The skin is the most noticeable part of your body. Fine lines and furrowed foreheads are the last things you want to see on your face. While wrinkles are a sign of aging, following a regular skin care regimen and making lifestyle changes can delay the onset of these facial lines.
Causes
The Mayo Clinic associates wrinkles with the natural aging process, which causes thinning of the skin and loss of elasticity, making sags and creases appear. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) believes the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays cause wrinkles, too. UV rays destroy skin's fibrous tissues, collagen and elastin, which are responsible for firmness and flexibility. Smoking also contributes to wrinkles because it affects blood supply to the skin. Repeated facial movements such as squinting and frowning cause grooves under the skin that remain on the face as you age.
Treatment
Options for treatment of wrinkles include medications and surgical procedures. Medicines include topical retinoids (a product of vitamin A) and non-prescription wrinkle creams that contain alpha hydroxy acids, kinetin, coenzyme Q10, copper peptides and antioxidants. According to the Mayo Clinic, these may show little to modest improvements in the skin. Skin resurfacing techniques available to ward off wrinkles are dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, chemical peel and laser treatments. Injectables such as Botox and soft tissue fillers such as fat and collagen also are used.
Prevention
Medline Plus recommends staying out of the sun and wearing protective clothing and sunscreen when outside. Drink lots of water and fluids, especially in summer, to keep skin hydrated, preventing it from drying and causing fine lines. Moisturizing can't stop wrinkles but may temporarily hide lines and folds, the Mayo Clinic reports. If you are a smoker, quitting will go a long way in saving your skin from aging.
Go Natural
Eating fruits and vegetables, especially those rich in vitamin E, can do wonders for the skin. According to The World's Healthiest Foods website, this vitamin is found extensively in almonds, olives, spinach, papaya, Swiss chard, turnip greens, bell pepper, parsley, tomato, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kiwifruit and blueberries. Vitamin E protects skin from UV radiation. Foods that help build skin collagen include Brazil nuts, carrots, berries, avocados and garlic.
Considerations
Use caution when buying over-the-counter creams that promise to treat, prevent or even fade wrinkles and fine lines from the face. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes these items as cosmetics, and it does not have strict regulations for their approval.
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