Sooner or later, everyone has to deal with wrinkles on their face. But what are wrinkles in themselves? In appearance, wrinkles are grooves that emerge on the external surface of the skin, mainly due to age, but also to many other causes and contributory factors that contribute to skin aging (tobacco smoke, alcohol abuse, radiation, and so on).
Here then is all the useful information and advice on facial wrinkles: what they are and how many types there are, why they appear and what can be done to prevent them and whether, once they have made their appearance, it is possible to combat this blemish.
What are wrinkles?
Although we often talk, in general, only of “facial wrinkles”, there are different types of wrinkles, and the classification can vary depending on the aspects considered. Based mainly on the cause of the formation of wrinkles, we can distinguish between:
- expression lines . These are generally the first to appear on the face, starting around age 30, and are due to the repeated tension and relaxation of the mimic muscles, the facial muscles responsible for showing expressions, feelings and emotions. Among the best known are the so-called crow's feet , bags under the eyes and wrinkles around the eyes, but expression lines on the forehead or at the sides of the mouth are also often marked;
- gravitational wrinkles. As the name suggests, this type of wrinkle is caused by the force of gravity, which tends to “pull” the skin tissues downwards; we often talk about a “sagging” face precisely in reference to the intensity of gravitational wrinkles. In particular, the fact that the innermost layers of the skin have an underlying layer of fat, together with changes in the bone structure due to old age, causes these wrinkles to appear. They tend to show up as a loss of skin tone, which becomes less elastic and less compact;
- actinic wrinkles. Actinic wrinkles are caused by exposure to solar rays or, more precisely, ultraviolet radiation, including that of sun lamps. The effect that these cause is called “photoaging”, as it is linked to light. It is the type of wrinkle that makes the skin, as they say, “shriveled”, and manifests itself with small furrows and lines;
- sleep wrinkles (or creases). Sleep wrinkles appear as a result of prolonged assumption of a certain nighttime posture, which causes the appearance of wrinkles on different areas of the face, from the cheeks to the forehead. Initially they tend to disappear quickly, but over time, as the skin loses elasticity, they become progressively permanent.
Causes of the appearance of wrinkles
There are several causes of the appearance of wrinkles, which are linked to each other to determine when, how, where and to what degree furrows and folds will appear on the face. Each of us has our own basic physical characteristics and lifestyle, and so the appearance of wrinkles is also different in everyone, both women and men.
Obviously, the appearance of wrinkles is linked to age, that is, it depends on aging: except for particular and very rare cases, often linked to genetic conditions, wrinkles do not appear before a certain time, generally 30 years of age. To aging, then, are added all the individual factors we have mentioned, to accelerate (or slow down and mitigate) the level and appearance of wrinkles.
But how does the skin aging process work? The main point is the generalized decrease in cell activity: this phenomenon occurs throughout the body, increasingly faster as we age, and is especially true for the skin surface. In the dermis, fewer and fewer fibers are produced that are responsible for supporting the structure of the skin, specifically collagen and elastic fibers, so that the skin tends to sag, fall, and lose its brightness. The sebaceous glands also work less: the smaller amount of sebum produced makes the hydrolipidic film that covers the skin much less thick, so that dehydration increases and, with it, the appearance of wrinkles.
Added to this are the effects of photoaging, first of all, which we mentioned previously. Continuous exposure to UV rays causes the skin to show signs of aging prematurely.
There are, of course, several factors that regulate skin aging. First of all, everyone has their own predisposition to show more or less the signs of old age, including wrinkles. To this must be added the effect of radiation, as we have said, as well as environmental factors such as wind and dry climate.
But there are also several external factors and elements that contribute to skin aging: it has been proven, for example, that a series of behaviors and bad habits such as smoking, abuse of alcohol and other substances, lack of physical activity and poor diet have a strong negative effect on the appearance of wrinkles.
The areas of the face most affected by wrinkles
In general, a person shows wrinkles and other signs of aging on the entire surface of the skin, and in particular on the skin of the face. But what are the points and parts of the face most subject to wrinkles? It can be said that by nature all show, sooner or later, furrows and folds of different types; they are located, however, in different areas.
In particular, wrinkles in different areas of the face can be divided according to a classification of this type, from top to bottom:
- forehead wrinkles. These are the classic expression wrinkles on the forehead, which extend horizontally;
- glabellar wrinkles. These are also expression wrinkles, and form in the area above the nose, between the eyebrows;
- periocular wrinkles. As the term indicates, they are found in the area around the eyes, and constitute the famous “crow's feet”, so called for their characteristic shape;
- nasolabial wrinkles. These are those that, in fact, originate from the nose, or more precisely from the nostrils, and reach the corner of the lip, or labial rim, in an oblique manner;
- perilabial wrinkles. They are found at the corners of the lips, and are also typical expression wrinkles;
- labiogenous wrinkles. They start from the lip, more precisely from the lower lip, and reach the chin;
- transverse neck wrinkles , which start from the chin and run along the neck in a vertical direction.
How to prevent wrinkles
The question that sooner or later everyone asks themselves is: is it possible to prevent wrinkles? Unfortunately, sooner or later everyone will have to deal with this typical blemish of age: however, through certain precautions, a form of prevention is certainly possible, to partly anticipate the onset of wrinkles, improving the appearance of young skin. You just need to know what is the best way to take care of it. Here are some targeted tips:
- Don't smoke or drink too much alcohol. Both tobacco and alcohol are known to accelerate cellular aging;
- do not expose yourself too much to the sun, or at least not without a sunscreen lotion or cream with sufficient protection against UVA and UVB rays, in order to counteract the phenomena of photoaging;
- stay hydrated. Hydration is essential for having toned and elastic skin: drinking plenty of water every day can certainly help;
- use a specific product: a moisturizing cream, light cosmetics, nourishing oil or serum, and so on. These are all products that, with the right care, can help keep the skin fresher;
- get enough sleep. This is often overlooked advice, but it is now proven that a few hours of sleep per night can cause a substantial deterioration in the appearance of the skin over time. Therefore, it is best to try to overcome insomnia, stress and anxiety, and rest for the time necessary for the body. Sports and physical activity also help a lot;
- follow a healthy and balanced diet. This is perhaps one of the most important pieces of advice: the health of the skin (and of the whole body) depends largely on our diet, so eating well can help a lot to prevent wrinkles. A healthy diet includes eating fruit and vegetables in good quantities, thanks to their content of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Foods with good fats such as omega 3 and 6 are also excellent, as are white meats and carbohydrates from whole grains;
- take food supplements. In the context of a varied diet and a healthy lifestyle, food supplements can help provide the body with all the nutrients it needs, including those targeted to the skin ( collagen , hyaluronic acid ). In particular, there are many supplements that can help maintain the health of the skin and improve the appearance of wrinkles.
The most effective remedies against wrinkles
There are also some ways to improve the appearance of wrinkles even after they appear. There are no definitive treatments, but it is possible to help reduce the depth of furrows and folds on the face by adopting the right measures.
First of all, it is important to adopt a correct skincare. The choice of your daily beauty routine should include specific hydrating and anti-wrinkle products, which help to keep the skin toned and fresh, giving visible results.
Facial skin hygiene must also be taken care of appropriately: in particular, it is advisable to avoid aggressive products, and instead choose more delicate ones and above all those suitable for your skin type.