Wrinkles
We've all heard
the cliches: Wrinkles are a roadmap of your life. But many of us would
rather not be reminded of the distance we've traveled. What can you do?
First, understand what causes wrinkles. Then, if you still want to
reduce wrinkles, explore your treatment options.
What Causes Wrinkles?
The following factors are the most significant:
Aging
Wrinkles
are a by-product of the aging process. With age, skin cells
divide more slowly, and the inner layer, called the dermis, begins to
thin. The network of elastin (the protein which causes skin to stretch)
and collagen fibers (the major structural proteins in the skin), which
support the outer layer, loosen and unravel, causing depressions on the
surface. With aging, skin also loses its elasticity, is less able to
retain moisture, oil-secreting glands are less efficient and the skin is
slower to heal. All of these contribute to the development of wrinkles.
Facial Muscle Contractions
Lines between the eyebrows (frown lines) and lines jutting from the
corner of the eyes (crows feet) are believed to develop because of small
muscle contractions. Smiling, frowning, squinting and other habitual
facial expressions cause these wrinkles to become more prominent. Over
time, the expressions coupled with gravity contribute to the formation
of jowls and drooping eyelids.
Sun Damage
Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (too much sun) can result in premature
aging of skin. Premature aging of the skin is called photoaging. The
ultraviolet sunrays that cause photoaging damage collagen fibers and
cause the excessive production of abnormal elastin. When ultraviolet
light damages skin tissue, an enzyme called metalloproteinase is
produced. This enzyme creates and reforms collagen. During the process,
however, some healthy collagen fibers are damaged, resulting in a
disorganized formation of fibers called solar scars. Wrinkles develop
when the rebuilding process occurs over and over.
Smoking
Healthy skin perpetually regenerates. While old collagen is broken down
and removed new collagen is produced. Researchers have found that smoke
causes a marked reduction in the production of new collagen. A lack of
new collagen results in the development of wrinkles.
What Are the Treatment Options for Wrinkles?
There are numerous over-the-counter treatment options for wrinkles.
Removing skin layers to reduce wrinkles or irregular depressions is an
effective way to regain smoother, more youthful looking skin.
Dermabrasion (scraping layers away) and chemical peels (dissolving skin
away) are two of the traditional methods used in skin resurfacing. Aside
from these procedures, two newer techniques: laser skin resurfacing with
an erbium or carbon dioxide laser and Botox injections are the latest
techniques developed to repair prematurely aging skin and wrinkles.
If you are considering treatment for your wrinkles, ask your doctor
which procedure is right for you. There is no replacement for your
doctor's professional advice. Each person has his or her own individual
needs; similarly, each procedure fulfills its own specific need.
Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic,
Department of Dermatology.
Edited by Michael W. Smith, MD, April 2003, WebMD.
Portions of this page ©The Cleveland Clinic 2000-2003.
Last Editorial Review: 1/31/2005 6:16:29 AM
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