Wrinkles are a natural part of aging. However, many people still try to prevent getting wrinkles by using treatments like topical creams, injections, and surgeries. But knowing the cause of wrinkles is key to more effective treatment and prevention.
WHAT ARE WRINKLES?
Wrinkles are creases and folds that form on your skin. They commonly appear on your face, but they can also form on other parts of your body.
The primary cause of wrinkles is your skin becoming thinner and losing elasticity when you’re growing older. It is a natural part of aging, but some habits and factors can cause you to have wrinkles earlier.
7 MOST COMMON CAUSES OF WRINKLES
There are several reasons for aging skin, but below are the 7 most common. Learn about them to find out how you can prevent premature aging that causes wrinkles.
AGING
All living beings age. It comes with several privileges. However, it is also the most common cause of wrinkles. Aging people start having wrinkles due to a drop in cellular activity. People in their mid to late 20s start losing collagen in the skin and lips. Cell turnover rate also slows down, along with the body’s capacity to repair damages.
As a result, the skin becomes thinner, saggy, dull, less luminous, drier, with fine lines, and less resilient. All of these can cause wrinkles. At what point your skin starts to show signs of aging depends on your genes. And while we can’t stop it, it’s possible to age gracefully. Having a balanced mindset towards aging, a healthy lifestyle, and a personalized skincare routine can help you age gracefully.
HORMONAL CHANGES
Another common but not widely known cause of wrinkles is hormonal changes. Fluctuations in hormonal levels during puberty, adolescence, pregnancy, and menopause can affect skin elasticity. Different kinds of hormones like estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, cortisol, and insulin all have an impact on our skin.
Cortisol, the stress hormone caused by irregular sleep or poor diet can increase cellular damage via free radical oxidative stress, speeding up skin aging. While hormonal changes usually happen as part of the natural process of aging, we can lessen their impact on our skin by living a healthy lifestyle. Eat a balanced diet, practice meditation, and use sunscreen to help control the effect of hormonal imbalances on your skin.
SUN DAMAGE
Unprotected sun exposure may well be the biggest cause of wrinkles. But thankfully, it’s also the easiest to prevent. The sun’s UV rays can damage our skin’s DNA. Skin cancer is the most adverse effect of harmful sun exposure.
Besides wrinkles, sun damage can also cause an increased risk of premature signs of aging, age spots, uneven skin tones, and loss of elasticity. Your best bet for preventing sun damage is by using sunscreen with SPF 15 and above. Other sun-protective measures include wearing a hat, scarf, and sunglasses.
MUSCLE USE
Your face has 42 individual muscles underneath its skin. With each thought that crosses your mind, there’s a corresponding response from your facial muscles, which causes your facial expressions. It also affects everything above your skin, including your skin.
Talking and showing facial expressions can also cause what are called dynamic wrinkles. It is quite impossible to prevent wrinkles caused by using your facial muscles. However, some treatments like Botox can help ease these dynamic wrinkles. You can also strengthen your skin and improve its elasticity by using a combination of medical-grade skincare product that suits your skin type and issues.
FREE RADICALS
Free radicals are triggered by sun damage, environmental pollution, and smoking. These unstable atoms can speed up the signs of aging and eventually cause wrinkles. Studies reveal that people who live in urban areas tend to get more free radicals than those in provinces.
It’s crucial to be aware of your environment if you want to protect your skin from free radicals. Always make sure to use sunscreen. Quit smoking and drinking alcohol, and avoid smoke and exhaust fumes to prevent wrinkles.
GRAVITY
Gravity pulls your body towards the center of the earth. The mechanical stress from the force contributes to the formation of wrinkles and folds. Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to easily prevent or avoid gravity. However, using the right skincare products can help maintain your skin’s elasticity, making it less prone to sagging and wrinkling caused by gravity.
SMOKING
Smoking can lead to the formation of free radicals that cause wrinkles. Not only that but inhaling secondhand smoke can also speed up signs of aging. Nicotine clogs your blood vessels and limits blood flow to your skin, preventing necessary oxidization. Besides its impact on your skin, smoking can also harm your dental health, lungs, and brain. Quitting smoking is a good choice for your overall health.
DRY SKIN
Many people believe that dry skin causes wrinkles, but it’s a common misconception. Despite how wrinkly dry skin looks compared to well-hydrated skin, dry skin does not cause wrinkles.
However, having dry skin can still harm your skin barrier, so using moisturizers is still advised to help relieve dry skin and restore its youthful glow. Using moisturizers can also prevent premature skin aging that causes wrinkles.
HOW TO STOP OR PREVENT WRINKLES
There’s no way to the appearance of wrinkles. But, you can keep your skin and overall health in their best condition, and prevent premature wrinkling with certain lifestyle changes and products.
Eat a well-balanced diet: A healthy diet is most crucial for glowing skin. Keeping yourself hydrated every day can also prevent the early onset of wrinkles.
Use sunscreen every day: Wearing sunscreen daily can protect your skin against the sun’s harmful rays that can cause premature signs of aging.
Commit to a skincare routine: Use the right products for your skin type to help balance and restore your skin’s natural glow, and make it look younger than your actual age.
Quit smoking: Smoking can do a lot of damage to your overall health. If you’re worried about getting wrinkles early, quit smoking. It may be challenging, but your body, including your appearance, will reap the benefits.
Age with grace: When it comes to wrinkles, mental health is equally important as physical health. You have to accept the fact that aging is unavoidable, and it’s a natural part of life. When the wrinkles come, wear them with pride. They’re a natural part of your life story, so you shouldn’t be ashamed of them.
THE BEST PRODUCTS AGAINST WRINKLES
Keeping your skin healthy doesn’t only benefit your appearance. It also does good to your body and soul. That’s why it’s crucial to find the right products for your skin type.
If you’re looking to build a skincare routine to prevent the early onset of wrinkles, check out this skincare guide from Sea Active Skincare. Our products are seaweed-based and are formulated for people with sensitive skin. Your skin is a reflection of what is happening inside your body, so make the necessary adjustments to your skincare routine using our organic products. Visit our website today to shop our products.