Wrinkles result from the breakdown of substances in your body that normally support skin health. While wrinkles themselves are typically medically harmless, lifestyle and environmental factors that encourage wrinkle formation can also raise your risks for both cosmetic and medically significant skin problems.
Wrinkle Basics
Skin aging is a natural phenomenon and you cannot prevent its occurrence. In addition to wrinkle formation, aging commonly produces sagging skin. In some cases, you can artificially accelerate your rate of wrinkle formation through habitual unprotected exposure to sunlight, smoking or exposure to environments that contain cigarette smoke. You may also have a genetic predisposition toward early wrinkle development.
Common Factors
Exposure to the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight accelerates the breakdown of a substance called collagen, which helps keep your skin firm, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. UV exposure also accelerates the breakdown of elastin, a substance that gives your skin resiliency. If you regularly expose yourself to sunlight, UV effects on your skin can trigger the formation of significant wrinkles as early as your 30s.
Cigarette smoke directly ages your skin by exposing it to harmful toxins, the AAD reports. The repeated puckering motions associated with inhaling cigarette smoke can also encourage wrinkle formation around your lips. Additionally, you can get eye wrinkles as a result of squinting to avoid eye exposure to cigarette smoke.
Age Spots
The same sun exposure that causes wrinkling can also trigger the formation of patches of discolored skin called age spots or liver spots, MedlinePlus reports. Age spots arise when the UV rays trigger an acceleration in the production of melanin, the pigment that colors your skin. Typically, these spots develop slowly over time. While age spots themselves are harmless, they can sometimes resemble the skin alterations caused by skin cancer. If you suspect problems with age spots on your skin, consult a dermatologist for guidance and advice.
Skin Cancer
The sun exposure that causes wrinkling can also increase your chances for the development of skin cancer, the AAD notes. As a rule, your overall skin cancer risks directly correspond to your lifetime levels of UV exposure, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, you may have increased skin cancer risks if you have fair skin, freckles, light-colored eyes or red or blond hair. You also have higher potential risks if you live in an area with high amounts of UV rays, including the southern part of the U.S. and any mountainous region.
Considerations
Exposure to artificial UV sources, such as tanning beds or lamps, can also increase your wrinkle and skin cancer risks, the AAD explains. You can decrease your risks for both skin cancer and wrinkles by avoiding artificial UV sources and using sunscreen products with an SPF of at least 30. You can further diminish wrinkle formation by stopping smoking and eating a diet rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables.
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