What causes wrinkles? In a word; aging; but there are other factors that can accelerate the wrinkling process.
*Exposure to direct sunlight for extended periods of time without using a sufficient sun block is most definitely a wrinkle causing factor in today’s world.
Skin that is tanned to a dark golden hue is considered to be a sign of health and beauty in women and a sign of virility in men.
In years gone by, a pale skin that had never been exposed to the suns rays was considered to be a mark of beauty in women and a sign or wealth and power in men (only those who had to do manual labor were tanned).
*An unhealthy diet can accelerate the wrinkling process. A diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables will help to delay wrinkling.
*Lack of exercise is a wrinkle accelerator. Regular exercise keeps the blood circulating and waste being disposed of.
*Smoking cigarettes makes the skin wrinkle faster, yet another reason to quit…or never start. The same is true of cigars and snuff. Sudden extreme weight loss causes the skin to wrinkle….a blow to crash dieting!
*Harsh soap accelerates wrinkling. You should always use a soap that is ph balanced and not one that contains deodorizers or perfumes.
*Chlorine in swimming pools in very hard on the skin and increases the rate at which it wrinkles.
*Very hot baths and showers will accelerate skin wrinkling. A warm bath or a warm shower is better for the skin that very hot ones.
*A lack of the correct vitamins and minerals either in diet or in supplements will certainly cause the skin to age (wrinkle) much faster than it should. Antioxidants are vital to skin health.
WHAT ARE WRINKLES: The skin is made up of three
layers.
1. The epidermis or the outer layer.
2. The dermis or the middle layer
3. The subcutaneous or inner layer
Young skin isnt wrinkled because it holds moisture well and has a high level of elasticity; that is it stretches easily. The middle layer of the skin, the dermis, contains fibers called elastin and a protein called collagen.
As people age, their dermis loses both elastin and collagen. The skin gets thinner with this loss and becomes drier because it is harder for the dermis to get moisture. There is fat in the subcutaneous layer of the skin. As people age, they lose the fat in subcutaneous layer and this causes the skin to begin to sag.
People do not get wrinkles at a certain age. There are people in their 20s who have wrinkles around their eyes called crows feet because they squint their eyes a lot or because they smoke or because they spend too much time in the sun without using proper sun screen.
There are also people in their 50s and 60s that have very few wrinkles. Sometimes this is because they have an abundance of sebum in their skin. Sebum is natural skin oil that the body produces.
Heredity has an affect on how early in life wrinkles begin to appear. Members of some families will just wrinkle earlier than members of other families. Its all in the genes we inherit. There are several things that young people can do that will help to prevent or at least prolong wrinkling in their later years.
*Always use a sunscreen when being exposed to direct sunlight. This sunscreen needs to have an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 15.
*Dont go to tanning salons.
*Dont smoke
*Stay well hydrated
*Use skin moisturizing creams

Next to death, the only certain thing in this world are wrinkles! No matter who you are or where you live, you’ll get wrinkles sooner or later. And if you smoke, stay outdoors most of the time, patronize tanning salons, and have parents with lots of wrinkles, you may get them sooner than you think!

The certainty of wrinkles is best expressed by American actress Estelle Getty who said, “Age doesn’t bring you wisdom. It brings you wrinkles.” Indeed, while they may appear at different ages in different people, wrinkles are here to stay because as we age, the skin ages as well. Young skin is elastic and can stretch and hold in moisture. As we grow old, the skin loses its elasticity and slowly dries up. With the loss of elastin and collagen, wrinkles set in.

“There’s not a magic age (like 40) when everyone suddenly gets wrinkles. Some people in their 20s have little wrinkles around their eyes (called “crow’s feet”) from squinting or spending too much time in the sun. Other people may be in their 50s or 60s before you can even see a wrinkle. This is usually because they have taken good care of their skin over the years and may have more sebum, the skin’s natural oil. They may also have ‘good genes’ – which means their family members don’t have many wrinkles. Eventually, however, everyone will have at least a few wrinkles. It’s a natural part of the aging process,” wrote kidshealth.org.

The role of heredity in developing wrinkles is best summed up by American actress Doris Day who said, “Wrinkles are hereditary. Parents get them from their children.” But don’t give up yet even if you have troublesome kids! There are several treatment options for wrinkles that can make a difference in your life. The trick is to find one that suits your needs, budget, and health. Here are some choices taken from MedicineNet.com:

Microdermabrasion – This refers to “sanding the skin” with a machine containing silica or aluminum crystals; many estheticians offer this service, usually in “packages” of six or seven sessions. Microdermabrasion does not change skin anatomy, though it may make the face feel smoother. Cosmetic products marketed as “home microdermabrasion” are just mild exfoliants, harmless but not likely to produce any meaningful change in wrinkles.

Dermabrasion – This is a true surgical procedure, often performed under general anesthesia. The treating physician uses a rotating instrument to sand the skin down. Depending a great deal on the skill and experience of the operator, dermabrasion can result in excellent improvement, but can also produce significant side effects, including scarring and permanent changes in skin color.

Laser resurfacing – Using instruments such as the carbon dioxide and erbium lasers, physicians can achieve results similar to those of dermabrasion with greater reliability and precision. The laser is passed several times over the area to be treated until the peel reaches the middle of the dermis, the skin’s second layer. This helps stimulate the body’s natural collagen synthesis (production), which plumps up sagging skin and wrinkles. Some doctors perform laser resurfacing under “conscious sedation,” in which the patient remains awake and receives intravenous medications to calm and ease pain. This sedation is combined with the application of topical anesthetic creams such as EMLA, as well as injections of local anesthetics like lidocaine. Procedures may need to be repeated to maximize improvement. Skin takes a long time to heal (weeks to months) after resurfacing. In addition, this procedure, like dermabrasion can cause permanent pigment changes and scarring.

Botox – Injection of botulinum toxin, the muscle poison, can paralyze muscles that produce the “frown lines” on the forehead, fine lines around the eyes, and other wrinkles. Improvement lasts several months and must be repeated to sustain improvement. Injected properly, Botox is quite safe: The muscle poison does not spread through the body to do damage elsewhere.

A safer alternative is Dermaxin, the skin cream that contains special ingredients to reduce fine lines and wrinkles by as much as 45 percent. Dermaxin repairs and rejuvenates the skin so you’ll look young, fresh, and wrinkle-free! It’s your best defense against the signs of aging. Check out http://www.dermaxin.com for details.