It's "cheating"...but...it works!

Wrinkles

We've all heard the clichés: 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...