Wrinkles
Wrinkles are the sign of aging in the skin or damage happening to the skin due to sun exposure. Traditionally, wrinkles were considered as indication of wisdom. Wrinkles appear mostly on the regions that are in regular contact of skin light including, the skin, hands, neck, and the top of the hands or forearms. Some of the skin complications like dryness, wrinkles, sagginess, and formation of liner spots are caused due to sun damage or photo aging (medical term).
Some cosmetics and medicated creams are available in the market that claims to reduce the appearance of the wrinkles. Although, some creams do nothing for reducing any fine lines. There are both slight and deep sign of wrinkles found on the skin’s surface in the form of fine lines and deep furrows. Fine lines can be treated by taking some beauty treatment or some general home remedies, whereas, deep furrows require surgical correction to get well. Surgical correction may include aggressive treatment like injection of fillers to fill the deep holes in the skin, deep peels, and Botox treatment.
Causes of Wrinkles
Wrinkles are formed on the surface of the skin, which in turn can be divided into three layers like the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. In mild cases, wrinkles are created in the form of fine lines on the outer most layer of the skin, called the epidermis. In severe cases, the wrinkles might affect the middle and inner most layers like the dermis and subcutaneous tissues.
Formation of wrinkles on the epidermis: The epidermis protects the inner layers of the skin from the external environment. The outer part of the layer is formed by the cells of the epidermis, known as keratinocytes. The outer most layer or shell of the epidermis contains keratin in very large amount that are being continuously replaced by the keratin formed in the deepest part of the layer. Abnormality or improper functionality of the cells result in forming scaly skin over the surface and hence, starts creating wrinkles.
Dermis
Dermis is the second layer that contains connective tissues like collagen, proteins, and elastic fibers. The connective tissues act as structural units of the skin and give strength, turgor and elasticity to the skin.
Dermal-Epidermal Junction
Dermal-Epidermal junction acts as interlocking junction between the dermis and the epidermis. It forms some finger-like projections, named rete ridges, that help in better transfer of nutrient to the epidermis from the blood vessels found in the dermis layer.
The junctions help in increasing the surface area of the epidermis so that it can receive maximum nutrient from the dermis layer.
Subcutaneous Tissue
Subcutaneous tissues form the bottom layer of the skin that consist fat cells. The layer formed by the fat cells act as insulator to the body that helps in protecting the body from the external factors. The layer also provide plump and full look to the skin, which enhances the beauty and grace of the body.
Wrinkles cause due to chronological aging
Normally, wrinkles are caused due to chronological aging of the person. Aging causes thinning of the cells found in the epidermis layer. Further the skin becomes less sticky, which increases the flow of moisture from the skin and makes the skin very dry. The repairing process of the skin becomes slow as the age increases due to the slow division of epidermal cells.
Aging also results in the low production of collagen and elastin fibers in the dermal layer. Due to these changes the skin starts getting sagging and forming wrinkles on the surface. The condition worsens because of the dryness caused by the less production of sebum and decrease in the number of sweat glands on the skin.
Aging affects the structural formation of the rete-ridges of the dermal-epidermal junction. It makes the junction flat, which contributes in making the skin more fragile and easy to shear. The surface area of the epidermis decreases and causes low transfer of nutrients from the dermis. And as the age increases with time, the fat cells become smaller making wrinkles and sagging more visible.
Affects of sunlight on the dermis layer:
Too much exposure to sunlight results in speedy break down of collagen found in the dermis layer of the skin. This results in the damage of collagen fibers and storage of abnormal elastin fibers. Accumulation of elastin fibers exaggerate production of metalloproteinases that further result in forming solar scar on the skin surface. Repeated affect of sunlight enhances the formation of wrinkles on the skin.
Wrinkles caused due to free radicals:
Free radicals denote unstable oxygen molecules that have only one electron. It needs two electrons to complete the configuration, so the single electron in the shell of free radical keeps on searching for one electron from other free radicals. The continuity of this process for long time causes damage on the cell functionality and change the composition of the genetic material. This results in forming wrinkles on the skin. In addition, free radicals enhance the speedy production of metalloproteinases, which causes some other damages on the skin. It makes skin very sensitive against the slight exposure of sunlight and air pollution.
Wrinkles caused by hormonal changes or effects:
Hormonal changes occurring during menopause or due to less production of estrogen result in forcing changes in the skin layers. The changes are shown in the form of wrinkles and scars on the skin surface.
Wrinkles occurring due to muscle usage:
Some people become habitual in forming any specific facial expression. Too much usage of specific muscles can loose elasticity of that particular region. This results in forming fine lines between the eyebrows and some elongating lines drawn between the corners of the eyes.
Wrinkles caused due low gravity:
People living in places having low gravity experience formation of fine lines in the early stage of their life.
Promoters of wrinkles:
Wrinkling on the skin surface increases due to some factors, like:
Excessive smoking: Excess of tobacco inhaling causes damages in the skin including formation of wrinkles on the face.
Fairer skin: People with very fair skin tend to get affected by sun damage more than people who have dark skin. Fair people are more sensitive toward sun exposure, pollution and other external factor.
Heredity: Skin type is considered to be based on family or heredity. If a person having heredity of having wrinkling process in the early stage of life, then he has higher chances of having wrinkles.
Wearing fewer clothes: Wearing clothes that have short sleeves and length, like shorts, make the wearer more exposed towards the sunlight and other polluting factors. And, more exposure towards these factors contributes in forming wrinkles and tanning on the skin.
Occupational factors: People who work in open area or in highly polluted environment have more chances of having damages on the skin.
Recreational habits: Some people like to go for mountain climbing, swimming, or other activities that involve higher exposure of sun light. The sunlight further causes damage on their skin.
Treatment of Wrinkles
There are many sun protection creams available in the market that claims to protect your skin from sun effects. SPF number written on the cover represents the level of sun protection formulation it contains. One can take a sunscreen according to the damage or wrinkles formed in his/her skin. And can judge the damages happen to his skin type by looking at surface only. Further, if you having severe damages on the skin, then rush to your dermatologist because it can cause skin cancer.
Medical treatment: A number of medical treatments are available that helps you in reducing wrinkles and other damages on the skin surface.
Treatment by Vitamin A Acid: Acids of Vitamin A like tretinoin and renova help in lowering the formation of fine lines or wrinkles and dark sots on the skin surface. Creams based on these acids should be use on regular basis to lower the wrinkles formed on the skin.
Alpha-hydroxy acids: These are fruit acids that do not cause any side-effects on the skin if used regularly. But these acids are not very effective on skin because of their mild composition.
Antioxidants: Creams based on antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E, and beta-carotene provide protection against sun light and hence help in reducing formation of wrinkles on the skin.
Moisturizers: Moisturizers do not help in reducing the wrinkles but lessen the appearance of them by making skin smooth and softer.
Cosmetic procedures
A number of cosmetic treatments are available in the beauty clinics to reduce wrinkles. But, one should investigate about the treatment he or she taking properly before taking it. As, these treatment are good for only immediate improvement. On long run one can experience the side-effects created by these cosmetic treatments on their skin.
Peeling by glycolic acid: It is a very mild and superficial peeling procedure that creates very slight difference on the wrinkles formed on the skin surface.
Deep peeling: Here, the procedure includes peeling by salicylic acid and trichloroacetic acid very deeply in the skin. The immediate effect is very high as it improves the look very much by diminishing high number of fine lines from the skin.
