Waging a War Against Wrinkles

Even if you feel young, vibrant, and full of energy on the inside, you may still find that wrinkles on your skin bring your age up a few notches. People who work to protect their skin throughout their lives can help prevent wrinkles. But even if the wrinkles have already arrived, plenty of anti-aging treatments can help diminish signs that proclaim how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

As the skin ages, it changes. Skin loses some of its fat content and appears thinner. It also becomes less elastic and shows the effects of the pull of gravity. Genetics, too, will in part determine the wrinkles you’ll get on your face and body. However, you have do have some control — these lifestyle habits can both lead to wrinkles and make existing wrinkles more prominent:

Smoking
Sun exposure
Sleeping on your side or stomach

4 Ways to Prevent Wrinkles

You can avoid some of the factors that make wrinkles worse by following this advice:

Always protect your skin from the sun. That means limiting how much time you spend in the sun, slathering your body in sunscreen any time you’re outdoors, and wearing long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and wide-brimmed hats to keep the sun off your skin and guard against wrinkles, age spots, and skin cancer. If you live in Palm Beach, St Lucie, Martin, Indian River counties, or anywhere in Florida, be sure to wear a lot of sun screen and to cover up if you stay in the sun for long amounts of time during the summer.
Don’t smoke. When it comes to smoking, it’s best never to start. But if you are a smoker, stopping now will help keep your skin looking young and prevent wrinkles. It’s never too late to reap the benefits of quitting smoking.
Stay out of the tanning bed. Don’t use tanning beds, period. Those rays will damage your skin, leaving you more prone to wrinkles (and possibly skin cancer as well).
Keep skin hydrated and moisturized. Drink lots of water all the time. Make it a healthy habit while you’re young and continue into your senior years. It’s also important to use a daily moisturizer if your skin is dry to keep it supple and smooth.

6 Anti-Aging Treatments to Make Wrinkles Disappear

Once wrinkles start to appear, you may consider trying an anti-aging wrinkle treatment, such as a chemical peel or Botox. There are various options, each with pros and cons. Depending on the severity of your wrinkles, you might consider:

Retin-A and alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) products. Retin-A is a prescription-strengthen vitamin A formula that lessens the appearance of lines. AHA products act like skin peels and are available in over-the-counter formulations. Because these products encourage cell turnover, they may irritate skin. You’ll also need to protect recently treated skin from the sun to avoid a burn.
Vitamins. Vitamin A is the active ingredient in the prescription anti-aging treatment Retin-A, so if you want to opt for an over-the-counter route, you can try beauty-aisle brands of topical vitamin A applied to the skin, says Sandra Marchese Johnson, MD, a dermatologist with Johnson Dermatology in Fort Smith, Ark. Dr. Johnson also recommends taking a daily multi-vitamin for a natural way to stay healthy and help keep wrinkles away.
Chemical peels or microdermabrasion. These procedures remove many layers of skin from the face and effectively get rid of fine wrinkles. There is a risk of infection, and the skin can be red and sore immediately after the procedure. Healing and recovery time depends on the depth of the procedure.
Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections. Botox is a bacteria-based toxin injected into the face to get rid of wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing or weakening the muscles causing the wrinkles and frown lines. The downside? Results from Botox last for only three to six months and need to be repeated.
Injectable fillers. These substances, including various types of collagen, fat implants, and other types of fillers, are used to plump up deep wrinkles and thinning lips.
A facelift or plastic surgery. When sagging skin and folds are the problem, surgery can redrape skin for a taut, youthful look. Plastic surgery comes with general surgical risks such as reaction to anesthesia, longer recovery time, and infection.

What about those anti-aging products that promise quick results against wrinkles? They’re really just hydrating the skin, says Johnson. This minimizes the appearance of the wrinkles. You can get the same effect from moisturizing your skin regularly and staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

“If you do not moisturize your skin from the inside with water and proper nutrients as well as from outside with liberal emollients, your skin will appear sallow and dehydrated,” adds Johnson.

A healthy lifestyle can help promote good senior health overall — and wrinkle prevention is just another added benefit.

Article by everydayhealth.com