Wrinkles occur naturally as your skin thins out and loses fat, moisture and elasticity with age, according to the Mayo Clinic. Your genes are the primary factor that determines your skin texture, but your daily habits and skin-care regimen can also influence how youthful--or old--your skin looks. If you are looking for a way to minimize wrinkles and improve the appearance of your skin, you have a range of options at your disposal.
Step 1
Apply sunscreen to uncovered areas when you go outside. Choose a sunscreen or moisturizer that is "broad-spectrum," meaning it blocks UVA and UVB rays, and only buy it if it has an SPF of 15 or greater, says the Mayo Clinic. Wearing sunscreen and limiting your sun exposure protects your skin from future damage and may repair previous damage, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Step 2
Throw away your cigarettes. Whether you go cold turkey or wean yourself off slowly, the sooner you start, the better. Talk to your physician or dentist, or join a support group to get materials and advice on quitting, suggests the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Quitting smoking will reduce the amount of damage done to the blood vessels that reach your outermost skin layers and minimize the damage done to the fibers that make your skin supple and strong, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Step 3
Apply an over-the-counter wrinkle cream. If you're not sure which product to use, look for one that contains retinol, a vitamin A compound that has shown promise in reducing wrinkles. Also, says the Mayo Clinic, ingredients such as hydroxy acids, copper peptides, coenzyme Q10, kinetin and tea extracts may also improve your wrinkles. However, since they contain lower doses of wrinkle-fighting ingredients than prescription creams, they are less likely to be effective in the long term.
Step 4
Ask your dermatologist about prescription medications. She may recommend a topical retinoid, which is a vitamin A derivative that is more potent than the retinol in over-the-counter creams, according to the Mayo Clinic. Topical retinoids are more potent, but they can also cause side effects such as susceptibility to sunburns, so keep your skin covered when you go outside. They can also cause unwanted side effects such as peeling and redness, so start with a pea-sized portion every three nights and build up to daily use.
Step 5
Talk to your dermatologist about other treatments. He may recommend procedures such as microdermabrasion, dermabrasion, laser treatments, chemical peels, injections of botox or soft tissue fillers, or he might even recommend a face lift. Ask him about the potential risks and benefits of each procedure before you decide on one.
Things You'll Need
- Broad-spectrum sunscreen, at least SPF 15
- Over-the-counter wrinkle cream
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