Wrinkles are a natural part of the intrinsic aging process. You may welcome them or wish them away, but once you get wrinkles, many over-the-counter treatments will only turn back the clock by minutes. However, some dermatologist-prescribed topical medications and in-office procedures can make your skin look firmer and smoother -- young, once again.
Wrinkles & Aging
Intrinsic aging -- growing older -- is the primary cause of wrinkles that begin in one's 20s, reports the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), even though obvious signs might not be noticeable for decades. Collagen production in the skin slows, and the skin's elastin has less resilience. The rate at which new skin cells supplant old ones slows. Wrinkles caused by intrinsic aging are compounded by extrinsic factors, namely years of sun exposure. Other extrinsic factors aid in the formation of wrinkles: making the same facial expressions over and over, smoking, the pull of gravity. Even sleeping with your face against the pillow the same way each night can cause wrinkles.
Prevention Basics
You can avoid premature wrinkles through smoking cessation, reports the AAD, as well as refraining from doing facial exercises that purportedly reduce wrinkles. But the most important factor is protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays. Avoid tanning, including tanning beds and sun lamps, and try to stay out of the sun when its rays are the strongest -- between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. You can also protect your skin from the sun by wearing hats and clothing that covers your arms whenever you're outdoors. As far as consumer products are concerned, your best bet is to invest in a good sunscreen.
Over-the-Counter Help
Cosmetics expert Paula Begoun says that your "first and foremost best defense against wrinkles" is using sunscreen on a daily basis. Begoun advises using a product with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher, while the AAD advises that a sunscreen with SPF 30 should be used. If you don't use sunscreen before you go outdoors, Begoun advises choosing a moisturizer or make-up foundation with sunscreen protection built-in. Those other expensive pots of creams you find at the cosmetics counter? "Regrettably, there is no magic potion or combination of products in any price range that can truly make wrinkles disappear," Begoun frankly states. However, there are certain ingredients in OTC skin-care products that can make wrinkles less noticeable.
Topical Medical Treatment
If you want to stick with topical applications to reduce wrinkles, the Mayo Clinic notes that retinoids, which are derived from vitamin A, can eliminate fine wrinkles, as well as smooth out rough patches and blotches in the complexion. Begoun agrees, saying that these topical medications are the "gold standards" used to improve sun-weathered skin. The Mayo Clinic warns that retinoids can cause certain side effects, such as inflammation and redness, dry skin, itching and burning. These products also make skin more susceptible to sunburn, so using sunscreen is a must.
Medical Procedures
An abundance of medical procedures can help face wrinkles, and do so more comprehensively. The Mayo Clinic cites dermabrasion (planing) of the face with a rapidly rotating wire brush as one method of wrinkle reduction. Microdermabrasion is a much milder version of dermabrasion and involves lightly "sandblasting" the face with aluminum oxide crystals to remove the skin's surface layer. Other methods of wrinkle reduction include laser resurfacing, chemical peels, botulinum toxin type A (Botox) injections and injectable soft tissue fillers that plump up wrinkles with fat, collagen or hyaluronic acid. The most invasive way to get rid of wrinkles is the surgical face-lift, which removes excess skin in the face and tightens the underlying muscle and tissue. This procedure also yields long-lasting results, generally between five and 10 years.
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