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23 Ways to Reduce Wrinkles
Worried that your skin looks older than you feel?
Here are 23 ways to reduce wrinkles - starting now!
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By Coletter Bouchez
WebMD Feature
Whether you're 35 and just beginning to see the
first signs of aging, or 55 with skin that isn't
exactly keeping your birthday a secret, seeking ways
to reduce wrinkles is probably on your agenda.
At
the same time, experts say, many of us are losing
the wrinkle battle, watching helplessly as the glow
of youth goes on the dimmer switch.
"Many women as well as men believe that aging skin
is inevitable, but with the information and
technologies we have today, you really can look as
young as you feel," says Robin Ashinoff, MD, a
dermatologist at the Hackensack University Medical
Center in New Jersey.
To
help put you on the right path, WebMD asked Ashinoff
and several other experts what really works to
reduce wrinkles. What follows are 23 ways experts
say you can make a difference. While some require a
visit to the dermatologist, many are things you can
do on your own.
How to Reduce Wrinkles: What You Can
Do
1. Avoid the sun. It's the No. 1 cause of
wrinkles, with dozens of studies documenting the
impact. In one study that looked at identical twins,
New York plastic surgeon Darrick Antell, MD, found
sun exposure was even more important than heredity.
Siblings who limited sun time had fewer wrinkles and
looked younger overall than their sun-worshiping
twins.
2. Wear sunscreen. If you must go out in the
sun, wear sunscreen! It will protect you from skin
cancer, and help prevent wrinkles at the same time.
3. Don’t smoke. Some of the research is still
controversial, but more and more studies are
confirming that cigarette smoke ages skin -- mostly
by releasing an enzyme that breaks down collagen and
elastin, important components of the skin. Sibling
studies done at the Twin Research Unit at St. Thomas
Hospital in London found the brother or sister who
smoked tended to have skin that was more wrinkled
and up to 40% thinner than the non-smoker.
4. Get adequate sleep. Yale dermatologist
Nicholas Perricone, MD, says that when you don't get
enough sleep, the body produces excess cortisol, a
hormone that breaks down skin cells. Get enough
rest, Perricone says, and you'll produce more HGH
(human growth hormone), which helps skin remain
thick, more "elastic," and less likely to wrinkle.
5. Sleep on your back. The American Academy of
Dermatology (AAD) cautions that sleeping in certain
positions night after night leads to "sleep lines --
wrinkles that become etched into the surface of the
skin and don't disappear once you're up. Sleeping on
your side increases wrinkles on cheeks and chin,
while sleeping face-down gives you a furrowed brow.
To reduce wrinkle formation, the AAD says, sleep on
your back.
6. Don't squint -- get reading glasses! The AAD
says any repetitive facial movement -- like
squinting -- overworks facial muscles, forming a
groove beneath the skin's surface. This groove
eventually becomes a wrinkle. Also important: Wear
sunglasses. It will protect skin around the eyes
from sun damage -- and further keep you from
squinting.
7. Eat more fish -- particularly salmon. Not
only is salmon (along with other cold-water fish) a
great source of protein -- one of the building
blocks of great skin -- it's also an awesome source
of an essential fatty acid known as omega-3.
Perricone tells WebMD that essential fatty acids
help nourish skin and keep it plump and youthful,
helping to reduce wrinkles.
8. Eat more soy -- So far, most of the proof has
come from animal studies, but research does show
certain properties of soy may help protect or heal
some of the sun's photoaging damage. In one recent
human study, published in the European Journal of
Nutrition, researchers reported that a soy-based
supplement (other ingredients included fish protein
andextracts from white tea, grapeseed, and tomato,
as well as several vitamins) improved skin's
structure and firmness after just six months of use.
9. Trade coffee for cocoa. In a study published
in the Journal of Nutrition in 2006, researchers
found cocoa containing high levels of two dietary
flavanols (epicatchin and catechin) protected skin
from sun damage, improved circulation to skin cells,
affected hydration, and made the skin look and feel
smoother.
10. Eat more fruits and vegetables. The key,
says Kraus, are their antioxidant compounds. These
compounds fight damage caused by free radicals
(unstable molecules that can damage cells), which in
turn helps skin look younger and more radiant, and
protects against some effects of photoaging.
11. Use moisturizer. "Women, especially, are so
concerned with antiaging products they often
overlook the power of a simple moisturizer. Skin
that is moist simply looks better, so lines and
creases are far less noticeable," says Ashinoff.
12. Don't over-wash your face. According to
dermatologists at the University of Maryland Medical
Center, tap water strips skin of its natural barrier
oils and moisture that protect against wrinkles.
Wash them off too often, and you wash away
protection. Moreover, unless your soap contains
moisturizers, you should use a cleanser instead.
Topical Treatments
That Reduce Wrinkles
Studies show the following ingredients can reduce
wrinkles. Most are found in a variety of skin-care
treatments, both prescription and over-the-counter.
13. Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). These natural
fruit acids lift away the top layer of dead skin
cells, reducing the appearance of fine lines and
wrinkles, particularly around the eyes. New evidence
shows that in higher concentrations, AHAs may help
stimulate collagen production.
14. Retinoids (including Retin A). The only
FDA-approved topical treatment for wrinkles is
tretinoin, known commercially as Retin A. Ashinoff
says this prescription cream reduces fine lines and
large wrinkles, and repairs sun damage. Retinol is a
natural form of vitamin A found in many
over-the-counter products. Studies show that in a
stabilized formula, in high concentrations, it may
be as effective as Retin A, without the side
effects, such as skin burning and sensitivity.
15. Topical vitamin C. Studies at Tulane
University, among others, have found it can increase
collagen production, protect against damage from UVA
and UVB rays, correct pigmentation problems, and
improve inflammatory skin conditions. The key,
however, may be the type of vitamin C used. To date,
most of the research points to the L-ascorbic acid
form as the most potent for wrinkle relief.
16. Idebenone. This chemical cousin to the
nutrient coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)is a super-powerful
antioxidant. In one study published recently in the
Journal of Dermatology, doctors found that with just
6 weeks of topical use, there was a 26% reduction in
skin roughness and dryness, a 37% increase in
hydration, a 29% decrease in lines and wrinkles, and
a 33% overall improvement in sun-damaged skin.
Other studies have found similar results.
17. Growth factors. Part of the body's natural
wound-healing response, these compounds, when
applied topically, may reduce sun damage and
decrease lines and wrinkles, while rejuvenating
collagen production, studies have shown.
18. Pentapeptides. According to Lauren Thaman
Hodges, associate director of global skin science
for Proctor & Gamble, the results of a study
supported by the National Institutes of Health
suggested pentapeptides can increase collagen
production in sun-damaged skin. Several subsequent
studies (including one presented at a recent
national dermatology conference) showed that when
topically applied, pentapeptides stimulated collagen
production and diminished lines and wrinkles.
Medical/Spa
Treatments That Reduce Wrinkles
19. Botox. An injection of this purified
version of the A-Botulinum toxin relaxes the muscle
just underneath the wrinkle, allowing the skin on
top to lie smooth and crease-free.
20. Wrinkle fillers. The putty and spackle of
medicine, in this treatment, doctors fill wrinkles
with a variety of substances, including collagen,
hyaluronic acid, and other synthetic compounds.
Popular treatments include Restylane, Juva, and
ArteFill, among others.
21. Laser/light resurfacing. Here, energy from a
light source -- either a laser or a pulsed diode
light -- removes the top layer of skin, causing a
slight but unnoticeable skin "wounding." This kicks
the skin's natural collagen-production system into
high gear, resulting in smoother, more wrinkle-free
skin.
22. Chemical peels. In this treatment, one of a
variety of different chemicals is used to "burn"
away the top layer of skin, creating damage that
causes the body to respond by making more collagen.
You end up with younger-looking, smoother skin.
23. Dermabrasion. A vacuum suction device used
in tandem with a mild chemical crystal, dermabrasion
helps remove the top layer of skin cells and bring
new, more evenly textured skin to the surface. In
the process, fine lines and wrinkles seem to
disappear.
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Source - WebMD Inc. All rights reserved. |
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