You may wish you had fewer wrinkles, but how much do you know about them. Here’s a quick rundown on the basics:

The Causes Of Wrinkles

There are four common causes of wrinkles: aging, smoking, sun damage, and smoking.

Aging

As people age, their skin becomes more fragile and thin. The skin also loses some of its elasticity and moisture. These factors combined mean that many people have wrinkles when they get older.

Smoking

Smoking accelerates the natural aging process and wreaks havoc on your whole body, including your skin.

Sun Damage

Ultra violet rays break down your skin’s connective tissue. Sun damage can cause wrinkles, dryness, and sunspots.

Repeated Facial Expressions

Have you noticed that many people have wrinkles around their eyes, near their mouth, and between their eyebrows? Repeated muscle movements in those areas cause wrinkles.

Preventing Wrinkles

There are many things you can do to prevent wrinkles. Start taking care of your skin as early as possible, even if you haven’t noticed any signs of aging. Use these tips to get started:

• Always wear sunscreen when you go outside. Apply it about a half an hour before leaving the house and reapply it throughout the day.
• Keep your skin hydrated by using moisturizer and drinking plenty of water.
• Avoid spending a lot of time outside between 10 am and 4 pm.
• Wear a hat and sunglasses to shade your face and stop you from squinting.
• Replace smoking with a healthy habit like regular exercise or listening to music.
• Always wash your makeup off your face before going to bed.
• Use a retinol cream at night.

Treating Wrinkles

If wrinkles are detracting from your appearance, or making you look older than you feel, you have options. Two of the most common options are Botox and dermal fillers.  These injectables offer a surgery-free way to improve your appearance. Botox usually lasts from 3-6 months and injectable fillers usually last anywhere between 6 months and 2 years, depending on the type of filler used. If you’d like to target wrinkles on the upper third of your face, Botox is a good choice. Dermal fillers can be used to reduce the appearance of lines on the lower two thirds of your face. They are often used to treat the deep creases that run from your nose to your mouth.

To learn more about taking care of your skin and getting rid of your wrinkles, schedule an appointment with Dr. Rosenthal.