How to Avoid Wrinkles - Slowing the Aging Process

The body’s outer surface is protected from the harsh world with a stack of wonderfully arranged skin layers. The outer skin is made up of 3 layers namely the epidermis, the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. As the skin ages, the epidermis becomes thinner, which results in dryness. The ability to replace the epidermis with new cells decreases by 10% every decade a man or woman ages, naturally it takes more time for the skin to repair itself. This also explains why we need anti-aging wrinkle cream and moisturizer to retain the glow of our skin.

The dryness of the outer layer affects the dermis because less collagen is produced and the elastic fibers which provide the skin with elasticity wear out resulting in a skin that sags. Also we don’t sweat that much as before as there is a decrease in the number of sweat glands. Eye collagen is the worse affected part and therefore it is necessary to undergo treatment for preventing eye wrinkles.

Now that we know how does the skin age, we can describe what wrinkles are. A wrinkle is a fold, ridge or crease in the skin. For example if you soak the skin in water for a considerable long time the skin forms wrinkle temporarily as a result of prolonged immersion in water for more than a few minutes. Skin wrinkles typically appear as a result of aging processes such as glycation.

 Is aging the only cause of wrinkles? The obvious answer is no. For some people it becomes a serious enough issue to consider cosmetic procedures and botox treatments but for many of us a good anti aging wrinkle cream can do wonders to reduce the appearance of fine lines. A brief look at different factors will throw more light on what cause wrinkles to accelerate.

Examples of environmental factors include environmental pollution which expedites aging by producing oxygen free radicals. Free radicals are particles produced by the body’s chemical processes and when it is produced in excessive amounts, it can damage cell membranes causing not only wrinkle but other skin disorders as well. The ever miraculous and generous Mother Nature has also provided antioxidants to combat wrinkles, which are present in bounty in herbs and fruits.

Wrinkling in the skin is also caused by habitual facial expressions such as laughing, frowning and various other facial expressions. When we smile our eyes form wrinkle around the eyes and when we frown there are vertical lines noticeable between our eyebrows. These wrinkles are called dynamic wrinkles.

With prolonged water exposure, the outer layer of skin - epidermis starts to absorb water. The epidermis doesn't expand evenly, causing it to wrinkle. Depletion of water in the body, as occurs with dehydration, can also cause this puckering of the skin. Another factor that causes wrinkle is cortisol which causes degradation of skin collagen.

It is also important to know that not much can be done to prevent wrinkles and reverse the normal biological cycle as it is normal to age. But the key consideration is that we can slow the aging by staying indoors between 10 am to 4 pm when the sun is the hottest to protect the skin from the dangerous ultraviolet radiation.

The UV radiation is increased due to the depletion and holes in the ozone layer. If at all, you have to go out use a sun protection cream. Always wash the face with a mild non-soap cleanser. The skin should be patted dry and lubricated immediately after a wash with a water based moisturizer ideally with SPF 30 cream to prevent further dehydration and protection from sun.