How to Smooth Facial Wrinkles and Lines
One of the more common and visible signs of aging is the formation of wrinkles on the skin (particularly the face), which emerge as skin becomes drier and less elastic. While there is nothing inherently bad about wrinkles and lines, some people dislike the way they look and what they suggest about their age. Individuals may begin developing wrinkles as early as their twenties, and most people display some minor wrinkles in their thirties.
Fortunately, if you wish to reduce or smooth out facial wrinkles and lines, there are a number of measures you can take. Some of these have to do with your lifestyle, while others involve medical and cosmetic treatments.
Change up Your Lifestyle
Stress and stagnation can do a number on our minds and bodies. Constantly working and worrying, not getting enough sleep, and/or living a sedentary lifestyle won’t do your skin any favors. If any of these scenarios sound familiar, consider updating your routine. Try to exercise 30-60 minutes a day, 3-5 days a week to stimulate your body and skin. Learning to meditate for even 10 minutes on a daily basis can significantly reduce your stress levels, reducing inflammation in your body and skin. Ensuring you get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night is also critical for maintaining healthy skin, especially if you want to reduce eye wrinkles and bags.
Maintain a Solid Skin Care Routine
The way your skin looks is directly related to its overall health. Therefore, maintaining your skin’s health with a good skincare routine can help you reduce wrinkles, lines, discoloration, etc. First and foremost, be sure to wear sunscreen on a regular basis if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Sunscreen will help protect your skin from harmful UV rays that can encourage the development of wrinkles and also lead to skin cancer.
It’s also important to moisturize your skin on a daily basis to keep it hydrated and flexible. As mentioned above, wrinkles form on dry skin. Be sure to consult your dermatologist when choosing a moisturizer, however, as certain products may clog your pores and trigger acne outbreaks. Investing in at-home facial masks is another great way to keep your skin fresh, healthy, and moisturized. You may also opt to receive facial treatments from skincare experts every now and then. In addition to reducing facial wrinkles, these treatments can be quite refreshing.
Don’t Neglect Nutrition
They say you are what you eat. Indeed, the substances you ingest will have an effect on your physical and mental health. Because the skin is your body’s largest organ and it resides on the exterior, you can glean a lot about your internal health and nutrition from your skin’s appearance and reactions. For example, high amounts of sodium, sugar, and alcohol can all have negative effects on your body as a whole, including your skin. These substances dehydrate your system, drying out your skin and encouraging wrinkle formation.
If you want to avoid or mitigate wrinkles and lines, pay attention to your nutrition. In addition to cutting back on junk food and beer, try adding more Omega-3s (or “good fats”) into your diet, often found in fish and avocados. Soy products like tofu have also been linked to healthier skin and decreased wrinkles. And, as always, drink plenty of water. Keeping your body and skin hydrated is essential in maintaining younger-looking skin.
Consider Cosmetic or Medical Solutions
The truth is, while all of the above information can help reduce the amount and severity of wrinkles one receives, even those with the healthiest lifestyle will develop wrinkles eventually. This is where cosmetic and medical solutions come into play. More specifically, injectable dermal fillers can help smooth out wrinkles and restore a more youthful appearance. These are acidic or protein-based substances injected into tissue that is failing to produce an adequate amount of naturally-occurring collagen, the protein that keeps skin elastic and smooth. In other words, these fillers plump up sagging, dried-out skin from the inside, significantly reducing or erasing wrinkles and lines.
The one caveat of dermal fillers is that they are often temporary, losing their effects in 6-18 months on average (depending on the patient, type of filler, area of skin, etc.). Patients may need to receive repeat injections to maintain their smooth skin. That said, dermal filler injections are relatively low-risk procedures that offer good results. Restylane and Juvederm are two of the most common and effective dermal fillers today.
Aging may be inevitable, but wrinkles don’t have to be. You can do plenty to reduce their appearance and maintain healthy, hydrated, youthful skin. At Premier Dermatology Partners, we aim to help our patients develop individualized skincare routines, and provide medical, cosmetic, and surgical services to those who want healthier, better-looking skin. To learn more about our team and all the services we provide, contact us.