Wrinkle Treatments and Skin Care Tips

Don't we all wish that when we reach our 40's our skin looks as beautiful as the women's in this picture? Even though wrinkles are a natural sign of aging, most women would do almost anything to get rid of them. Wrinkles no longer stand for wisdom or experience, but instead a flaw that should be fixed with one of the various cosmetic procedures or products on the market. Luckily, there are all types of wrinkle and skin care treatments available, as well as many ways to naturally prevent and cure wrinkles and other signs of aging.

What Causes Wrinkles?

Wrinkles are one of the most common physical signs of aging, and can occur to both men and women at all different ages. As an individual begins to age, the skin cells become thinner and less sticky. This makes the skin look much thinner and sometimes discolored, and the skin is not able to hold as much moisture in the top layer as before. Because of this, the skin becomes dry and harder to repair, and the number of skin cells decreases greatly as years go on.

When skin cells start to diminish, the production of collagen also decreases. Collagen is responsible for the elasticity of the skin, and gives it the smooth and silky look that youthful skin has. Once the collagen production has slowed, the dry skin starts to fold due to lost moisture, and since the collagen cannot repair it, wrinkles start to form.

There are also many risk factors that can lead to wrinkles developing faster, and they can appear on men and women as early as their 30s. Smoking tobacco, extended exposure to the sun, illegal drugs, and even excessive use of tanning salons can all lead to damaged skin, which in return promotes the formation of wrinkles on the skin.

Cosmetic Procedures for Wrinkles

There are all types of cosmetic procedures on the market that can help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, ranging from chemical peels that remove a thin layer of the skin to face lifts that actually surgically stretch the skin to appear smooth. Some treatments are outpatient visits where one can leave the same day as the procedure, while others require a small recovery time for the skin to heal after surgery.

Chemical peels are one of the most common cosmetic procedures for wrinkles, and work by removing the top thin layer of skin to get rid of dead skin cells and surface blemishes. There are three different levels of chemical peels, and the level is based on how much the chemicals actually penetrate the skin. They are outpatient procedures that can be performed in a short amount of time, but those getting the deeper peels are recommended to have someone care for them for at least 48 hours following the procedure.

Dermabrasion is also popular for making the skin appear more youthful, since it works by refinishing the top layers of the skin through surgical scraping methods. An electrically operated instrument is used to scrape away the top layers of skin that contain dead and damaged skin cells, leaving the skin looking smoother and free of aging skin.

A laser peel is much like a chemical peel, but uses a laser to remove skin rather than chemicals. Thin layers of damaged skin are removed by the laser one by one, allowing the fresh, more youthful skin to appear. This procedure can be done on the entire face or in designated locations, and is usually performed along with surgical cosmetic procedures.

Plastic surgery is one of the only permanent ways to get rid of wrinkles, since the skin on the face is actually manipulated to get rid of wrinkles. A face lift and brow lift are the two most popular procedures for aging skin, and involves pulling up and securing sagging skin in order to get rid of wrinkles. It is a surgical procedure that does involve being put under, and usually takes a few weeks to recover. Although surgical procedures do provide the best results, they usually need to be repeated every 5 to 10 years as the skin continues to age.

Botox injections are one of the newest cosmetic procedures used for aging skin, and are one of the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedures for treating wrinkles. It works by paralyzing the muscles that actually cause wrinkles, and fills in the wrinkles areas to make them appear much smoother. Botox is commonly used on the forehead, around the eyes, and around the mouth to get rid of smaller wrinkles, and usually lasts for a few months before it needs to be repeated.

Wrinkle Skin Care Tips

Even though aging skin cannot be completely avoided, there are many ways to slow down the signs of aging without having to go to extreme measures. By taking good care of your skin even before aging has started, you can keep your skin looking youthful well into your 40s and 50s.

One of the most important tips for keeping your skin wrinkle free is to stay hydrated on a regular basis. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water is not only good for the health of your body, but it can even do wonders on your skin. Staying hydrated will help your skin remain elastic and less vulnerable to wrinkles, and will help to keep the healthy cells healthy and appear smooth and vibrant.

Using skin care products that are natural and packed full of vitamins can also be beneficial, instead of using products that are packed full of chemicals. The vitamins in your face products will penetrate the skin and help to naturally heal it, rather than filling your bloodstream with toxic chemicals that can actually damage your skin. Adding vitamins to your skin on a daily basis will help it stay health for a longer period of time, and will work with the natural properties of the skin to help it heal.

Using sunscreen on a daily basis is also important, to protect your skin from getting damaged by the sun. Avoiding extended sun exposure is as equally as important, since the UV rays from the sun will actually speed up the aging process and make wrinkles appear much sooner.

By taking good care of your skin, you can avoid the need to get a cosmetic or surgical procedure to get rid of your wrinkles. Using healthy products on your face, avoiding sun exposure, and staying hydrated are all great ways to slow down the signs of aging, and can keep your skin looking youthful and vibrant much longer than you would have ever imagined.