The Real Deal on Wrinkles

Wrinkles are a fact of life, a sign of maturity (for most of us) and add beautiful character to your face.  Getting them too early or getting too many, however, is something many of us try to avoid.  In order to reduce and reverse the effects of aging, you first need to understand why you get wrinkles and fine lines in the first place. 

Aging and Wrinkles
Although genetics plays a major part in how your face ages and when, environmental factor such as sun exposure, pollution and smoking are major contributors to wrinkles.  The outer layer of your skin, called the epidermis, is the “protector” of the inner layers of your skin.  However some environmental elements, like sun exposure, reach through the epidermis to the inner layers of your skin. The Dermis, the second layer of your skin, is the foundation for your face.  It plays an important role in connectivity, firmness, and elasticity. Over time this layer thins, produces less collagen, and loses its ability to “spring back”, causing the face to wrinkle and sag. As your skin ages, it doesn’t do as good a job at retaining moisture which gives it a double whammy to the wrinkle process. 

Other Factors that Cause Wrinkles
If you're starting to notice more fine line and wrinkles making an appearance on your face, you are not alone.  While plain old genetics and the facts of life (we all must age) have a lot to do with it, other factors can cause you to produce less collagen and lose the firmness and elasticity in your skin.  We have all heard of laugh lines, and it is true that facial muscle contractions create wrinkles. Smiling, frowning, squinting and other habitual facial expressions will make wrinkles more prominent.  But don’t go running for the “Freeze your Face” Botox yet, there are other options and you probably haven’t lived unless you have a few lines to show for it. 

When it comes to wrinkles, believe it or not, sun damage is the big culprit. According to WebMD and Rodan+Fields Dermatologists, up to 90% of wrinkles can be caused by sun exposure.  And while baking at the beach can do a doozy on your skin, most sun damage comes from the everyday exposure we get when doing things like shopping, driving, and yard work.  This is, of course good news in a way.  This is because you can reduce or eliminate future sun damage and you can reverse the damage that has already occurred.   To help prevent wrinkles, stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and make it a habit to wear sunscreen every day, even in the winter and when it's cloudy.  And remember to supplement your morning sunscreen with a powder based sunscreen that you can reapply over makeup throughout the day.  Your morning sunscreen will typically only provide you with protection for 3-4 hours. 

If you are a smoker, you need to quit for many, many reasons. But, if we are just talking about your skin and wrinkles, smoking does some measureable damage because it curbs your skin's production of collagen. The reduction in collagen paves the way for wrinkles. That's one more reason to quit smoking, or never to start.

Check back for our next post on skincare solutions for reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  Order the Redefine regimen today and take control of your skin’s health and don’t forget to register to win your own MACRO Exfoliator from Rodan+Fields.