Why do we get wrinkles?
People spend billions of pounds every year trying to get rid of lines and wrinkles because they are one of the things we most associate with getting older. As our faces age we age we lose collagen and elastin in our skin and this, combined with the effects of time and gravity, as well as lifestyle factors, causes our skin to wrinkle. Some wrinkles appear as small, fine lines while others create deeper ridges or folds, also known as “furrows”. Wrinkles can either be “dynamic” in that they are caused by facial movement and may only be visible when moving the face, or “static” where they are caused by loss of elasticity in the skin as well as outside factors such as the sun or smoking and are visible even when you are not moving your face. Some dynamic lines may eventually become static, in that they are visible even when you are not moving your face. This is particularly true of crow’s feet, also known as laughter lines, and smoker’s lines.
What causes wrinkles under the eyes?
Wrinkles form as we age and as our skin loses its elasticity and plumpness. One of the reasons the skin around the eyes ages first is because it is very thin. Wrinkles come in two main categories – static and dynamic. Around the eyes we are more prone to dynamic wrinkles – such as crow’s feet or laughter lines – where creases form due to repeatedly making an expression. One of the biggest causes of premature skin ageing, and therefore wrinkling, is also sun damage and the delicate eye area can often be more exposed. We don’t tend to put sun screen around our eyes or when we do we easily and quickly wipe it off by rubbing our eyes. Squinting a lot can also be a contributing factor, so kill two birds with one stone and wear sun glasses to protect your eyes if its bright out.
When does skin start to wrinkle?
Our skin starts to age from about 25 onwards. External factors will impact how severely and quickly it wrinkles but it is something that happens to us all. The three main signs of ageing are loss of volume, loss of elasticity in the skin and the formation of lines and wrinkles.
What are the different types of wrinkles?
We get wrinkles and lines all over our face but particularly in certain areas. The most common types of wrinkles are:
- Marionette lines –The lines appear running from the mouth towards the chin.
- Nasolabial folds –The lines that run from the nose to the mouth and are also known as “smile lines”. They are known as “gravitational folds” in that they are caused by loss of volume in the cheeks.
- Glabella lines –The lines at the bridge of the nose and are also known as “frown lines”
- Forehead lines – The lines that appear on the forehead due to the contraction of the muscles when raising or lowering the eyebrows. Also known as “worry lines”
- Crow’s feet/laughter lines – Crow’s feet are the fine lines that appear around the eyes. Because the skin around our eyes creases when we smile or laugh, they are also known as “laughter lines”.
- Lip lines/smoker’s lines/lipstick lines – Lip lines are the fine vertical lines that appear above the top lip. They are also known as “lipstick lines”, as lipstick tends to bleed into them. As they are associated with pursing of the lips they are more prevalent in smokers and are often referred to as “smoker’s lines”.
Can I use ultrasound therapy for wrinkles?
Yes ultrasound is one of the technologies that can be used to treat wrinkles. It works by using ultrasound energy to stimulate the body to create new collagen, the natural protein that gives our skin its firmness and elasticity when we are young.
How do I get rid of deep wrinkles around my mouth?
Deep wrinkles around the mouth are known as either nasolabial folds (the lines that run from your nose to the upper corner of your mouth) or the aptly named marionette lines (which run from the corner of the mouth to the chin. Marionette lines are names after the marionette string puppets which have split jaws allowing their mouths to move. These lines can form into quite significant folds and can make people feel like they look sad or “down in the mouth”. There are many different treatments that can be used to minimize and address wrinkles. For deep wrinkles around the mouth dermal fillers are one of the most popular treatments as they can lift out the line, replacing lost volume and smoothing its appearance. Other treatments that stimulate repair in the skin such as micorneedling, ultrasound, laser resurfacing and peels are effective. Thread lifting can also be used to lift and provide lost structure where wrinkles are caused by gravity.
What is the best non-surgical wrinkle treatments for wrinkles on the face?
Wrinkles are one of the most common concerns people go to an aesthetic clinic with and, as such, there are many treatments designed to tackle them.
Injectables – Injectable treatments that can address lines and wrinkles include toxins and dermal fillers, PRP and collagen stimulators. toxins works by inhibiting the function of the muscles which cause dynamic wrinkles in areas such as the forehead and around the eyes, whereas fillers work to replace lost volume and structure at deeper levels of the skin. Some injectables, such as PRP and collagen stimulators, as well as products like Profhilo, work by stimulating the body’s own repair mechanisms and rejuvenate the skin from within.
Energy based devices – Wrinkles are also the main target of many energy-based devices such as HIFU/ultrasound, laser resurfacing, radiofrequecy. While all of these technologies work in different ways the principle is the same, using heat/energy to create a wound healing response in the skin which encourages the production of new collagen. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) can also be used to treat fine wrinkles.
Microneedling/collagen induction therapy – Microneedling involves the use of tiny needles to make minute holes in the skin. This is usually done using a pen or roller device. It is also known as “collagen induction therapy” (CIT) because it stimulates the production of collagen and elastin. It is minimally-invasive and can improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and scars.
Threads – Thread lifts can help add structure and support back to sagging skin by lifting it back to where it was before gravity took its toll providing a tightening effect. But threads also have another mechanism in addressing lines and wrinkles. The sutures themselves stimulate collagen production within the deeper layers of the skin where they are placed by initiating a wound healing response in the body. This means that those who undergo a thread lift may notice a continual and gradual improvement in the tone and texture of their skin over time as well as the lifting and tightening effects.
Peels – The skin is the canvas so even if we replace lost volume, if the skin texture itself is still crepey it can have fine lines and wrinkles. Peels work on a number of levels. Not only does a peel remove the outer dead layer of the skin, revealing a smoother and more youthful complexion underneath, but certain peels can also penetrate into the deeper levels to stimulate collagen production. There are many different types of peels and the deeper the peel the more dramatic the effect, but also the longer the downtime.
How can I make my skin look younger from home?
Looking after your skin starts at home. Wearing daily SPF is your best line of protection against premature ageing from sun damage. Drink plenty of water and keep hydrated as dehydration dramatically effects the appearance of your skin. Wash your face and remove makeup. Investing in a good skincare regime will also help you to look after your skin at home. There are such a wide variety of products out there and a skincare professional or cosmetic doctor/nurse/dermatologist can help you to find the most effective products for you, if you have the budget to invest. Protection is key so SPF and an antioxidant will help stave off sun damage as much as possible while hydrating serums are a great option for keeping your skin feed with moisture.
What is the best alternative to toxins?
Botulinum toxin is very unique in its mechanism of action and nothing else will do the same thing so beware of anything that claims to be “toxins in a bottle” as its unlikely to have the same results. toxins works byblocking the signal from the nerves to the muscles so that the injected muscle can no longer contract. There are some topical products that are very effective in rejuvenating the skin, in particular vitamin A/retionol. If you want to minimise fine lines and wrinkles without an injections but don’t mind needles then microneeding may be a good option for you. Chemical peels can also rejuvenate the skin and minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles without injections. Deeper and more pronounced wrinkles and folds are challenging to treat. Laser resurfacing can give powerful results in skin rejuvenation.