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Facial lines and wrinkles are an inevitable side effect of aging and not a health concern. However, some people want to reduce or get rid of wrinkles.
A range of treatments and remedies can help prevent and get rid of wrinkles. Read on to learn more.
Wrinkles are a result of aging skin and volume loss and are completely natural. The skin becomes thinner over time due to lower production of collagen and elastin proteins. This slowdown also causes the skin to become less resistant to damage.
There are some things a person can do at home to minimize the risk of developing wrinkles or help reverse the signs of aging.
Daily skin care
Regularly moisturizing the skin can prevent dryness, decreasing the chance of wrinkles forming. It is important to use skin care products that match the skin’s needs and to introduce one product at a time.
Using too many products on the skin, especially more than one anti-aging product can irritate the skin, which can make signs of aging more noticeable. Most products take a few weeks to work.
Sleep
Studies have shown that certain sleep positions can contribute to wrinkles on the face.
There are ways to help minimize the risk of developing wrinkles while sleeping. They include:
- sleeping flat on the back
- using a special pillow that reduces facial deformation during sleep
- using a silk pillowcase, although there is little research to back this trend
Microneedling
Professionals were once the only ones who could do microneedling, but it is now possible to do this at home.
Microneedling uses small needles to create tiny punctures in the skin. These punctures trigger a healing response and renew the skin cells.
Most home remedies will only tackle the fine lines on a person’s skin, and deeper wrinkles may require medical treatment.
If home remedies do not give satisfactory results, a person may want to visit a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon.
Medications
Creams containing retinoids, such as retinol, can help the body make more collagen, preventing wrinkles. Dermatologists often prescribe these as an initial treatment.
Chemical peel
A chemical peel can diminish many signs of aging on the face as well as the hands, neck, and chest. These treatments work by removing layers of the skin.
Laser therapy
Laser resurfacing gives the fastest results out of all the nonsurgical skin tightening methods. After healing, fewer wrinkles will be visible within 2 weeks. However, this does come with a downtime of 5–7 days.
Botox
Botulinum toxin therapy is a noninvasive procedure that helps to diminish signs of aging by relaxing facial muscles.
People can resume most of their everyday activities immediately after the procedure and may begin to see results after 3 days.
Fillers
Fillers help to restore fullness to the face, lips, and hands. Fillers work by plumping up the depressed areas of the skin. They provide immediate results and can often be done during an office visit.
Facelifts
The most dramatic results come from surgical options, such as a facelift or eyelid surgery. Learn more about facelifts here.
Lifestyle factors can help prevent wrinkles from developing in the first place or slow their arrival.
Stop smoking
According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), smoking speeds up how quickly skin ages.
Learn tips on how to quit smoking here.
Avoid stress
Avoiding stress is key to preventing wrinkles. When a person is stressed, their body releases a hormone called cortisol, which may break down collagen in the skin.
Learn about managing stress and anxiety here.
Drink less alcohol
Alcohol can cause dehydration, which can dry the skin and cause it to look older. Not drinking alcohol or cutting back may help with wrinkles.
Eat a healthful diet
Eating a healthful diet that is full of foods rich in antioxidants can help reduce wrinkles. Antioxidants protect the skin from
Foods that contain high levels of antioxidants include:
- blueberries
- beets
- pecans
- spinach
- artichoke
- kale
- dark chocolate
Learn how to eat a healthful diet here.
Limit sugar
The AAD suggest that a diet containing lots of sugar or other refined carbohydrates can accelerate aging. They recommend avoiding foods and drinks with these to help protect the skin from wrinkles.
Do not tan
Getting a tan, whether it is from the sun or a tanning bed, causes exposure to harmful UV rays. These rays from the sun accelerate aging, causing wrinkles, age spots, a blotchy complexion, and even skin cancer.
Protect skin with sunscreen
People should apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 every day.
They should apply it to all skin that their clothing does not cover, and which they expose to the elements when outdoors.
When people think about wrinkles, they usually think of facial wrinkles. However, different areas of the body can get wrinkles.
Most wrinkles usually appear on the areas that receive the most exposure to the sun, including the face, neck, the back of the hands, and the arms.
Hands
Applying sunscreen to the hands every day can prevent wrinkly skin from developing. Treatment to get rid of wrinkles on the hands can include:
- using hand lotion with retinol or glycolic acid before bedtime
- undergoing a light chemical peel, every 1 to 3 months
- having laser treatment
Decolletage
Chest skin is thinner than the skin on the rest of the body, making it prone to sun damage.
Almost all of the treatments for a person’s face are also safe for the chest area, including microneedling, lasers, chemical peels, and certain types of filler.
Despite being a completely natural part of aging, many people want to get rid of wrinkles.
People can try home remedies and lifestyle changes to treat and prevent wrinkles. If these do not help, a dermatologist can offer medical treatments.
Some products in this article are available for purchase online. Always research products before buying and speak to a doctor about using new treatments.