PROVEN Team
PROVEN Team includes Stanford scientists and dermatologists who combine their expertise with cutting-edge technology to bring you the best for your skin.
Wrinkles: A Science Backed Approach
Signs of aging? Science may have a solution. Read on to learn all about wrinkles.
Resource by: PROVEN Team
Wrinkles and Aging Skin: A Comprehensive Guide
One of the natural results of aging is the eventual onset of wrinkles. While there are several things you can do in order to delay them, eventually, they will arrive. As we age, our skin loses its elasticity (think sagging) and ability to repair itself. When this is coupled with a constant use of facial muscles to fold skin into expressions, it will create visible lines on our face. Over time these lines will begin to deepen and eventually become wrinkles.
What Causes Wrinkles?
During the aging process, skin will naturally become thinner and drier. Genetics are largely in control of when these changes occur. This process is referred to medically as “intrinsic aging.” Another type of aging is known as “extrinsic aging”, which are the lifestyle choices and external environment that can cause skin to age prematurely.
There are lots of factors that contribute to the creation of wrinkles, and some of them can be controlled to a degree, such as wrinkles caused by failure to protect against sun damage.
Some research indicates that the compact dermis of African and Asian people is thicker, which is likely to protect their skin better against the formation of wrinkles.
Other common factors that will contribute to wrinkle formation include:
Wrinkles are a natural byproduct of the aging process. As people age, their skin cells divide more slowly, and the middle layer of the skin, known as the dermis, begins to thin. The dermis is composed of a network of collagen and elastin fibers, which will offer support and elasticity for the skin. As this network begins to loosen and unravel over time, depressions and creases will form on the surface of the skin, which eventually turn into wrinkles.
Aging skin will also lose its ability to retain moisture, become less efficient in secreting oil, and take longer to heal.
All of these factors can also contribute to the development of wrinkles in addition to these other naturally occurring skin changes:
- Skin will become dry and rougher
- Skin becomes more prone to developing lesions such as benign tumors
- The loss of elastin tissues will cause skin to become more slack and result in it hanging more loosely
- The thinning of the epidermis will result in skin becoming more transparent
- Due to the flattening of the area where the dermis and epidermis join together, skin will become more fragile and easier to damage
- The thinning of blood vessels will cause skin to become more easily bruised
In addition to these skin related changes, there can also be more evident changes to what happens underneath the skin as well. Some of these changes include:
- A loss of fat below the skin the cheeks, temples, chin, nose and eye area will result in the loosening of skin, sunken eyes, and a more “skeletal” appearance
- Bone loss, typically around the mouth and chin, will start to become prevalent after the age of 60 and result in the puckering of skin around the mouth
- Cartilage loss in the nose will cause drooping of the nasal tip and the accentuation of the bony structures in the nose.
Lines on the forehead, between the eyebrows (frown lines), and those jutting from the corner of the eyes (crow’s feet) are all believed to develop because of small muscle contractions. Facial expressions such as smiling, frowning, squirting, furrowing your brows, or other habitual movements can cause tiny lines to form into deep and prominent wrinkles.
As people age, their body produces less and less collagen, the building block for smooth and supple skin. Repeatedly making an expression will cause the collagen in your skin to break down in that particular area. Over time, the skin will lose its elasticity and begin to form fine lines and wrinkles.
Essentially, it works in the same way as folding a piece of paper, the more times that you fold it, the more prominent and deep the crease will become. These folds, coupled with the natural breakdown of skin over time and the effects of gravity, will have a major impact on the creation of wrinkles.
Skin is composed of three layers: the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutis, which are the outermost layer, middle layer, and bottom most layer respectively. The dermis, middle layer, contains the collagen, elastin and other fibers that are responsible for supporting the skin’s structure. It is these elements that give skin its smooth and youthful appearance, but are also the most damaged by the sun's ultraviolet radiation.
There are two types of ultraviolet radiation waves that will affect the skin, UVA and UVB:
- Ultraviolet A (UVA) has a longer wavelength and is most associated with the aging of skin
- Ultraviolet B (UVB) has a shorter wavelength and is most associated with the burning of skin
When ultraviolet rays hit the skin, they will damage its DNA, and cells in the dermis will be forced to scramble in order to produce melanin in the epidermis in order to prevent further damages. This is the process that will result in giving you a tan, which is actually just your skin attempting to block the sun’s radiation from penetrating your skin.
UVB rays are shorter than UVA rays, and they are the main culprit for sunburns. The UVA rays, which have the longer wavelength of the two, are responsible for most of the damage that we associate with photoaging. UVA rays will penetrate deeply into the dermis, where they will damage the collagen fibers. This damage will cause increased production of abnormal elastin. The unusual amounts of elastin will then result in the production of enzymes called metalloproteinases. These enzymes, which are responsible for rebuilding damaged collagen, will often malfunction and degrade the collagen instead, resulting in skin being incorrectly rebuilt.
When this process is repeated daily through UVA exposure, the incorrectly rebuilt skin will start to form wrinkles, and the depleted collagen will result in a leathery appearance.
Smoking will speed up the normal aging process of your skin, contributing to wrinkles along with other changes in the appearance of your face.
The most common changes include:
- Crow’s feet
- Pronounced lines between the eyebrows
- Uneven skin complexion
- A grayish tone on lighter skin
- Deep creases and puffiness below the eyes
- Wrinkles around the mouth, including upper lip wrinkles
- Thinner lips
The more cigarettes that you smoke and the longer that you smoke, the more likely that you will develop wrinkles and other age associated changes to your face. Smoking can contribute to wrinkles and premature aging for a number of reasons, and the wrinkles caused by this habit are even notoriously known as “smoker’s wrinkles.” The nicotine and other chemical in cigarettes, along with certain behaviors of smoking, will affect your body in the following ways:
- Nicotine will cause your blood vessels to narrow, which will reduce the flow of oxygen and nutrients to skin cells
- A number of chemicals found in cigarettes will trigger molecular events that remodel or damage structures necessary for skin elasticity and overall health
- Repetitive squinting and lip pursing will contribute to lines forming around the mouth and eyes
- The heat and un-inhaled smoke will dry and damage the surface of your skin
These same factors can also result in a decreased ability of the skin to repair wounds such as cuts or scrapes, which results in a higher risk of wound infection and scarring.
Much like the skin of an apple that has withered, when hydration levels are not adequately met, your skin will lose its brightness and vitality. Your skin contains molecules that have the natural ability to capture or settle superficially and deeply with the skin.
If your skin does not have a sufficient amount of these molecules, water will not be retained and will evaporate as a result. This will start to cause fine lines and mild wrinkles to appear around the eye area and then the face as a whole.
To avoid this, the skin will react by producing much more sebum resulting in more oily skin and creating blackheads, shine, and papules.
What Are Some Ways To Prevent Wrinkles?
Genetics will play a large role in how your skin ages over time. However, even if your family has skin that is prone to easily developing wrinkles, you will still have a lot of control over your own skin and whether it ages poorly or well.
These are some lifestyle changes that can help you to delay the onset of wrinkles for much longer:
Sun damage is probably the largest single contributor to premature aging and wrinkles, so protecting yourself from the sun is absolutely imperative if you are trying to avoid wrinkles.
These are some tips for how to effectively protect your skin from the damaging ultraviolet rays of the sun:
Use sunscreen every day, even if it’s cloudy or overcast, and even if you’re only going to be indoors!
Apply sunscreen at least 15 to 30 minutes before going outside. You should also use a lip balm or lipstick that contains sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
Choose a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB types of radiation. Make sure that the sunscreen is both water resistant and has an SPF of 30 or higher.
Reapply sunscreen every two hours regularly and every hour if you are swimming or sweating excessively.
Be wary of water and sand. They may reflect the damaging rays of the sun and increase your chances of a sunburn.
Try to limit the amount of time that you are in the sun between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM. This is when the sun’s rays are at their most intense.
When possible, wear long sleeved shirts and long pants. Dark clothing made of tightly woven fabric will block out more sun than white or loosely woven fabrics.
Accessorize with a hat large enough to shade your face, neck, and ears if possible. Sunglasses with lenses offering 99% to 100% UV absorption will provide optimal protection for your eyes and the skin surrounding them.
Be cautious when taking medications that can increase your sensitivity to the sun. These may include certain types of antibiotics, anti inflammatories, antifungals, blood pressure medications, and chemotherapies.
Retinoids are one of the most widely studied and researched anti-aging ingredients available. Due to their well documented effectiveness, it may come as no surprise to learn that this class of vitamin A derivatives is considered to be the gold standard for reducing fine lines, wrinkles, creases, large pores, and more.
The way that these creams or gels will work is by neutralizing free radicals, unstable atoms, in your skin that may be causing damage to your collagen. Collagen is crucial to keeping skin firm and healthy, and when you age your body produces less and less of it. So it’s important to protect however much your body currently has from all potential dangers, such as free radicals.
In addition to preserving your collagen stores, retinoids can also promote new collagen production and the creation of new blood vessels as well.
The five main types of retinoids that are used in the treatment of wrinkles include:
- Retinyl palmitate: The least potent over the counter retinoid.
- Retinaldehyde: This over the counter retinoid is stronger than retinyl palmitate.
- Tretinoin: This potent retinoid is available only via prescription.
- Tazarotene: The most powerful retinoid and is only available with a prescription.
- Adapalene: This retinoid is now available over the counter.
Moisturizers are a very good way to help nourish and hydrate your skin from the outside. Drinking a tall glass of cool water will help you to hydrate your body from the inside, moisturizers are basically drinks of water for your face and skin.
As you get older, your skin will naturally become more dry, which will make it prone to developing wrinkles. Moisturizers, particularly those containing hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, are especially effective at preventing wrinkles forming or getting any deeper.
Almost 60% of a human adult body is composed of water, and the skin is roughly 64% water. So it’s safe to say that the more water that you drink the healthier you and your skin will be. Water is responsible for several vital bodily functions such as flushing toxins from your body, helping with digestion, and regulating your body temperature. This is in addition to helping to keep your skin healthy and hydrated from the inside.
A 2015 study found that a higher water input can have an effect on the hydration of the skin along with positively affecting skin functions.
It’s important to maintain a healthy and well-balanced diet in order to help your skin to prevent wrinkles. Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables can be very beneficial to preventing damage that leads to premature skin aging.
Additionally, foods containing lots of sugar and refined carbohydrates can accelerator the aging process.
A Dutch study in 2019, with over 2,700 participants, found that the dietary habits of an individual are associated with their facial wrinkling. This was especially true in the women participants. According to this study, women who had diets involving high amounts of red meat and unhealthy snacks tended to have more facial wrinkles than the women that ate more fruit in their diet. Foods that are high in anti-inflammatory or antioxidant properties can help to improve the elasticity of the skin and protect it against skin damage and other premature aging issues.
Some of the best foods and drinks containing these qualities include:
- Green tea
- Olive oil
- Salmon
- Avocados
- Pomegranates
- Flax seeds
- Carrots
- Pumpkins
- Leafy greens
- Bell peppers
- Broccoli
This one may be a little bit harder to control than some of the others, but it’s worth attempting in order to reduce wrinkles, especially in the chest area.
According to a study in 2016, your sleeping position may have an effect on the formation of wrinkles. The study found that people who sleep on their side or their stomach will be prone to compression forces, which can distort facial skin and speed up the formation of wrinkles. When your face is pressed up against the pillow for hours on end, it will lead to the skin being folded and stressed, so the best way to prevent this is to sleep on your back. In addition, silk pillowcases will be more gentle on your skin than cotton, as they will create less friction and help to prevent the abrasion of skin.
Outside of sun damage, smoking is the most prominent extrinsic aging factor. Tobacco smoke will damage your collagen and elastin, the fibers most responsible for giving your skin its elasticity and strength. The nicotine in cigarettes, or other tobacco products, patches, or gum, will cause your blood vessels to constrict which reduces the blood flow to your skin. As a result, your skin will not get as much oxygen and important nutrients, such as vitamin A, will be reduced as well. The heat from smoking may also cause wrinkles and the repeated pursuing of the lips and furrowing of the brow can lead to premature wrinkling. In 2013 a study was performed on 79 pairs of identical twins. The research showed that the twin who smoked had significantly more wrinkles than the twin who did not smoke.
Repeating facial movements in order to create expressions such as squinting, frowning, smiling, scowling, or pursuing your lips can help to speed up the formation of wrinkles. While it may be impossible to eliminate making these expressions -- and let’s be honest, fairly impractical and plain bizarre -- just keep in mind the potential damage they may be causing.
If you find yourself squinting often, it could be a sign that you may need to get your eyes checked or that you may need a stronger prescription for your current glasses or contact lenses. Also, wearing sunglasses when you go on into the sun can help to reduce squinting as well as protect your eyes and the surrounding skin from UV rays.
What Are Treatments For Wrinkles?
In the event that you are already experiencing wrinkles, there is no need to worry! There are lots of available treatments that can help to reduce them even after they have formed.
The first step would be to undertake some of the lifestyle changes listed previously, as they can help to reduce wrinkles along with preventing them from getting worse.
For deeper creases, there are more hands-on ways you can get rid of wrinkles.
Topical retinoids are derived from vitamin A, which is very important to the growth of both skin and hair. It contributes to the production of sebum, which is the oil that helps to maintain levels of moisture in the skin and hair. Using a retinoid can be a very effective treatment for wrinkles, but there are other ingredients that will help as well. The active ingredients found in wrinkle creams will vary in type and concentration.
Also, it’s important to note that over the counter wrinkle creams will have significantly lower concentrations than prescription ones, which can influence their effectiveness. Some of the best ingredients to treat wrinkles include:
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Alpha hydroxy acids help by removing the top layers of dead skin cells along with increasing the thickness of deeper layers of skin, promoting firmness.
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Kinetin can be applied directly to the skin in order to reduce roughness, fine wrinkles, dilated blood vessels, and uneven pigmentation.
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Coenzyme Q10 is a powerful antioxidant that helps to defend skin from the free radicals brought on from sun exposure.
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Copper peptides promote the production of collagen and elastin in your skin.
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Antioxidants help to protect the skin’s surface from oxidative damage caused by free radicals related to environmental aggressors such as ultraviolet rays and pollution.
If prescription medication is not the route you want to take, you may see that a revolutionary product like PROVEN Skincare may be just what the doctor ordered.
Dermabrasion is a surgical procedure that will involve the controlled wearing away, or abrasion, of the uppermost layers of skin by using a rapidly rotating device. Dermabrasion can be used to remove wrinkles, moles, tattoos, acne scars, and other types of scars as well. This procedure may result in scabbing, swelling, and changes in skin coloration. These symptoms will typically fade after about two weeks, but some signs may last for several months. It’s possible not to achieve the desired results immediately and it may take several months before noticing any improvements.
Another similar procedure is known as microdermabrasion and is much less invasive. This process involves spraying microcrystals of aluminum oxide across the surface of the skin. Some practitioners will use a handheld device with fine diamond crystals along with a powerful vacuum in order to remove the particles as they brush it over the skin. However, these results will only be temporary and some people may require repeated treatments.
A chemical peel, also known as chemexfoliation or derma peeling, will involve applying a chemical solution to the desired areas of your skin, which will cause the dead skin to shed and eventually peel off. The youthful, regenerated skin typically tends to be smoother and with fewer wrinkles than the older skin. Chemical peels can reduce or improve fine lines along with wrinkles, acne, scars, uneven skin coloring, and other skin imperfections.
Laser skin resurfacing is a treatment that reduces facial wrinkles and irregularities that are caused by sun damage or acne. The laser technique will direct short, concentrated, and pulsating beams of light at skin irregularities such as wrinkles. Ablative laser skin resurfacing will remove skin very precisely, layer by layer, which will stimulate the growth of new collagen fibers. This mode of laser will result in fewer problems than with hypopigmentation, the lightening of the skin.
Non-ablative laser resurfacing will promote the development of new more healthy collagen, in addition to helping to restore the skin contour and appearance of the skin with minimal downtime.
Fractional laser technology is also available, in which the laser light will be delivered in a grid allowing normal, untreated skin to remain within the treated area, leading to quicker healing. This treatment specializes in helping to repair scars from acne, fine lines, and wrinkles, especially under and around the eyes, forehead, and mouth.
Botulinum toxin type A injection therapy, more commonly known as Botox, is a medicine that is derived from the botulinum toxin. It blocks the chemical signals that cause muscles to contract. Botox is injected into the muscles whose contractions are causing wrinkles, most commonly between the eyebrows (frown lines) and the lines that radiate from the corner of the eyes (crow’s feet).
However, the effects of Botox are only temporary and will wear off in about three to four months. When the Botox wears off, the muscles will again become active and the wrinkles will start to reform again. At this point the treatment would need to be repeated in order, but if you were to choose not to continue the injections then the wrinkles would not be any worse than they were before the first treatment.
There may be temporary redness, bruising, or stinging around the location of the Botox injections, and in severe cases there may be a slight lid droop for several days after the injection. All reported side effects have only been temporary in duration.
Soft tissue fillers include collagen, hyaluronic acid, or fat. A cosmetic professional will inject these fillers into deeper face wrinkles, which will plump and smooth them out in order to give the skin more volume. It’s possible to experience swelling and bruising in the affected areas for a short period after the procedure. As with Botox, these treatments are temporary, and will require regular injections.
A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a type of cosmetic surgery that aims to make people look younger. It usually involves removing some facial skin and fat, while sometimes tightening the underlying tissues. A facelift should last for about five and a half years or so, but it may lose some effect around the neck area. Healing time can be lengthy, and there will most likely be bruising and swelling for several weeks after the surgery.
The Takeaway
Wrinkles are the natural result of aging skin breaking down over time. While they are impossible to avoid forever, there are lots of healthy habits that can be beneficial in delaying their arrival. However, there are also quite a few unhealthy habits that could bring them on even earlier than expected as well.
Protecting yourself from the sun, not smoking, staying hydrated, and eating healthy are just a few of the best options for delaying the onset of wrinkles for as long as possible. It’s important to make these lifestyle changes, and some of the others listed above, as soon as possible.
There are treatments that can help, such as a custom skincare routine from PROVEN Skincare, but the most effective treatment of them all is prevention!
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