Wrinkles facts

• Skin ages all over the body but much more so where there has been sun exposure. Changes brought on by sun damage (photoaging) include "dryness" (really roughness), sagginess, skin growths like keratoses ("liver spots"), and wrinkles.
• Wrinkles in turn can be divided into two categories: fine surface lines and deep furrows. Wrinkle treatments are in general much more effective for fine lines. Deeper creases may require more aggressive techniques, such as plastic surgery.
• Factors that promote wrinkling include smoking, skin type (people with light-colored skin and blue eyes are more susceptible to sun damage), heredity (some families wrinkle more), hairstyle (depending on how much skin is covered by hair and protected from the sun), dress (again, by determining which skin is exposed), and occupational and recreational sun exposure over the course of many years.
• Treatments available for wrinkles include medical treatments (such as vitamin A acid, alpha hydroxy acids, antioxidants, and moisturizer) and more invasive procedures (such as glycolic acids peels, deep peels, dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, surgical procedures, and Botox).

Introduction to wrinkles

Although wrinkles can signify wisdom, or at least some level of maturity, there is no question that newly born infants also have wrinkles. The real concern that most of us have is that certain types of wrinkling is associated with aging. Aging in our current "pop" culture is not viewed positively. Generally, the treatment of normal skin aging that does not result in a functional abnormality is termed "cosmetic." And most cosmetic procedures are not covered by health insurance.

Many products and procedures promise to reduce wrinkles. Some do little or nothing (like the products that claim they reduce "the appearance of fine lines," which means that they don't reduce the lines themselves). Others can achieve a fair amount of success.

Skin ages all over the body but much more so where there has been sun exposure. Changes brought on by sun damage (photoaging) include "dryness" (really roughness), sagginess, skin growths like keratoses, lentigos ("liver spots"), and wrinkles.

Most wrinkles associated with aging appear on the parts of the body where sun exposure is greatest. These especially include the hairless scalp, face, neck, the backs of the hands, and the tops of the forearms. Wrinkles come in two categories: fine surface lines and deep furrows. Some deep furrows are anatomical in nature and have little to do with aging. Generally, it is only the aging wrinkles that really bother people. There are two basic approaches to the amelioration of these signs of aging: prevention and removal. Topical wrinkle treatments are, in general, much more effective for fine lines. Deeper creases may require more invasive techniques, such injection of fillers or plastic surgery. There is a special form of wrinkling called "cellulite" that produces a "cottage cheese-like" appearance to the skin. This is most commonly noted in the hips and buttocks of women and is due to fat deposition in certain anatomical areas in the dermis.

What factors promote wrinkles?

Factors that promote wrinkling include the following:

• Smoking
• Degree of skin pigmentation (more is better)
• Sun exposure
• Hair (some styles provide cover and protection against sun damage)
• Dress (hats, long sleeves, etc.) can provide sun protection.
• Occupational and recreational sun exposure (farming, sailing, golfing, using tanning booths)
• Heredity (some families wrinkle more)
• Amount of subcutaneous fat on a person's body (people with more subcutaneous fat have fewer wrinkles)

Some of these factors are beyond our control. The main preventive measures we can take are to minimize sun exposure and not smoke. These measures can, at best, delay wrinkles.

SPF numbers on sunscreen labels refer to protection against UVB radiation (shortwave ultraviolet light, the "sunburn rays"). More and more sunscreens offer protection against UVA radiation (longer-wave ultraviolet light) as well. UVA rays are the ones you get in tanning salons; they may not cause immediate sunburn but do produce sun damage and increase skin cancer risk over time. (Sorry, but there is no such thing as a "safe tan.") Sunscreens that block UVA indicate this on the label and include such ingredients as Parsol 1789. The FDA approved Mexoryl, another UVA-blocking ingredient, which has been available in Europe for some time. For more, please read the Sunburn and Sun Sensitizing Drugs and Sun Protection and Sunscreens articles.

What factors promote wrinkles?

Factors that promote wrinkling include the following:

• Smoking
• Degree of skin pigmentation (more is better)
• Sun exposure
• Hair (some styles provide cover and protection against sun damage)
• Dress (hats, long sleeves, etc.) can provide sun protection.
• Occupational and recreational sun exposure (farming, sailing, golfing, using tanning booths)
• Heredity (some families wrinkle more)
• Amount of subcutaneous fat on a person's body (people with more subcutaneous fat have fewer wrinkles)

Some of these factors are beyond our control. The main preventive measures we can take are to minimize sun exposure and not smoke. These measures can, at best, delay wrinkles.

SPF numbers on sunscreen labels refer to protection against UVB radiation (shortwave ultraviolet light, the "sunburn rays"). More and more sunscreens offer protection against UVA radiation (longer-wave ultraviolet light) as well. UVA rays are the ones you get in tanning salons; they may not cause immediate sunburn but do produce sun damage and increase skin cancer risk over time. (Sorry, but there is no such thing as a "safe tan.") Sunscreens that block UVA indicate this on the label and include such ingredients as Parsol 1789. The FDA approved Mexoryl, another UVA-blocking ingredient, which has been available in Europe for some time. For more, please read the Sunburn and Sun Sensitizing Drugs and Sun Protection and Sunscreens articles.

Source: http://www.rxlist.com

• Smoking
• Degree of skin pigmentation (more is better)
• Sun exposure
• Hair (some styles provide cover and protection against sun damage)
• Dress (hats, long sleeves, etc.) can provide sun protection.
• Occupational and recreational sun exposure (farming, sailing, golfing, using tanning booths)
• Heredity (some families wrinkle more)
• Amount of subcutaneous fat on a person's body (people with more subcutaneous fat have fewer wrinkles)

Some of these factors are beyond our control. The main preventive measures we can take are to minimize sun exposure and not smoke. These measures can, at best, delay wrinkles.

SPF numbers on sunscreen labels refer to protection against UVB radiation (shortwave ultraviolet light, the "sunburn rays"). More and more sunscreens offer protection against UVA radiation (longer-wave ultraviolet light) as well. UVA rays are the ones you get in tanning salons; they may not cause immediate sunburn but do produce sun damage and increase skin cancer risk over time. (Sorry, but there is no such thing as a "safe tan.") Sunscreens that block UVA indicate this on the label and include such ingredients as Parsol 1789. The FDA approved Mexoryl, another UVA-blocking ingredient, which has been available in Europe for some time. For more, please read the Sunburn and Sun Sensitizing Drugs and Sun Protection and Sunscreens articles.

Source: http://www.rxlist.com