Facial wrinkles are a normal sign of aging as skin becomes thinner and loses its elasticity of youth. Sometimes wrinkles form prematurely because of certain lifestyle factors. Although some people may accept wrinkles as a rite of passage to maturity, others fight them every step of the way. Some facial wrinkles can be prevented. There are also a number of treatment methods available to diminish their appearance.
Tissue Breakdown
Facial wrinkles form as your skin's connective tissue (collagen and elastin fibers) begins to weaken. The loss of this supportive tissue that resides in the inner layer of the skin is what causes your skin to sag as it loses its firmness. This droopiness can accentuate lines and wrinkles.
Fragility
Mature facial skin isn't able to defend itself against damage as effectively as younger skin. Over time, this leads to the formation of wrinkles and lines. As skin becomes drier with age, facial wrinkles become more pronounced.
Genetics
According to the Mayo Clinic, your genetic makeup has a major impact on the texture of your skin. Skin texture largely determines how vulnerable your skin is to facial wrinkling.
Ultraviolet Rays
Sun worshipers are prone to facial wrinkling. Exposure to ultraviolet rays accelerates the breakdown of supportive skin tissue. Tanning is the main cause of premature wrinkling.
Smoking
Smokers are more likely to develop lines and wrinkles before their time. This may be due in part to physiological changes that can slow the blood supply to your skin.
Facial Expressions
Every time a facial muscle is used to smile, frown or squint, a crease forms underneath the skin's surface. As your skin ages, it's less able to bounce back to position. As time goes on, these groves become permanent lines and wrinkles.
Outlook
The Mayo Clinic says some creams and lotions may effectively treat facial wrinkles. The vitamin A derivative tretinoin (Retin-A) is a prescription wrinkle cream approved by the Food and Drug Administration. A variety of skin surfacing treatments are also available, such as fillers and injectables that can fill out wrinkles and give skin a more youthful appearance.
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