Wrinkles, where do they come from?

They are part of our lives, yet most of us would like to erase them in a blink of an eye if we could – Wrinkles.
Most of us estimate how old someone is by looking at their face or hands as a reference for their skin quality. Even though genetics play a huge part in determining your skin structure or texture, other factors can play a massive part in contributing to wrinkles.

Luckily, society and science got us covered plenty by now when it comes to treating these. Skin-resurfacing lasers, acids, serums, fillers, surgery and so much more.

BUT in the Western world we usually only tend to treat symptoms never the trigger.
So what if I told you that you can prevent and even improve wrinkles for much longer than you think?

Let’s understand what makes our skin wrinkle

The outermost layer that you can see = Epidermis
The middle layer = Dermis
The innermost layer = Hypodermis

All You Can Face | Wrinkles | Skinhealth | Skincare | Skin Structure

When you’re young, you don’t have wrinkles because your skin does a great job of stretching, holding in moisture and bouncing back. The dermis has an elastic quality due to fibres that are called elastin. That’s exactly one of the reasons why the skin on babies and small children is extra subtle.
A protein in the dermis called collagen – I am sure you have heard of her – also plays a big part in preventing wrinkles. Over time the dermis loses both which is why your skin gets thinner and has trouble getting enough moisture to the epidermis and also one of the reasons why you are more likely to hurt or cut yourself. The subcutaneous layer consists of fat, next to blood vessels and is another factor to plump your skin. As you age this also reduces and skin begins to sag and loses elasticity

Of course, there is no light switch that goes off and voilà you have wrinkles with 30.
Even teenagers or people in their 20s can already get wrinkles while others show their first fine lines in their 40s or 50s.

So why do some teens or young adults already have wrinkles?

Causes of Wrinkles

Wrinkles are usually based on a variety of factors that come to play. Some we can have a positive impact on, and on some, we can only do but protect ourselves.

Repeated Facial Expressions

Facial expressions such as squinting or constantly creating a double chin while staring down at your phone can lead to fine lines and wrinkles on the neck, eyes and forehead at any age. Over time with the exaggerated use of these facial muscles, grooves form beneath the surface of the skin. As you age, your skin is no longer able to spring back in place and these grooves then become permanent.

Daily Habits that can cause Wrinkles

During a lifetime we sleep around +/-230.000 hrs, plenty to squeeze and pull on your pillow. As grooves beneath the surface of your skin don’t only form with active facial muscle use but also with force from the outside, this can impact on how your skin will age on your face. Even leaning on your hand with your face constantly at work or at home can result in deeper lines over time. The same goes with taking off your make-up or washing your face very aggressively with rubbing motions, especially around the eyes, which can fatigue the tissue over time and create premature wrinkles.

Age

Decreased production of natural oils (sebum), collagen and fat tissue. This results in faster wrinkles.
Over time this causes looser skin and more-pronounced lines and crevices.

Exposure to UV-Rays

We all love the summer, sun and beach vibes but all this is, unfortunately, to be enjoyed with caution – even when it’s winter and the sun isn’t shining. Ultraviolet radiation catalyzes your natural ageing process and is the primary cause of premature wrinkling.
The UV light basically breaks down your collagen and elastin fibres which we just learned are to be protected at all costs for as long as we can. This doesn’t only imply wrinkles but also skin-connected diseases such as skin cancer.

Smoking

Smoking accelerates the ageing process of your skin. This may be due to the effect it has on collagen maintenance and production which gives our skin subtleness. On top, you risk getting lung cancer and other diseases connected to smoking.

Prevention & Improvements of Wrinkles

Exercise your face

Facial Exercises & Massages can help you regulate overused and tensed muscles and strengthen muscles that aren’t continuously used but should be activated for an overall facial balance.
Exercising your face will create awareness of the areas you tend to overuse like raising your brows as we most of the time aren’t even aware that we do so. This can have a huge impact on already reducing frowning lines over time, to give one example of the many you can improve.

Improve your posture

Good posture is a vital catalyzed of how your face looks and will age. This is immediately connected to your daily habits. Once you start creating awareness to hold yourself up properly, you will avoid leaning with your face on your hand, sleep on your back and be more delicate when it comes to touching your face. It obviously doesn’t happen overnight but if you don’t start, it will never improve, right?!

Proage

Eventually, everyone will have a few wrinkles here and there and that’s a natural part of ageing.
Instead of constantly pulling yourself down for another smile line, you should embrace what you have overcome, what you have learned, who you enriched your life and what’s to come. This should be regardless of your age as there is so much to enjoy, share and appreciate in your life.

Protect your skin from UV rays

Limit the time you spend in the midday sun. Even though you need it for your Vitamin D production, you shouldn’t be exposed to UV Rays for more than 10-20 minutes without protection.
Since the sun penetrates even through clouds it is best to be advised to use sunscreen year-round, when outdoors and even indoors when sitting or working at a window all day.

Moisturize to combat Wrinkles

Hydrate as much as you can – topically and internally. Moisturizing locks water in your skin which helps to decrease little dehydration-based lines and creases. It may take a few weeks of regular use of a product before which takes usually 1 to 2 skin cycles for you to see a noticeable change, this goes for any newly introduced skincare product though.

Put the cigarette down

Even being a heavy smoker for several years, it is never too late to quit. You will always be able to improve your complexion and texture, prevent wrinkles and of course, reduce your risk of lung cancer.