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Though all wrinkles may look the same to the average person, skin is actually a lot more complicated than that. Being able to identify the different types of wrinkles isn’t just a way to show-up your friends with fun trivia, it can also be essential in learning how to prevent the development of each of these wrinkles.
For many years it was believed that there were only 2 categories of wrinkles. Although we now know that’s not true, most wrinkles can still be separated into these 2 categories:
This category of wrinkles is caused by repeated movement due to the expressions that we make. When we’re young and our skin is firm and full of elastin, these wrinkles appear temporarily as we move our face into certain expressions, such as frowns, smiles, or looks of concentration. As the skin loses elasticity these once temporary expressions become permanent, and can lead to wrinkles like crow’s feet, the horizontal creases in the forehead, the vertical creases between the brows, and all manner of other expression lines.
This category of wrinkles can appear all over the face and are caused by gravity and the folds caused by a decrease in plumpness in the skin. Static wrinkles typically appear as fine lines running parallel to each other, and as the skin ages they tend to display themselves as permanent folds around the lips, cheeks, neck, and even the chest.
Atrophic crinkling rhytids are categorized as a static wrinkle and is simply a group of wrinkles (i.e. crinkles) that has developed because the skin has weakened. These wrinkles typically appear as fine lines running parallel to each other, and 1 way of identifying them is by stretching the skin where they appear to see if the crinkles go away. Stretching the skin makes these crinkles go away because they are caused by a loss of collagen and elasticity. The best way to prevent atrophic crinkling rhytids from developing is to avoid things like sun damage and harsh environments, as these are big contributing factors to the loss of collagen. Use sunscreen and keep your skin moisturized, or even add lotions containing AHA or BHA to your skincare routine to help stimulate cell turnover.
Dry wrinkles refer to the dry, thin wrinkles that that appear in fine, parallel lines on the forehead and chest. As the name suggests, these wrinkles appear due to a lack of moisture caused by decreased activity of the epidermal glands, which are responsible for oil secretion. This happens as we grow older, and the lack of oil makes it harder to keep the skin hydrated. The best way to prevent these wrinkles from appearing is to keep the skin moisturized with creams and lotions that will help stimulate the skin’s own ability to produce moisture. You may also be a good candidate for mesotherapy treatments, which injects essential vitamins and nutrients back into the skin.
Permanent elastic creases are wrinkles that appear after years of repeated crease lines in the skin. These develop primarily due to a loss of collagen in the skin and most often appear on the cheeks, upper lip, and the horizontal lines at the base of the neck. The appearance of these creases is accelerated by continued exposure to the sun and other factors that attack the production of collagen, such as smoking. The best way to prevent these wrinkles is to avoid sun exposure and to be vigilant about applying sunscreen, even if your skin has a lot of melatonin.
Dynamic expression lines, as the name suggests, are those wrinkles that appear due to recurring expressions and facial movements, such as frown lines and smile lines, or crow’s feet that appear at the corner of the eyes. When we’re young, these lines only appear as we make an expression, but as we get older and the skin loses density, they become permanent. A way to help prevent them is to use topical creams that include different types of vitamin A, such as from the ZO skincare range.
Gravitational folds are wrinkles that are caused by gravity. As the skin ages it begins to sag, and these lines and creases become more obvious and permanent. The most obvious of these lines are nasolabial folds, the lines that appear from the corner of the nose to the corner of the mouth, and marionette lines, the lines that run from the corner of the mouth down either side of the chin. As these lines are caused by gravity, they are pretty much inevitable, but maintaining the plumpness and integrity of the skin can help hold off their appearance. Though anti-aging cream won’t help, a diet of healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids will help maintain the suppleness of the skin, and once again sunscreen can help by slowing down the loss of collagen. As well, certain dermal fillers, such as Radiesse, are specially formulated to plump the skin to effectively smooth out the appearance of these folds.
Though chemical peels and masks cannot replace lost volume under the superficial layers of the skin, they can be very helpful in treating the surface skin. These treatments not only rid the skin of excessive oil and dirt that adversely affect the skin, they also help stimulate cell production, making the skin look youthful and radiant as old skin cells are sloughed off and new ones take their place.
Thread lifts are an effective and long-lasting treatment for wrinkles, and these procedures are much easier and less expensive than getting more permanent surgeries. Like all other treatments, this is more effective before wrinkles become too advanced, as they are primarily recommended for skin that has minimal sagging.
Most popularly distributing under the brand Botox, these treatments are very helpful in treating and preventing dynamic wrinkles from appearing. Botulinum toxins work by paralyzing muscles, thus preventing the contractions that create lines and wrinkles in the skin when we make certain expressions.
Creams can be very helpful in keeping the skin moisture, helping to stave off the appearance of wrinkles. This kind of treatment can also provide other nourishing ingredients such as vitamins and antioxidants that help the skin fight off free-radicals and maintain integrity.
Though aging is an inevitable part of life, there are many things we can do to delay and prevent the appearance of wrinkles in our skin. The most important part is to be vigilant and to make your skin health a priority instead of an afterthought. This includes speaking to a dermatologist about options such as dermal fillers, Botox, and thread lifts before you start to notice the signs of aging, as these treatments are all more effective in preventing wrinkles as opposed to making them disappear when they are already pronounced.
Disclaimer: These articles, and any views and opinions expressed, are not endorsed by Raskel Medical. The articles are strictly for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Raskel Medical does not check or edit the content of these articles for medical accuracy. Contact your medical practitioner for any medical advice needed.