Skin wrinkles: overview, causes, prevention and treatment

All of us will get skin wrinkles as we age, but everyone doesn’t get them at an equal speed, and some people have a young looking skin even at old age. This fact suggests that skin or face wrinkles are  problems that can be solved…


What are Skin wrinkles?

Skin wrinkles are grooves in the skin, which can be on the surface of the skin or can be quite deep. Also the skin around these grooves looks thin, creased, and saggy  that is especially noticeable on the face, neck, and hands.

Why skin wrinkles happen?

You must be aware of the fact that there are two vital proteins in our body skin called Collagen and Elastin. These are responsible for keeping our skin firm, supple, pliant and elastic. These are the ones who fight wrinkles and give our skin a young look.

As we age, the production of these two proteins in our body begins to slow down, So the skin gradually gets less elastic, thinner and loses the fat right underneath the skin of the face and some other places in our bodies.

Therefore, the skin becomes easily folded or stretched out of shape with the daily mechanical impacts and activities.

Related: Here’s why collagen supplements aren’t worth your money

What are the causes of skin wrinkles?

As I already mentioned that skin wrinkles happens naturally with the aging process but there are other factors that speed up the show up of wrinkled skin, including:

  1. Genetic influences, also play an important role in the speed of this process.
    2. Excess smoking.
    3. Prolonged sun-exposure.
    4. Dry skin.
    5. Excess stress level.
    6. Pollution.
    7. Drug abuse, regular use of certain drugs can harm your skin and causes this condition.
    8. Rapid weight loss.
    9. Vitamin E deficiency.

How to prevent or slow down the formation of skin wrinkles?

Wrinkles are a part of getting old. Everyone will get them eventually.. But there are healthy habits that  you can adjust to limit and slow down its formation:

1-Stop Your Smoking Habit

Cigarettes and tobacco contain nicotine, a chemical that does not only damage a person’s lung – it also decreases the amount of elastin and collagen in the skin, therefore making the smoker prone to developing more wrinkles and other skin blemishes.

So, for the smokers to get younger looking skin, they should bit by bit stop their smoking habit.

2-Drink less coffee

Another substance that can make your skin unhealthy, specifically dehydrate is caffeine. To get rid of wrinkles, reducing your coffee intake, or your consumption of beverages that have caffeine is a must to keep your skin wrinkle free.

3-Protect Your Skin From The Sun’s Rays

Overexposure to UV rays of the sun can cause skin damage that in some case develop into skin cancer. Therefore, you need to stay out of the sun as much as possible.

It is a good idea to use a reliable sunscreen whenever you have to go out and stay under the sun’s rays, but If you can avoid going out of the house during hot days so you will have younger looking skin.

4-Drink Plenty Of water Daily

As I said before, one of the causes of wrinkled skin is dry skin and dehydration. A Well hydrated skin will prevent the cells in the skin from shrinking; shrunk skin cells lead to wrinkles, which you’d surely like to avoid.

Therefore, you should drink at least 7 – 10 glasses of water on a daily basis as it keeps your skin hydrated.

5-Get enough sleep

I want you to try a little experiment on yourself,  try to sleep less than 7 hours straight for several days and then look at yourself in the mirror. What changes do you see?

Let me tell you, If you look closely at your face, you’ll notice that the lines and pores of your facial skin become more visible.

So, If you want younger looking skin, see to it that you get enough sleep between 7 to 9 hours on a daily basis.


How can I treat or reduce my skin wrinkles?

If you are someone who is already have a lot of wrinkles that really bothers you, try one or both of these two effective solutions for skin wrinkles:

Natural Remedies

1-Beaten egg white

Coat wrinkled skin with beaten egg white. Wash after it dries up. This reduces wrinkles.

2-Castor oil

A castor oil massage is a good wrinkle cure.

3-Lemon juice

Application of lemon juice on wrinkles several times daily also cures the problem.

4-Yoghurt and honey mask

Squeeze out the contents of 3 Vitamin E capsules, to it add 2 teaspoon yoghurt, half teaspoon honey and half teaspoon lemon juice. Mix well and apply on wrinkled skin. Keep for 10 minutes and then rinse off.

5-Vodka and fennel seeds mask

In a tumbler mix 2 tablespoon vodka, 1 tablespoon fennel seeds and 2 teaspoon honey. Keep the mixture idle for 3 days. Later use it on sagged skin as a toner.

6-Shredded ginger with honey

Take a tablespoon shredded ginger with honey. This tightens skin and imparts a natural glow to it.

7-Cold spoon

Keep a metallic spoon in the freezer overnight. In the morning, place the back of spoon on the eyes. This will help to remove the wrinkles around your eyes.

8-Coconut oil

Apply coconut oil on wrinkled skin before going to bed at night. This is a useful wrinkle remedy.

9-Grapes

Cut a seedless grape into two halves. Rub one half on wrinkled skins; keep for 20 minutes and then rinse off with warm water. This yields good results in case of wrinkles.

10-Turmeric powder and sugarcane juice

Make a paste out of turmeric powder and sugarcane juice. Apply on wrinkles. Rinse when it dries up. This treat wrinkles effectively.

11-Pineapple

Rub the core of pineapple on wrinkles. Keep for 10-15 minutes before washing off.

12-Rosemary leaves

Add half cup rosemary leaves into 2 cups of water and simmer for half an hour. Add half cup brandy to the solution and keep in low flame in 10-15 minutes. Let it cool , strain and store the mixture. Wipe your face with the mixture twice daily.

You don’t have to worry about side effects of the methods mentioned above as they all natural solutions to treat skin wrinkles. What are you waiting for?.. Try them now and you will eventually notice amazing results.

Chemicals and surgeries

There are several pharmacological drugs or surgical therapies that are effective against wrinkles when these are not too deep. However, these treatment modalities can give dangerous side effects and also destroy the skin if they are not exerted skillfully and with extreme caution.

Some example of these treatment modalities:

1-Tretionin (Retin-A)

It’s a chemical derivatives from vitamin A. It can stimulate the skin to repair itself from wrinkles, but these can also irritate the skin. So, ask your doctor how and when to use them.

2-Epidermal growth factor (EGF)

It is a protein-like natural hormone that stimulates skin cells to proliferate, stimulate production of the structure protein collagen and stimulate over-all skin healing.

It is used in topical products for treatment of wrinkles and to help the skin heal from destruction caused by various factors, for example burns.

3-Botox or botulinum toxin

This is a nerve laming substance produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is used as a means against wrinkles in certain parts of the face. It makes the muscles just under the skin to relax. therefore, the above that muscle skin will appear less wrinkled.

4-Radical etching

A simple chemical procedure in which the outer skin layer (epidermis) and some of the underlying connective tissue layer (dermis) are taken away with an etching chemical solution.

The skin then regrows from beneath without much of the wrinkles and other irregularities. However, the skin will lose more or less of its color by this therapy and if not done extremely skillfully , bad scarring can be the result.

5-Laser and light treatments

There are two kinds of such treatments;

One type uses fairly weak laser rays or light sources of specific wavelengths that penetrate deep into the skin. The rays stimulate the repair processes in the skin. Devices for home treatment of such light can be found on the market.

The other treatment strong laser rays that do not penetrate so deeply are used to burn away the outer layers of the skin. New fresh outer skin layers, then grow back from beneath. If not controlled extremely well also this kind of radical treatment can destroy the skin.


Quick tips to take it home with you:

  • Apply moisturizer regularly.
  • Do not stretch or pull the delicate skin under eye or facial skin.
  • Do not go out in the hot sun. Carry an umbrella, wear sunglasses and apply sun screen lotions before stepping out.
  • Avoid smoking.
  • Consume chick peas and soya beans regularly.
  • Drink plenty of milk.
  • Practice YOGA and MEDITATION regularly.
  • Eat more fruits, most especially berries, as they are antioxidants that make the skin healthier.