Wrinkles and fine lines are a part of aging, but the intensity and amount of wrinkles you have is directly impacted by the type of lifestyle you live. You lose collagen and elastin in your skin as you age, but there are ways to reduce the amount of wrinkles that show in the future, as well as to minimize the appearance of some of your current fine lines.
Wear Sunscreen
Always wear sunscreen, even if it's not sunny. To minimize wrinkles, buy a sunscreen that has a minimum Sun Protection Factor, or SPF, of 30. The sun is the most harmful between the hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., so it's best to avoid being outside during these times unless you're wearing sunblock, protective clothing, and a wide-brimmed hat.
Stop Smoking
As if there are not plenty of reasons already to quit smoking, wrinkles can be added to the list. Nicotine causes blood vessels to narrow in outer layers of the skin, which limits the amount of oxygen that gets to your skin, and this causes wrinkles. In addition, chemicals from cigarettes damage collagen and elastin, resulting in more wrinkles.
Besides the internal damage that smoking causes, it's also responsible for lines around the lips after several years of puckering on a cigarette.
Avoid Sunbathing and Tanning Beds
The amount of wrinkles you have is directly related to the amount of sun you've been exposed to in your lifetime. Purposely trying to get a tan will age your skin. A tan may look attractive in your 20s, but as you age, your skin will gradually begin to wrinkle and have a leathery appearance.
Alpha-Hydroxy Acids
Alpha-hydroxy acids work like an exfoliating scrub by removing the top layer of the skin so it can be replaced by new skin. By removing the dead skin found on top of the skin, you're able to minimize the appearance of fine lines.
Wear Sunglasses
The sun is responsible for a lot of wrinkles that could have been prevented. This is the same for around the eyes. Wearing sunglasses not only will prevent harmful UVs from reaching the skin around your eyes, but it will also keep you from squinting, which is a cause of crows feet.
Wear Glasses or Contacts
If you find yourself squinting and straining to read signs while driving down the street, then it's time for glasses. This is also true for reading a book. When you're young, the facial expressions you make only temporarily make changes on your face because the skin bounces back. Over time and with loss of collagen and elastins, the skin no longer has these youthful bounce back benefits, so expression lines stay.
Sleep on your Back
Expression lines, such as those from squinting, smiling, and frowning, can be limited by using fewer facial expressions. However, not being able to smile so you don't get a wrinkle wouldn't have much benefit to your overall happiness. Instead, sleep on your back. By sleeping on your back, your face is not smashed into a pillow, which also causes fine lines and wrinkles.
Retinoids
Retinoids are a topical form of vitamin A that comes in prescription and non-prescription strength. Retinoids have been proved to reduce wrinkles over a 36-week period.
Botox
Botox is a naturally produced injectable toxin that paralyzes or weakens muscles to minimize fine lines, such as crows feet and frown lines. The results usually last three to four months. During those three to four months, your face makes a minimum amount of lines caused by facial expressions, so over a period of time you do not have to get Botox injected as often.
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