Wrinkles

Throughout the aging process, a certain amount of skin wrinkling is nearly inevitable. As collagen and elastin levels naturally decrease in the dermis, skin’s internal support structure begins to break down, leaving it unable to maintain the smooth finish it once had.

Skin also tends to dry out with age, meaning that creases deepen and appear more sharply defined as time goes on.

Although this does eventually occur in almost everyone, the age at which it occurs, and the severity and intensity of the process, varies greatly. As a cosmetic surgeon, I have seen patients in their late 60s with very few prominent folds and wrinkles in their skin, and other patients as young as their mid-20s with pronounced creases and deep, defined lines.

The factors in this disparity are complex and difficult to determine. There are, however, some factors that have more impact than others. By educating oneself on why rates of visible aging vary so widely across individuals, a certain amount of future wrinkling and creasing can be prevented, and existing problems can be treated appropriately.


Genetics

The natural aging process is known as intrinsic aging, which is caused by chronological and natural factors, as well as your genetics.

Though intrinsic aging does play a role in how your skin’s appearance ages, external, or photo-aging, environmental factors, play a stronger role in the aging process.

According to dermatologist, Doris J. Day, MD, author of the book Forget the Facelift, only about 10% of how your skin is aging is directly related to your genetics. That means that even if you come from a long line of deep wrinkles, you’re not necessarily destined to have the same problems, although those predisposed to accelerated aging should be careful to take extra preventative measures.

Sun Damage

The first factor to consider is sun damage, also known as photo-aging. It is estimated that roughly 90% of skin aging is caused by UV damage, on areas of the skin that are regularly exposed.

Visible signs of photo-aging include: pigmented spots, uneven skin tone, appearance of fine lines and wrinkles along the eyes, mouth, and forehead, appearance of spider veins, development of leathery skin texture, and sagging.

Given that a single factor can create all of these issues, daily SPF use is perhaps the most preventative solutions. This ritual is made simpler by the many cosmetics products that are now incorporating varying levels of SPF into their products. Your morning moisturizers, makeup primers, foundations, concealers, and powders can all contain sun protection.

It’s also important to protect other areas of your body from the harmful rays of the sun, as wrinkling is not always confined to facial skin. Arms, hands, and chests are exposed nearly as frequently as your face. Wearing a daily body moisturizer, containing an SPF of at least 30, will help to prevent photo-aging to the body.

Those who take such preventative measures tend to find that the visible signs of aging come on more slowly and less severely than their counterparts who are less diligent in this area.

Menopause

Another major factor in an individual’s particular rate of visible aging is hormones.

When women are going through menopause, or are post-menopausal, their bodies produce less estrogen, which can lead to thinning skin and decreased collagen. This means that, as skin’s internal support structure is broken down, it may sag and creases more easily, ultimately leading to accelerated wrinkling.

If you are undergoing a major hormonal change like menopause, talk to your doctor about hormone replacement options, as this may help to delay further aging, as well as help with the other unwanted effects of menopause.

Since women go through menopause at different ages (as young as a woman’s early 40s or as late as her 60s, even under normal health circumstances), this could explain why two women of the same age may have drastically different outward signs of aging.

Smoking

This is a more obvious fact than others. Smoking cigarettes has been linked not only to deadly cancers and diseases, but also to premature aging.

Smoking can cause elastosis, the degeneration of connective tissues, which can elastin fibers and collagen. Nicotine ralso estricts blood vessels, making it more difficult for blood, nutrients, and oxygen to be delivered to the skin. This means that a smoker is likely to see accelerated visible aging such as wrinkling, whereas a non-smoker will likely experience a slower and less severe aging process.

Poor Diet

Though no direct links have been made between diet and skin aging, a poor diet containing high amounts of sugar, especially processed, may contribute to the breakdown collagen.

In addition, vitamin deficiencies may have a negative effect on skin’s ability to support itself property.


Every person is different, and given the many factors that contribute to wrinkling and sagging, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly why the body does what it does. While a person’s daily skincare regimen, diet, physical environment, and genetics all contribute to visible aging, these factors are only the tip of the iceberg.

The best thing a person can do for their skin is take proper preventative care, lead a generally healthy lifestyle, and find products that aid in the prevention of further damage, while diminishing the look of existing damage.