What Causes Wrinkles

There's an old saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." If you're worried about the wrinkles and fine lines that come along with aging, the best thing to do is educate yourself. Learn what causes wrinkles and you can work to prevent them. It's a lot easier to prevent the signs of aging than to try to get rid of them once they are here.

Factors That Can Lead To The Formation of Wrinkles

Some of the biggest contributors to wrinkles in the skin are sunlight, cigarette smoke, and air pollution. These elements cause degeneration in the skin's collagen supply. This results in lessened skin elasticity and the individual begins to show signs of age. While you might not be able to control air pollution to a degree, you can control the amount of sunlight you allow your skin to be exposed to. Always wear sunscreen to protect your skin. Tanning is also harmful to your skin.

Studies show that people with jobs or hobbies (such as farming, sailing, or golfing) that keep them exposed to sunlight for extended periods of time tend to have more wrinkles. If you are a smoker or live with one, it's going to age you and result in damaged skin.

The Aging Process

Naturally, one of the main causes of wrinkles is aging. As a woman reaches menopause her estrogen production decreases. These hormone changes cause the skin's elasticity to decline. As we get older the outer layer of skin (epidermis), gets thinner. This results in sagging of the skin. The skin also becomes drier as we age. Dry skin contributes to wrinkles. While you can't stop yourself from getting older, you can use certain anti-aging creams to help increase your skin's elasticity.

Any time you use your facial muscles, such as for smiling, frowning, squinting, or laughing, folds and lines begin to form. This is an unavoidable fact, because after all it would be pointless to live a life with no emotion just to stave off wrinkles! However, you can use certain products that will help the lines to be less deep.

How Can We Stop and Prevent These Wrinkles From Forming?

In addition to using anti-wrinkle creams that will have ingredients to help with these problems, there are also other natural remedies as well. Some foods that are high in antioxidants are carrots, beets, tomatoes, and red peppers. Salmon and almonds are rich in Omega-3. This will keep your skin lubricated. Kale is a great food for keeping your skin full of oxygen.

While many of the factors listed above are beyond our control, keeping your skin free of smoke or ultraviolet rays will do a lot for keeping you looking younger. Keep your skin moisturized and maintain a healthy diet to keep your complexion clear. Being healthy and using adequate skincare products will go a long way towards keeping those wrinkles at bay.