How To Reduce Wrinkles On The Face?

Have you started noticing sudden changes on your face since the time you hit 40? Even if you are younger, do you want to prevent premature skin aging? Well, wrinkles are the first and most visible signs of aging. When the skin gets dry, it can lead to the appearance of fine lines as you age, especially around the eyes, mouth and between the eyebrows.

But fret not! While it’s very natural for your skin to develop wrinkles as you age, you can delay their appearance and also diminish the existing ones with the right care. Let’s find out how.

Highlights:

• What Causes Face Wrinkles?
• How To Remove Wrinkles From The Face?
• Can Wrinkles Be Prevented?
• Where Do Wrinkles Appear?
• When To See A Doctor?

What Causes Face Wrinkles?

As part of the aging process, wrinkles are formed where muscle movement is frequent. They are also the result of the gradual decrease in fibres that provide the supple and tight texture to the skin. Here are some of major causes of facial wrinkles:

1. Aging Skin

When we age, the skin cells slow down and the top and middle layers of the skin begin to start thinning. The dermis [1] or the middle layer has a lot of elastin and collagen fibres which give the skin its firmness. With age, this network of fibres becomes loose and causes wrinkles.

The skin’s ability to retain moisture, heal from wounds or sunburn and secrete oil also reduces. This adds to the appearance of wrinkles on the face as well.

2. Smoking

Our skin, being the largest organ in the body regenerates itself all the time. The old collagen breaks down and new collagen takes its place. One of the side effects of smoking, according to researchers, is the reduced production of new collagen. The lack of new collagen also causes wrinkles.

3. Facial Muscles

When we laugh or frown, or even squint, lines are formed due to the contractions of the muscles below. These frequent facial expressions cause these lines to become more visible as we age.

4. Sun Damage

One of the main causes of wrinkles is exposure to the sun’s UV rays, which can even lead to premature aging. The UV rays break down the collagen fibres and lead to the production of an enzyme called metalloproteinase [2], which remakes the collagen.

During the process, however, some healthy collagen fibre gets damaged, resulting in the disorganized formation of fibres. So when this disorganized rebuilding process occurs repeatedly due to exposure to the sun, wrinkles are formed.

How To Remove Wrinkles From The Face?

1. Surgical and Non-Surgical Options

There are several surgical and non-surgical options available in the market today for those who want to minimize the appearance of the wrinkles on their face. We list out some of the most popular ones:

A. Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion [3], is also known as surgical skin planing. It is a procedure performed usually by a plastic or dermatologic surgeon. Here, a specialized instrument is used to ‘sand’ the skin – an action that removes the top layer of the skin, which gives the face a smoother appearance with fewer visible wrinkles.

B. Laser Therapy

A laser facial treatment to erase minor blemishes like sun spots, reduce the appearance of open pores and remove epidermal dullness is quite popular. The procedure involves the movement of a laser wand all over your face to brighten your skin for a younger appearance.

C. Botox

The injection of Botulinum Toxin (botox) is still the most popular among non-surgical treatments. Botox is injected into the skin, which relaxes the facial muscles and reduces the wrinkles and lines, making you look younger.

D. Chemical Peels

This procedure involves the removal of old skin with the help of a chemical peel. New skin layers grow in the place of the old skin giving you younger-looking skin. These are effective to reduce deep lines and wrinkles, acne scars and extensive sun damage.

E. Facelift

This is a surgical procedure where the cosmetic surgeon lifts and pulls back facial skin to make it tighter and to eliminate sagging.

F. Fillers

Injectable fillers to give you tighter and younger looking skin are a good option for those who do not want to have plastic surgery.

G. Liquid Face Lift

This is a non-surgical procedure where injectable gels are used as fillers to reduce wrinkles and give a subtle face lift, thus giving you a smoother and younger look. Its effects can last for up to two years.

2. Over-The-Counter (OTC) Anti-Wrinkle Creams

There are several anti-wrinkle creams available in the market. Most good ones will include ingredients like CoQ10, peptides, green tea extracts, vitamins A and C, and alpha hydroxy acids. Some even use essential oils and SPF.

3. Topical Vitamin C And Vitamin A Retinoids

Vitamin C [4], with its high content of antioxidants, and retinoids [5], which are derivatives of Vitamin A, are usually found in most anti-aging creams.

It has been proven that regular application of a cream containing retinol and vitamin C does reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as retinoids increase the production of collagen. Retinoids reduce fine lines and wrinkles by increasing the production of collagen.

4. Home Remedies

Prevention is the best way to keep wrinkles at bay. If you start a skincare regimen when you are in your 20s, you can see the results even three decades later. Natural ingredients and some essential oils are the best way to look young:

A. Massage

At home, you can massage your face with a moisturizer or an essential oil to stimulate the blood flow to the face. Always massage in an upward direction, especially for the neck and the area above the jawline. Massage the cheeks and forehead in gentle, circular motions.

B. Essential Oils

Essential oils that are known to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles with regular use include pomegranate, lemon, ylang-ylang, rosemary, sandalwood and lavender oils. Extra virgin coconut oil is also a very good option to reduce wrinkles.

C. Egg Whites

Egg whites contain proteins that can help tighten the skin and have moisturizing properties that can prevent fine lines on dry skin. It also helps to close open pores and reduce the size of the large ones. You can apply it directly on the face or make a mask with other ingredients.

D. Aloe Vera

Known for its benefits since time immemorial, aloe vera extract aids in the increased production of collagen in the skin. This in turn helps to reduce the visible signs of aging as it improves the skin’s elasticity. Aloe vera also contains essential amino acids and vitamins B and C, which can help to fight free radicals that hasten the aging process.

E. Banana Mask

Bananas are a known source of vitamins A, B and E as well as potassium. The antioxidants present in bananas can delay the signs of aging. Mash a banana and mix with a spoon of honey which is a natural moisturizer. Apply all over the face and neck and leave on for 20 minutes.

F. Healthy Foods

If you eat foods that are known to delay aging, the effects will show on your skin. Fruits like papaya, blueberries, and pomegranates; vegetables like spinach, red bell pepper, broccoli and avocado also prevent the appearance of wrinkles. Dry fruits, especially almonds have vitamin E that delay aging.

G. Facial Exercises

There are several facial exercises you can do to address the wrinkles in specific areas of the face. From exercises to reducing crow’s feet and frown lines to smoothening the brow and lifting the neck, you can do these exercises yourself to reduce wrinkles and fine lines.

Can Wrinkles Be Prevented?

To prevent the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, you must avoid smoking, alcohol, late nights and staying out in the sun without adequate protection. Eating the right food and avoiding fatty and fried food also helps in keeping the skin blemish free.

Where Do Wrinkles Appear?

Wrinkles can appear all over the face, though they are most visible when they appear around the eyes, neck, cheeks and forehead. They usually appear where the movement of the facial muscles is most frequent. This is how they appear:

1. Wrinkles On Forehead

These usually appear as horizontal lines across the forehead or as vertical frown lines between the eyebrows. The horizontal lines are a result of frequently lifting your eyebrows. When you frown, the eyebrows bunch together and the lines formed while doing so become wrinkles as you age.

2. Wrinkles On Neck

The neck is a delicate area and with age, the skin starts to dry and wrinkles are formed. These are usually horizontal. They become more prominent as we age, because the skin of the neck starts to sag, making the lines look like grooves.

3. Wrinkles On Eyes

These tend to appear first. Whether you squint your eyes in the sun, or while you smoke, lines known as crow’s feet appear on the corners of the eyes. The area below the eyes is also prone to wrinkling as the skin there is very thin and delicate. One way to prevent them is to avoid rubbing the eyes frequently; and using an under-eye cream.

4. Wrinkles On Lips

Lines around the lips are usually the last to appear. However, if you smoke, the puckering motion while sucking on the cigarette can cause fine vertical lines along the upper lip.

When To See A Doctor?

You can consult a dermatologist if you wish to opt for surgical or non-surgical treatment to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Alternatively, if you have itchy or dry skin, and you need medicated topical creams that can help reduce wrinkles, see a doctor.

While wrinkles on the face and neck are an inevitable part of aging, with the right kind of topical creams, the use of natural ingredients and if needed, the use of surgical and non-surgical procedures can keep them at bay. Let us know what helped in your anti-aging journey.

Begin By Knowing Your Skin