The best defense against face wrinkles is prevention. Men and women who avoid the sun have much smoother skin than those who enjoy a bronze tan. Once wrinkles are formed, however, there is very little, short of cosmetic surgery that can remove them, report Mayo Clinic doctors. There are steps you can take though to reduce facial wrinkles.
Step 1
Use a wrinkle cream that contains retinol, which is a vitamin A compound. Many facial creams with retinal are available over the counter. Prescription-strength face creams that are made with a vitamin A derivative called tretinoin is even more effective.
Step 2
Exfoliate your facial skin with scrubs that contain hydroxy acids, which are synthetic applications made from the sugar in fruits. The acids scrub off the dead top layers of skin and stimulate new skin growth.
Step 3
Apply creams and lotions made with other ingredients that have proven helpful in reducing face wrinkles. Coenzyme Q10 is a nutrient that eliminates fine lines and copper peptides stimulate collagen production while enhancing healing. Mayo Clinic doctors report that kinetin, which is derived from plants, reduces wrinkles and can smooth uneven skin tones. Products that contain green tea extracts contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Step 4
Relax your face. Frowning, grinning or raising your eyebrows creates wrinkles that, over time, become permanent markers on your face. Keep a mirror on your desk or frequently check your face throughout the day. Relax your muscles and try not to make any expression most of the time to reduce those wrinkles caused by your habits.
Step 5
Get botox injections. Brow furrows, permanent forehead lines and crow's feet that result from a lifetime of facial expressions respond particularly well to the botulinum toxin injections, report doctors a the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Botox paralyzes the nerves that operate those muscles.
Tips and Warnings
- Don't smoke. Smoking increases the aging process by restricting the flow of blood to the veins in the face. Oxygen and nutrients needed for smooth skin, such as vitamin A cannot reach the skin when circulation is impaired. Additionally, doctors at the Mayo Clinic report that cigarettes contain more than 400 chemicals that can break down collagen and elastin and cause wrinkles.
- Whenever you use any kind of facial cream containing retinol, hydroxy acids or coenzyme Q10, make sure you wear heavy sunscreen and re-apply as necessary. The skin is more sensitive to sun damage after some of these treatments.
Things You'll Need
- Wrinkle cream
- Exfoliator
- Botox
- Sunscreen
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