to form as part of the ageing process. As we get older, our skin gets thinner and collagen starts to decrease, which enables wrinkles to form. Wrinkles can also be a result of the facial muscle contractions that we perform every day when we smile, frown, or squint.
The combination of weakened fat or bone mass and the effects of gravity on our skin means that these muscles will start to create lines such as the ones between your eyebrows or the crow’s feet and the corners of our eyes.
There are also a number of external factors that can impact how quickly we age. Things like sun exposure and smoking can all damage our skin prematurely causing wrinkles to form. So, what can be done to help reduce the appearance of these wrinkles?
Sun protection
They say prevention is better than cure and where sun exposure is concerned, this saying is correct. Exposure to UV rays can account for as much as 80% of our skin ageing, not to mention the risk of serious problems such as skin cancer.
It is therefore important that you wear some form of sun protection that carries an SPF of at least 30 every single day. This may seem excessive in the UK, especially when there are clouds in the sky. However, UV rays are still able to penetrate this and can therefore contribute to ageing even during the winter.
Facial exercises
Wrinkles are often caused by a loss of tone in the facial muscles and reduced circulation, so there are a number of facial exercises and massages that can be done to improve this.
Aesthetic treatments
There are a number of aesthetics treatments that can be used to help smooth lines and wrinkles. The use of botulinum toxin is one of the most popular solutions as this can block the chemical signals that cause muscles to contract to help prevent the appearance of wrinkles.
Dermal fillers can also assist, as injections of hyaluronic acid can fill the skin beneath the wrinkles, helping to smooth it out.
There are also a number of skin treatments such as chemical peels and microneedling which can help. Whilst chemical peels help to remove the top layers of the skin to reveal the healthy skin below, microneedling triggers the body’s own healing responds to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin.
Anti-ageing skin care
Having a good skincare regime can help keep the skin looking younger for longer. Ingredients such as peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and retinoids can all make a dramatic difference to your skin. It is important to remember that some of these ingredients are extremely potent and so you should make sure that you use them with care.
Whilst there are no non-surgical methods to permanently remove wrinkles, there are many ways in which you can reduce their appearance. Taking care of your skin can be one of the biggest steps towards ensuring it maintains a youthful look for as long as possible, but if you feel as though age has taken over, there are a number of treatments available in skin care clinics that can help to turn back the hands of time.
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