Wrinkles and fine lines are creases, folds, indentations and sagging of the skin that cause you to look older. Several causes of wrinkles, like natural aging and genetics, can't be halted, but some causes of premature skin wrinkling--like cigarette smoking and excessive sun exposure--can be eliminated or minimized.
Fine Lines and Wrinkles
The New Zealand Dermatological Society says that fine lines and wrinkles, also called rhytides, are caused by irregular thickening of the dermis and a decrease in the amount of water held by the epidermis. This irregular thickening is often due to the slowing of the regeneration of skin cells as you age.
The severity of the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles are mainly due to genetic tendency, skin phototype and exposure to environmental factors. Some people inherit a tendency to wrinkle early, while others remain relatively wrinkle-free throughout their lifetime. People with fair, or light-colored, skin tend to wrinkle more easily than those with dark pigment. Additionally, some wrinkles are formed prematurely due to avoidable environmental factors.
Furrows
Furrows, which can be further classified as dynamic or static, are deeper lines that often occur from repetitive movements. Dynamic lines appear with the activation of facial muscles, like worry lines on the forehead that occur when contracting the frontalis muscle when raising the eyebrows, or crow's feet that appear when laughing or smiling.
Static lines are unchanged with muscle movement and appear permanently. Dynamic lines eventually become static. Static lines can also form from repetitive pressure, like sleeping in the same position. They can only be removed with cosmetic surgery or chemical injections.
Sags and Bags
Sags and bags, also called skin laxity or drooping, can also cause the skin to appear wrinkled. They are caused by a reduction of fat cells under the skin, which can occur with aging or substantial weight loss.
Drooping can also occur due to a reduction in cutaneous strength and elasticity from the natural loss of collagen and elastin fibers in the dermis during aging.
Finally, gravity, which pulls the lax tissue downward, contributes to the appearance of sags and bags.
Environmental Causes
While natural aging and genetics can't be avoided, some environmental factors that may accelerate premature wrinkling can. The biggest culprits of prematurely wrinkled skin include excessive sun exposure, smoking and low humidity. Research published in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" found that stress may also contribute to premature aging.
Additionally, a study published by the "Journal of The American College of Nutrition" found that skin wrinkling may be influenced by the types of foods consumed. It found that people who consumed more vegetables, olive oil, fish and legumes had less wrinkling of the skin than those who did not.
Prevention and Treatment
While no one can completely prevent wrinkles and fine lines, the Mayo Clinic suggests limiting sun exposure and avoiding smoking to eliminate premature wrinkling. Additionally, the research published in the "Journal of The American College of Nutrition" suggests that diet can positively affect the appearance of premature wrinkles, so consuming more vegetables and fish may help prevent some wrinkles.
Research published in the "British Journal of Dermatology" in 2009 also found that retinoids--derivatives of Vitamin A--can help remove fine lines and wrinkles due to premature aging.
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