What Causes Wrinkles?

As the skin begins to age, the division of skin cells begins to slow and the dermal layer or the inner skin layer starts to look noticeably thinner. Natural substances in the skin such as collagen which is the structural protein of the skin and elastin which allows skin tissue to stretch, begin to deplete and decrease with age. Hylauronic acid which is responsible for providing the skin with moisture and skin volume or ‘plumpness' also begins to rapidly deplete, causing the skin to look less full. As the skins ability to hold water diminishes, oil and sweat glands begin to degenerate robbing skin of essential water and lipid emulsions which are responsible for keeping the skin supple and moisturized.

As the skin ages so does its ability to repair itself from wounds and injuries. Frown lines, forehead lines and crows feet lines around the eye area appear due to persistent smaller muscle contractions. Lines on the face know as habitual facial expression wrinkles also form and contribute to the formation of features such as drooping eyelids and jowls around the chin and jaw line area.

Skin can also age prematurely as a direct result of over and prolonged exposure to UV damage which is commonly described as photo ageing. Sun damage is one of the major contributors to skin aging and is thought to be accountable for up to 90% of premature skin aging. It has been discovered that even small amounts of damaging UV rays can damage collagen fibres and cause the accumulation of abnormal elastin which leads to loss of flexibility and ‘stretch' in the skin. As collagen is degraded disorganized collagen fibres called solar scars eventually result in the wrinkles we see on the surface of the skin. Protecting the skin effectively with a high factor sun protection product is essential to prevent the skin from prematurely aging and developing lines, wrinkles and in some cases skin cancers.

Other contributing factors to the formation of facial wrinkles include environmental pollution and smoking. These factors increase the amount of free radicals in the skin which damage cell membranes, leading to a number of contributory skin disorders which includes wrinkles. Sudden weight loss can also cause wrinkles as the volume of fat cells is reduced dramatically which can cause the skin to sag.

While there is no single cure all solution to facial wrinkles, there are plenty of things you can do to reduce their appearance and keep your skin looking young and healthy. First, be sure to limit your exposure to ultraviolet radiation as it has been proven to accelerate the aging process. That tan may look good right now but will ultimately lead to leathery, wrinkled skin in the future. Next, be sure to stay active and get regular exercise as this helps to promote natural skin cell regeneration and removal of toxins and free radicals that can damage your skin. Finally, if you are looking to take a more aggressive stance against wrinkles, consider adding a high quality wrinkle cream to your skin care routine. Sites such as Wrinkle Cream.net offer up helpful buying tips and product reviews and can be a good place to start your search for an anti wrinkle cream. We may not be able to completely avoid wrinkles but we sure can take action to limit them!