Wrinkles are fine lines that appear on the skin due to the loss of volume and elasticity due to the decrease in elastic and collagen fibers in the skin, leaving it thinner and more flaccid. Wrinkles typically appear around the lips, forehead, corners of the eyes, neck or hands and usually begin to appear after the age of 30.
The first wrinkles to appear are expression wrinkles, which, after the age of 40, appear even when the face is static or still, around the eyes and chin, and can worsen over the years until they affect a large part of the face, neck and lap.
Wrinkle treatment is carried out by a dermatologist who may recommend the use of anti-wrinkle creams, aesthetic procedures, such as peelsradiofrequency or botox, or even plastic surgery, for example.
Main types of wrinkles
The main types of wrinkles are:
- Fine or type I wrinkles: these are discreet changes that appear with facial expressions, not yet considered wrinkles, which can begin to be noticeable between the ages of 20 and 30, in the regions of the face that make expressions;
- Expression lines or type II: appear after the age of 30 or 40, as the face moves, in moments of worry, smiles and expressions, and are more common around the lips, mouth and forehead;
- Deep wrinkles or type III: these are fixed wrinkles that appear even when the face is rested, and are thin or with small ripples, due to the thinning of the skin after the age of 50. These are wrinkles that can no longer be disguised with makeup and can give the face a haggard or tired appearance, which appear mainly around the eyes, on the forehead and between the eyebrows;
- Gravitational or type IV wrinkles: these are wrinkles that become deep after the age of 60 or 70, and are constant due to gravity pulling the thin skin downwards. They commonly appear on the sides of the chin, on the neck, in front of the ears and are no longer disguised by creams or makeup.
Wrinkles can also be formed by expression lines due to some movement or facial expression maintained repeatedly by the person, and, therefore, it is important to avoid overloading the muscles of the face, through excess tension, any position when sleeping, to try see or protect yourself from the sun, for example.
Possible causes
Wrinkles are caused by thinning of the skin, decreased production or lack of collagen or slower production of skin cells, and are more common to appear with the natural aging of the body.
However, some factors can contribute to the early appearance or worsening of wrinkles, such as:
- Damage caused by solar UV rays;
- Smoking habit;
- Frequent exposure to dust, smoke or soot;
- Dehydration;
- Excessive and frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages;
- Genetic factors.
Furthermore, muscle contractions caused by facial expressions, such as frowning, squinting or smiling, can lead to the appearance of fine expression lines, which over time and the natural aging of the body, can cause wrinkles.
How the treatment is carried out
The ideal treatment for wrinkles depends on the stage they are at, with options such as peeling, radiofrequency sessions or glycolic acid cream, prescribed by the dermatologist, for the treatment of expression wrinkles, or laser procedures, botox application or plastic surgery, for example, for deeper wrinkles. See the most recommended wrinkle treatments.
Some homemade or natural methods may be options, such as the use of natural teas and creams. Check out the natural anti-wrinkle recipe.
How to avoid
Wrinkles are inevitable, as they appear due to the natural aging of the body. However, its onset and severity may vary, due to the person’s genetics, but also lifestyle habits.
Therefore, to avoid the appearance of wrinkles, you must:
1. Apply sunscreen daily
Sunscreen helps prevent skin damage caused by the sun’s UV rays and the early appearance of wrinkles, which is why it should be used daily, at least 15 minutes before leaving the house, and applied even on cloudy days. Furthermore, it must be reapplied every two hours, and immediately after sweating or sporting activities, such as swimming, beach volleyball or street running, or bathing in the sea or swimming pool, for example.
The ideal is to consult a dermatologist who can recommend the best type of sunscreen according to your skin type. See how to choose the best sunscreen.
2. Avoid excessive exposure to the sun
The sun is one of the skin’s biggest enemies, as it accelerates aging and is a risk factor for skin cancer.
Therefore, it is very important to avoid the hours of greatest intensity of the sun’s rays, between 11am and 4pm, wear a hat, sunglasses and apply sunscreen daily with a sun protection factor greater than 30, repeating the application every day. 2 hours, especially if the person is at the beach or pool.
3. Remove makeup
After using makeup, it is important to remove it properly, cleaning your face with water and mild soap or a facial soap, as makeup left on the skin can clog pores, increase skin dehydration and reduce nutrition and moisture. the body’s ability to produce collagen, which contributes to the development of wrinkles.
In addition to washing your face properly to remove makeup, it is important to use makeup remover solutions or creams, and apply a moisturizing cream specifically for your face to hydrate your skin, which may be recommended by your dermatologist according to your skin type.
Additionally, there are anti-wrinkle cream options that help hydrate the skin and prevent expression lines, generally sold in pharmacies or cosmetics stores.
4. Avoid making faces
Making funny faces, such as frowning, squinting or squinting your eyes, can create wrinkles over time or worsen existing ones.
Furthermore, walking down the street without sunglasses causes the person to constantly have their eyes half-closed, which also contributes to the appearance of expression lines.
5. Eat a balanced diet
Eating a balanced diet, including antioxidant foods, such as fruits, vegetables and nuts, for example, helps prevent damage caused by free radicals to the skin, as they are rich in vitamin A and C, for example.
Furthermore, the vitamin C present in food helps to stimulate collagen production, preventing the premature appearance of wrinkles, when consumed regularly. See the complete list of foods rich in vitamin C.
6. Exercise regularly
Practicing physical exercise regularly promotes better blood circulation in the body, the supply of oxygen and nutrients to tissues, in addition to strengthening the immune system, stimulating the production of anti-inflammatory substances and having antioxidant action, which helps prevent the early onset of wrinkles. See other benefits that exercise has for health.
7. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day
Drinking at least 2 liters of water, juices or teas during the day helps maintain the body’s hydration and promotes the elimination of excess fluid and toxins accumulated in the body, which can damage cells and cause wrinkles.
8. Replace collagen
Replacing collagen, through foods, such as gelatin, or in capsules sold in pharmacies, helps to promote strengthening, increase elasticity and hydration of the skin and, therefore, helps prevent the appearance of wrinkles and expression lines. See how to take collagen in capsules.
9. Avoid smoking
Smoking can cause premature wrinkles around the mouth, known as “bar code” lines, from years of contracting the lip muscles to hold it down. Furthermore, cigarette constituents increase the amount of free radicals in the body that can damage cells, as well as damaging blood circulation and skin cells.
Therefore, you should avoid smoking or staying in environments with a lot of smoke or pollution. Here are some tips for stopping smoking.
10. Avoid alcoholic beverages
Frequent drinking of alcoholic beverages also contributes to the formation of wrinkles, as it causes dehydration of skin cells, which over time can damage the skin and lead to the appearance of wrinkles.
