Causes of Facial Wrinkles

As you get older, you might begin to notice wrinkles or lines and creases in your face. This typically is associated with the aging process but also can arise prematurely because of other factors, such as the environment and lifestyle choices. Habits such as overexposing your skin to the sun or smoking tobacco products can lead to early aging and the formation of wrinkles in your skin.

The Sun

When you spend too much time in the sun, you expose your skin to the sun's ultraviolet rays--the ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. These rays penetrate your skin and damage the collagen and elastin in your skin, according to the Mayo Clinic. Collagen and elastin are proteins that give your skin strength and the ability to stretch and snap back to its previous position. When these proteins are damaged, they cease to function properly, and this leads to wrinkled skin on your face and other parts of your body exposed to the sun. Avoid prolonged sunlight exposure, and protect your skin from the sun to reduce your risk of developing wrinkles early.

Smoking

When you smoke or expose yourself to secondhand smoke, the blood vessels in your body get constricted, including those that supply your skin with blood. Your skin needs nutrients such as vitamins A, E and C to remain healthy and wrinkle-free. When blood flow to your skin is reduced from smoking, your skin might get inadequate amounts of nutrients and nourishment, which can result in wrinkles forming on your face. Repeated movements associated with smoking, such as squinting your eyes and pursing your lips around a cigarette, also can lead to facial wrinkles.

Aging

Aging can cause wrinkles to form because, as you get older, your skin becomes drier, thinner and less elastic. The skin produces less oil as you age, and this leads to dry skin. With age, the amount of fat in the deeper layers of your skin is reduced. This fat gives your skin a plump appearance, and, when the fat lessens, the result is loose, saggy skin--and wrinkles.

Alcohol

When you drink alcohol beverages, your skin is robbed of moisture and nutrients needed for skin maintenance. According to the book "Beauty Therapy--The Foundations: The Official Guide to NVQ/SVQ Level 2," alcohol deprives the body of nutrients, especially vitamins B and C. It also dehydrates, or dries out, your body, including your skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, dry skin leads to cracks and fine wrinkles in the skin.