Wrinkles—Know The Basics

Wrinkled skin is a natural side effect of getting older, but what exactly causes wrinkles, and is there something you can do about it?

Here’s what you should know:

Preventing Wrinkles

Wrinkles are caused by the natural aging process, repeated muscle movements, sun damage, and smoking. While you can’t control all of those factors, there are plenty of things you can do to prevent wrinkles from developing, delay their development, or make them less prominent.

Start with good skin care habits. Use a daily moisturizer and nightly retinol cream before you ever notice any wrinkles. The sooner you start taking care of your skin, the better off you’ll be. You should remember to apply skin care products to your neck just as frequently as your face so that you don’t end up with a young looking face and an aging neck.

It is incredibly important to prevent sun damage. Sun damage not only causes wrinkles, it also makes your skin dryer, tougher, and can cause discoloration. In the worst cases, it can also cause skin cancer. Prevent sun damage by wearing sunscreen outdoors, covering your skin with clothing, wearing a hat and sunglasses, and staying indoors or in the shade between 10am and 4 pm.

Stress can also contribute to the development of wrinkles. Reduce stress by exercising regularly, spending time outdoors, getting enough sleep, spending time with friends and family members, taking vacations, and managing your time well so that tasks don’t pile up.

Treating Wrinkles

While there are many things you can do to keep your skin looking young and healthy, it is difficult to completely ward off wrinkles. Fortunately there are treatments available that can reduce or eliminate the appearance of wrinkles.

One of the most common procedures is Botox, but if you’re looking for an alternative to injectables, laser skin treatments can significantly improve the appearance of your skin. These treatments are also minimally invasive, quick to complete, and easy to recover from.

Laser skin treatments can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, soften scars, and reinvigorate the skin. If you’d like to learn more about treating wrinkles and improving your skin with laser treatments, schedule a consultation with Dr. Serure.