Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? If no, then try to find a mirror and take a peek; take a closer look at your face. If you’re lucky, those dreaded wrinkles are nowhere to be found. If you’re not as lucky, however, then better read on as you may learn a few things regarding wrinkles!
First of all, we have to acknowledge the fact that whether we like it or not, and sooner or later, wrinkles will really dominate our faces. The good news, however, is that we can put on hold for some time those scary and ugly lines. How? Read on …
What Causes Wrinkles?
Wrinkles appear in the face because of the following:
Aging
Wrinkles are a “side-effect” of the aging process. As people mature and grow in years, the skin becomes old as well. Its elasticity is diminished; the oil-secreting glands become less efficient; the skin becomes less able to retain moisture; and the skin, when traumatized takes longer to heal. All these contribute to the development of wrinkles.
Facial Muscle Contractions
As people mature, lines between the eyebrows (also called frown lines) and lines extending from the corner of the eyes (called crows feet) develop due to contractions of the small facial muscles. As years progress, the simple daily acts of smiling, frowning, squinting, and other normal facial expressions cause wrinkles to become more visible or prominent. In due time, and as years pass by, dropping eyelids also become more prominent.
Sun Damage
We’ve heard so much about warnings against too much sun exposure. This is because too much sun, or over exposure to sun, exposes us to dangerous ultraviolet radiation, which causes premature aging of the skin, a condition called photoaging. What happens is that because of the over exposure to the sun, the collagen fibers are damaged which in effect causes an over production of abnormal elastin. An enzyme called metalloproteinase is produced when ultraviolet light damages the skin tissue. This enzyme is responsible in creating and reforming collagen. However, during the process, a few healthy collagen fibers are damaged, which results in a disorganized formation of fibers called solar scars. This is in effect causes the appearance of wrinkles.
Smoking
The smoke from cigarettes destroys the skin’s ability to regenerate. Studies have shown that the smoke from cigarettes actually lowers the skin’s ability to produce new collagen, and a lack of new collagen results in the development of wrinkles.
So What Should You Do Now?
Obviously, the next step is to know how to avoid and/or reduce wrinkles. Here are some suggestions on how to go about it:
- Avoid the sun
- Wear sunscreen
- Don’t smoke
- Get enough sleep
- Don’t squint
- Sleep on your back (to avoid sleep lines)
