Why Do We Get Wrinkles?

Are there products that we can use to prevent and improve them? Are there any treatments that reduce fine lines and wrinkles that don’t leave you looking ‘frozen?’

Fear of ‘The Frozen Look’

One thing we get told day in, day out at our Hertfordshire skin clinic is: ‘I’d like to treat my wrinkles, but I’m frightened of having that ‘frozen’ look”.

The frozen look is something that can happen if you have a really strong wrinkle-relaxing treatment (often known as ‘Botox’), but it doesn’t have to happen. Some people like that look and will go to a practitioner who will offer them that outcome. Our clients tend to prefer a more subtle look where they still have some movement in the treated area whilst softening the muscle movement to the point that wrinkles become less obvious and softer. Whatever your preference, make sure you discuss it with your chosen practitioner prior to treatment so that you get your desired result.

*Having* to look ‘frozen’ after Botox is a common misconception and you can be treated in a way that looks natural. One of our clients, Anna, put it beautifully in a recent review:

“Jane is an absolute miracle worker. I have been seeing her for YEARS. She understands my face so well and she really listens to me. I have Botox, but I only like it to be very subtle. It’s all about personal preference. I keep it secret from most people (yes, even my partner!) but her skill is such that only I can see the massive improvement. To the rest of the world, I look ‘well’ or that they can see I look healthier since changing my diet / taking up the gym / getting better sleep / dry Jan etc. you name it. People can see a brighter me, but not that I have had Botox. Someone might suddenly notice my eyebrow shape, the way my fringe has been cut or even the fact I’m wearing glasses (always wear them!), but my secret is safe with Jane. It’s a confidence boost! I am not trying to look younger, I just want to look nice for my age. I’m in my 50s.”

The Science Behind Wrinkles: Understanding the Aging Process

Nevertheless, wrinkle-relaxing injections aren’t for everybody, and they actually can’t treat all types of fine lines and wrinkles; Botox is only for those wrinkles that have formed because of repetitive muscle movement. Notoriously, this is the forehead and between the eyebrows, as well as wrinkles at the side of the eyes which are sometimes called smile lines or crow’s feet.

As we age, our skin produces less collagen and elastin, two of the proteins that are responsible for maintaining our skin’s structure, firmness, and elasticity. With this in mind, some wrinkles can be formed because of how you sleep; these can also be called sleep lines, which form because you’ve been laying on your face, folding your skin, in the same way for about 8 hours a night, for however many years.

Combine this prolonged ‘smush’ (not a technical term) of your skin against your pillow with a dwindling supply of collagen and elastin and you can have yourself some sleep lines. The moral of this story is to try to sleep on your back, and/or buy yourself a pillow slip made of silk which is believed to be kinder to your skin.

Other factors in the formation of fine lines and wrinkles are sun exposure, smoking, pollution, and poor nutrition. These lifestyle factors can lead to oxidative stress which damages the skin’s cells and accelerate the ageing process.

Another commonly seen factor in wrinkle formation is facial fat pad shrinking. Shrinking fat pads is a very natural part of facial ageing. This can also be seen in those who’ve lost quite a bit of weight. Facial fat pads are your internal scaffolding which helps to keep your skin smooth and taut.

As the facial fat pads shrink, they help to form wrinkles and skin folds, for example when this happens in the cheeks and mid-face it can result in nose-to-mouth lines (sometimes called nasolabial lines) and marionette lines.

The good news is, no matter the cause of your facial wrinkles, there is usually a solution to help.

What can I do at home to help wrinkles?

1. Your shield against wrinkles

One of the best ways to prevent wrinkles is to protect your skin from the sun. The advice is to wear broad-spectrum sunscreen with a 30SPF every single day, even if it’s cloudy and rainy outside. Additionally, please avoid sun beds and stay in the shade during the peak sun hours (this is usually around 12 pm to 3 pm). Not only will you benefit from healthier skin, but protecting your skin daily will help to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation issues.

2. From the inside out

Eating a balanced diet that’s rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals can also help to keep your skin and body healthy and youthful. Focus on including foods like leafy greens, nuts, berries, and fatty fish in your diet; they’re all great sources of skin-friendly nutrients.

Additionally, you can supplement your diet with nutrients such as NAD and glutathione. We absolutely love the powerful (and superior) supplement range from Hinnao. With these supplements, the aim is to reduce the biological ageing of your cells-not just in your skin, but throughout your body. Most of the issues we face as we age and in later life can be put down to our cells ageing. With regular use of Hinnao supplements, the aim is to have your cells functioning at a much ‘younger’ age than your chronological age to help with negative age-related issues from how your skin looks, to how your brain and heart function.

 Read more about Hinnao here.

3. The essentials

You don’t need to use every product under the sun, although it’s tempting. BASIC can be better when it comes to skincare routines.

By basic, I don’t necessarily mean that the products and ingredients are basic, more that you usually only need a few products to make up a basic, but very effective, at-home skincare regime.

To help your skin stay healthy and to help reduce wrinkles we often recommend a hyaluronic acid serum to hydrate your skin. Skin hydration is key because hydrated cells function better and will respond to other products and skin treatments more effectively. Hydrating your skin with an H.A serum can also be the difference between looking lined and wrinkled or having plump, smooth skin. Seriously. Think about what a dehydrated grape looks like. A raisin.

Following a hyaluronic acid serum, we tend to suggest an antioxidant which helps to protect your skin from environmental ageing factors, such as pollution; see my point above about oxidative stress contributing to wrinkles. This would be followed by a daily SPF.

A word to the wise: the SPF in your makeup is 100% not enough to protect your skin. You would have to trowel the foundation on to a ridiculous thickness to get the amount of protection suggested. Any time you use an SPF you must put the right amount on otherwise you’ll not be getting the suggested level of protection.

Here is a rough video guide demonstrating how much sun cream to use. 

Additionally, at night time, we sometimes suggest a good retinol product. Retinol can be effective to help soften wrinkles and brighten the skin.

When it comes to at-home skincare, consistency is key. We can’t use products once in a blue moon and expect miracles. Although, that would be quite nice.

Are there treatments that can help wrinkles?

1. Transformative treatments

We discussed wrinkle relaxing, aka Botox, at the start however, it’s not always appropriate and/or not everybody wants this treatment. Nevertheless, it can be a fantastic option for those who are suitable and who wish to have this treatment. At Skin to Love, we promote natural-looking results, so if you are looking for the ‘frozen’ look, we may not be the right place for you.

These non-surgical skin treatments can help to smooth skin texture, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, restore skin plumpness and firmness, tighten, and lift the skin to give you a refreshed appearance.

2. Caring, safe, and effective

If you’re interested in exploring non-surgical treatments, and learning more about your skin, skincare products, and natural but noticeable treatment results that might suit you, contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced medical practitioners at our CQC registered and Save Face accredited skin clinic.

We’re here to help you look and feel your best.

Disclaimer: This blog is not to be used for diagnostic purposes. We are all unique which means that our results, recovery and suitability for any type of treatment will vary. Always seek the advice of a professional should you have any health or cosmetic concerns or to discuss treatments specifically for you.