Wrinkles are an inevitable part of growing older, but there are ways you can combat them. From home remedies to laser and chemical peel treatments available at dermatology offices, there may be ways you can manage them.
Repeated facial expressions like squinting and frowning cause muscles to overwork, leading to grooves beneath the skin’s surface that eventually lead to wrinkles. Eating healthily and avoiding cigarettes, alcohol, and late night activities may help protect against wrinkles as well.
1. Moisturize
Moisturizers can make wrinkles less noticeable by temporarily plumping skin and softening fine lines and creases, temporarily filling out deep-set wrinkles, making fine lines appear shallower, as well as helping reduce dryness – one of the primary contributors to fine lines and wrinkles.
Moisturizing products include lotions, creams and gels containing oil- and water-soluble ingredients to hydrate and protect the outer layer of skin. These ingredients are known as emollients; examples include shea butter, cocoa butter, mineral oil, jojoba oil and paraffin wax as emollients; while humectants such as glycerin, lactic acid (AHAs), alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and urea may be included among these.
Dermatological creams work to rehydrate the skin, strengthen and repair its natural protective barrier made up of lipids (fats) and restore suppleness to restore skin suppleness; additionally they may reduce dermatitis or eczema development.
The most effective moisturizers for wrinkles contain anti-ageing ingredients such as retinol, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to increase collagen and elasticity while decreasing fine lines and wrinkles and increasing cell regeneration. While such anti-ageing treatments work best when taken prior to any early signs of fine lines and wrinkles emerging, they may still prove effective when combined with an excellent moisturizing product.
Wrinkles can result from many causes: natural aging, genetics, sun damage, lifestyle choices and environmental elements such as smoking or pollution. One way to help reduce wrinkles is wearing sunscreen daily when going outside and to avoid direct sunlight. Furthermore, exfoliation should become part of your weekly skincare routine in order to unclog pores and ensure creams penetrate to their targeted layers where they can do their magic.
2. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an anti-oxidant and works to neutralize free radicals – damaging molecules that contribute to premature aging by searching out electrons from other atoms to steal. Free radicals target our skin, leading to dryness and wrinkles. Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid) is an excellent anti-aging ingredient found in many topical creams or serums – keep an eye out for its presence when purchasing products for skin.
Vitamin C not only brightens and fades dark spots, it also protects skin from sun damage while stimulating collagen production – two highly recommended ingredients by dermatologists for reducing fine lines and wrinkles. When looking for the ideal formula of Vitamin C products to use regularly – look for one with stable L-ascorbic acid concentration (10-20%) with evidence-based research behind its use.
Vitamin C can be found in various food sources. Common examples are citrus fruits, tomatoes, peppers and broccoli. To maximize its benefits and gain maximum effectiveness from vitamin C supplementation daily you should consume at least 90 mg.
Vitamin C plays a vital role in creating soft, smooth skin. Not only can it fade dark spots and smooth fine lines, it can also prevent melasma. Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City previously told Allure it helps prevent skin cancer by slowing development of precancerous lesions caused by sun exposure – though results may take time depending on skin type and whether combined with other proven ingredients like retinoids for faster results.
3. Exfoliate
Exfoliation is the practice of physically sloughing away dead skin cells that accumulate and clog pores, smoothing skin, even tone and reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Exfoliating also allows makeup to glide more effortlessly across the face, as well as moisturizers to soak into skin more readily.
Young, healthy skin naturally sheds dead cells every 28 days; as we age, this process takes longer, leaving piles of dead cells on the surface which clog pores, dullness and breakouts to accumulate over time, as well as making skin flaky and uneven in texture.
When it comes to exfoliation, the best method is using either physical or chemical exfoliating products tailored specifically for your skin type. Physical exfoliants usually consist of scrubs or other physical abrasion devices while chemical ones like alpha-hydroxy or beta-hydroxy acids may provide even skin resurfacing treatments but be wary of overexfoliation which could damage it further and lead to reddening and scarring of your complexion.
Physical exfoliants utilize small granules or beads that exfoliate skin surface by physically scraping it away. It’s the most widely-used type of exfoliator, typically recommended two or three times weekly after cleansing for sensitive or dry skin; other skin types should use one or two times per week (see product instructions for use)
Chemical exfoliators are excellent ways to exfoliate any skin type. Containing ingredients like retinol, salicylic acid, glycolic acid and beta-hydroxy acids – they dissolve the lipids that hold dead skin cells together while lifting them from the surface.
4. Retinol
Retinol, an extremely potent Vitamin A ingredient, has long been recognized as one of the most clinically effective wrinkle-reduce skincare products on the market. Retinol reduces fine lines and wrinkles by inhibiting collagen and elastin breakdown while stimulating production; additionally it reverses signs of photoaging by decreasing hyperpigmentation, improving skin tone, and decreasing pore size.
Retinol may seem intimidating due to its potential side effects of peeling and flaking; however, when used correctly it can actually be extremely safe. Start off slowly and gradually increase the frequency over the course of weeks or months for best results and minimize irritation caused by higher concentrations of retinol.
Once your skin adjusts to using retinoids, they may temporarily cause it to be dry and flaky at first; if this concerns you, gentler formulations like retinaldehyde or retinyl propionate might be better suited to managing irritation more efficiently.
NazarianSkin makes an excellent retinol serum designed to meet the needs of beginners, while also featuring soothing peptides and Vitamin C to decrease risk of irritation. This product will smooth fine lines, improve skin tone and minimize sun damage; for those suffering with rosacea who have tried other products like tretinoin or Differin without success; just be sure to use them under moisturizer and avoid direct contact with your skin – they are proven topical products which reverse skin changes caused by both chronological aging as well as photoaging!
5. Sunscreen
Sunscreen products are widely known for protecting skin against harmful ultraviolet rays, but did you know they can also help reduce wrinkles in those already experiencing them? A 2013 Annals of Internal Medicine study concluded that daily sunscreen use can significantly slow aging processes such as wrinkles and spots by protecting against UV radiation damage in healthy middle-aged adults. Researchers divided 900 participants into groups and instructed one of them to use high-SPF broad spectrum sunscreen daily, reapplying as directed, and avoid overexposure (e.g. by wearing hats and covering up). After four years, those in this group showed less pronounced signs of aging like mottled pigmentation and visible wrinkles than other groups.
Implementing a daily sunscreen regime of 15 SPF or higher is the most effective way to combat fine lines and wrinkles, as it helps prevent their formation in the first place. In addition, moisturizer can help soften existing fine lines over time as well as add an extra plumping effect that could enhance results.
While there are numerous cosmetic creams that claim to fill or hide wrinkles, most only provide temporary results. Botulinum toxin injection has been scientifically proven to relax and reduce fine lines permanently – however for those preferring natural approaches a good sunscreen could be one of the best anti-ageing tools you invest in.
Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are popular choices when selecting sunscreens, providing UVA/UVB ray protection by acting like little mirrors that redirect harmful rays away from your skin – keeping collagen strong while keeping aging at bay. There are also anti-ageing products designed with marine/botanical ingredients, peptides or other powerful repair agents included to combat signs of ageing more effectively.
