8 habits that cause wrinkles

Wrinkles cause concern among most women. This is because they are caused by the evolution of age, that is, they are part of a natural process that will occur with every human being, aging.

Sara Bragança, a doctor with a postgraduate degree in Dermatology, specialized in Orthomolecular Therapy, and a member of the Brazilian Society of Aesthetic Medicine, highlights that wrinkles are creases or folds in the skin that occur due to the loss of collagen with advancing age. “They are part of a natural process, but they can be accelerated by external factors, such as high sun exposure, smoking, stress, insomnia, consumption of alcoholic beverages”, she emphasizes.

Marcelo Moreira, plastic surgeon, full member of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (SBCP) and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS), says that the main habits that cause wrinkles are sun exposure and the exaggerated use of facial expressions.

Below you can see how these and other habits are related to the appearance of wrinkles:

1. High sun exposure

High sun exposure, even more when done without protection, causes skin aging, which manifests itself especially through stains, wrinkles and changes in tone earlier.

2. Exaggerated use of facial expressions

Even if involuntarily, some people end up contracting their facial muscles numerous times a day in order to show expressions about certain situations.

As explained by Moreira, the great use of facial muscles creates creases in the skin and, later, wrinkles.

3. Smoking

Cigarettes are a great enemy of skin beauty, as nicotine breaks down collagen and elastic fibers, resulting in more wrinkled, lifeless skin.

4. Alcohol consumption

Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages promotes the increase of free radicals (which negatively affect the body, contributing to premature aging, among other problems) and makes it difficult to absorb various nutrients.

5. Stress

Stress situations alter the functioning of the human organism, for example, hindering the skin’s ability to renew cells and produce collagen. In addition, stress causes an increase in free radicals, which results in skin damage.

6. Sleep little/poorly

It is during sleep that “rejuvenating” hormones such as melatonin and growth hormone are produced. Without good hours of sleep to recharge your energies, cell renewal does not occur.

7. Having a bad diet

It is also necessary to follow a balanced diet to ensure the health and beauty of the skin. A diet rich in vegetables, varied fruits, legumes, cereals and vegetables is the best protection against free radicals, which are enemies of the skin. That’s because the substances found in these foods are excellent antioxidants that neutralize the action of free radicals.

8. Do not remove makeup

Good makeup can be used throughout the day, even helping to protect the skin from solar radiation. But it must be removed before bed, otherwise it will clog the pores, causing damage to the skin.

Different types of wrinkles

Sara Bragança explains that there are four different types of wrinkles: expression, fine, deep and gravitational wrinkles.

Expression wrinkles: they are signs of those who make a lot of facial movements to communicate, regardless of age. They are located on the forehead, between the eyebrows and around the eyes.

Fine wrinkles: they are related to the loss of collagen. They are more frequent in people with very fair skin and just over 30 years old.

Deep wrinkles: they are consequences of intrinsic (genetically natural) and extrinsic (caused by external factors) aging. They usually appear due to the significant loss of collagen and thinning of the dermis, especially in people over 45 years old.

Gravitational wrinkles: they are caused especially by the reduction of collagen and elastic fibers and appear together with the flaccidity of the muscles, leaving skin leftovers, usually in the angle of the jaw. They are more common from the age of 60, but can appear earlier due to smoking and excessive sun exposure.

Creams for treating wrinkles

Dermatologist Sara suggests creams based on retinoic acids, glycolic acid, mandelic acid, alpha hydroxy acids, creams based on hyaluronic acid, DMAE, raffermine, tensine to treat wrinkles.

treatments for wrinkles

Currently, there are numerous types of treatment for wrinkles. “Among them, filling with hyaluronic acid, which fills in the furrows; radiofrequency, which stimulates collagen production, making the skin firmer; chemical peels, which aim to improve collagen production and rejuvenate the skin; the use of botulinum toxin in dynamic wrinkles that, when causing the paralysis of the treated area, the wrinkles disappear”, highlights Sara.

Marcelo Moreira talks about what, in his opinion, are the best and main treatments for wrinkles:

1. Fractional CO2 laser

It is among the best treatment options to rejuvenate the skin. “It can be used both to fight the signs of age – on the face, neck, chest and hands – as well as to eliminate stretch marks, age spots, melasma, acne and surgical scars. This laser has different indications because it acts on water molecules present in all tissues. It removes the outer layer of damaged skin, and promotes the development of new collagen in the dermis and epidermis”, explains Moreira.

2. Botulinum toxin

Botox is not a facial filler, but a muscle paralytic that will help by inhibiting dynamic wrinkles. “It is indicated depending on the degree of facial expression of the patient (some use a lot of facial muscles when talking), but, in general, it starts to be applied from the age of 30”, explains the plastic surgeon.

3. Lifting

Moreira explains that, when the sagging of the facial tissues cannot be resolved by aesthetic procedures, when there are many wrinkles on the forehead, drooping eyebrows, and deep furrows in the middle of the face and sagging, a facelift is indicated, which is facial rejuvenation. “By repositioning the skin and deep structures of the face (such as fat and muscle structures), this intervention restores the harmony of the face lost with aging”, he says.

The surgeon points out that there is no right age to do a facelift. “But, in general, it becomes necessary after physiologically there is a decrease in elastic fibers, subcutaneous tissue and collagen, resulting in the detachment of all skin layers, resulting in the need to replace these structures”, he explains. .

Moreira also adds that the fractional CO2 laser session can be performed during the facelift to optimize results. “The device is taken to the operating room and activated minutes after the plastic surgery. The treatment preserves healthy skin niches between the points, which favors faster healing,” he says.

Although there are good treatments to soften wrinkles, remember that the best way is prevention. Now you already know some habits that accelerate the aging process and, consequently, help to cause wrinkles, so you can avoid them!