Skin wrinkling occurs naturally as you get older. According to the Mayo Clinic website, this is because aging skin loses firmness and elasticity, making fine lines and sagging more pronounced. Your skin also becomes drier and thinner when you get older, rendering it less able to ward off damage. Sun exposure and normal facial movements can also cause wrinkles. Discuss skin care options with a dermatologist if you would like to diminish your wrinkles.
Loss of Firmness and Elasticity
Collagen and elastin break down as your skin ages, and this can lead to a sagging complexion that has lost its bounce, says the Mayo Clinic. According to Smart Skin Care, as you get older, your skin naturally loses some of its strength. Drooping skin can make you look older and also cause wrinkles to become more prominent. Using skin care products designed to rebuild collagen and elastin may help lessen these signs of aging, but there is little evidence that topical applications of these ingredients work.
Dryness and Thinning
Older skin is less able to hold on to moisture than younger skin, and this can cause a thickening of your skin's outer layers and lead to fine lines, says DermNet NZ. It can also make your skin look drier and cause your wrinkles to appear more pronounced. Your skin will also thin as you age, which contributes to its difficulties in retaining moisture and protecting itself from environmental harm. Applying a daily moisturizer can help your skin stay hydrated and soften the look of your wrinkles.
Sun Exposure
Excessive, lifelong exposure to UV rays can lead to premature signs of aging. According to the Mayo Clinic, sunlight drastically increases the rate at which your skin ages because it degrades your skin's stores of collagen and elastin, leading to wrinkles and a loss of firmness. Applying sunscreen every day and staying out of the sun whenever possible can help prevent wrinkles and keep wrinkles from getting worse.
Facial Movements
Normal facial expressions, such as frowning and smiling, can contribute to wrinkling. The Mayo Clinic says that every movement you make causes a groove to develop underneath your skin, and when you get older and your skin becomes less flexible, that groove results in a wrinkle. According to DermNet NZ, these wrinkles are typically deeper and more pronounced than those caused by sun damage, and can include crow's feet, worry lines and frown lines. Facial exercises can help build muscle tone and make wrinkles less pronounced. More drastic measures, such as facelifts and injections of botulinum toxin, may be needed to correct these wrinkles. Discuss your options with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
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