Many people believe dry, thin, wrinkled skin is a natural part of aging. This is true to a certain degree, but there are controllable factors that can greatly increase the chances of premature aging and the severity of the wrinkles that develop. Medical News Today notes that heavy drinking, smoking and excessive exposure to UV light via sunbathing and outdoor jobs or activities accelerate the aging process.
Manuka Honey
Manuka honey is a completely natural and unprocessed honey from the flowers of the manuka tree in New Zealand. It has antibacterial qualities and healing properties, and it's rated in some professional circles in New Zealand as being of medicinal standard. Each batch of Manuka is stringently tested and given a rating on a scale called the Unique Manuka Factor. A batch of honey with a grade of 10 or higher is considered medical grade, notes DermNetNZ.
Benefits
Manuka honey uses its enzymes to etch away at the skin's surface, removing dirt and bacteria. It also removes dead skin cells to serve as a wrinkle treatment. The removal of these skin cells reduces the depth of wrinkle crevices, making their appearance less noticeable, and promotes the body's natural healing process to make more collagen in order to replace the lost skin. The replacement skin is firmer and less wrinkled.
Application
Apply the honey directly to the wrinkled area daily. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes. The honey can be left on overnight via application to a dressing. It can also be mixed with cooked oatmeal that has been allowed to cool and acts as an exfoliate. Do not warm the honey; doing so can destroy most of its beneficial qualities.
Considerations
The application of honey on some skin types, particularly sensitive skin, can cause skin irritation. Speak with your doctor before using honey as a natural wrinkle treatment. The Mayo Clinic dismisses the effectiveness of many topical treatments, even those sold as expensive cosmetic lotions and creams. It's believed they make relatively little difference to the skin.
Alternative
For significant reduction of wrinkles, a doctor may refer you to a dermatology clinic for treatment. Many procedures either add collagen to the skin, in the case of injections, or purposely wound the skin in order to induce natural collagen production. Collagen helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles via new tissue building. For the most severe cases, a face lift may be the best option, the Mayo Clinic says.
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