While the first signs of wrinkling often occur on the thin skin of the face, wrinkling can occur anywhere on the body, including on the chest. When these creases begin to develop, you can begin to feel more self-conscious. Understanding why these creases occur --- and how you can treat them --- can help you to reduce chest wrinkles.
Significance
Wrinkles occur when the skin loses elasticity and the pull of gravity causes skin to fold over and crease, according to MayoClinic.com. Your skin is supported by fibers known as collagen and elastin that give your body structure. While these fibers naturally diminish as you age, other factors can speed their breakdown, including sun exposure.
Sleeping Position
The way you sleep can affect the development of chest wrinkles on the body, according to the Daily Glow. If you sleep on your side, your chest can push together, creating creases. You may observe a similar occurrence on your face when sleeping on your side. When you are younger, you have enough elastic fibers to help the skin bounce back. As you age, however, the skin is less able to dewrinkle throughout the day. The result can be skin that is permanently wrinkles. A solution for this can be to sleep on your back. This helps the skin of your chest to remain flat instead of wrinkled, preventing wrinkles from occurring.
Sun Exposure
Sun exposure is a chief factor in skin aging, according to "Redbook" magazine. The ultraviolet radiation from the sun can cause fibers in your skin to lose elasticity, resulting in wrinkling. Because your chest represents a broad sun-exposed area of skin when you are at the beach or pool, it is important to wear a sunscreen to protect yourself. Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which protects against both ultraviolet-A and ultraviolet-B forms of radiation. Choose one with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher, and reapply frequently if you are exposed to water or are sweating.
Treatments
Because they tend to be deep in the skin, chest wrinkles can be difficult to eradicate, according to the Daily Glow. However, wrinkle treatment do exist that can reduce the incidence of wrinkling. This includes topical treatments, such as retinoic acid, a topical form of vitamin A, according to "U.S. News & World Report." Retinoic acid can be sold over-the-counter or is available in stronger forms by prescription. Because the skin of the chest is not as delicate as the face, you may be able to utilize a slightly stronger formulation. Laser treatments also are used to penetrate the skin, encouraging the growth of collagen and elastin fibers, according to MayoClinic.com. A chemical peel application also may be applied to the skin to peel away the outer layers of skin.
Warning
Smoking does not only cause wrinkles on your face, it also can accelerate the wrinkles on your chest. Smoking affects your skin's tone and texture, according to MayoClinic.com. This can make your skin appear more wrinkled and advance other signs of aging. If you smoke, quit --- your skin and your overall health will thank you.
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