Wrinkles. It’s a word that no one wants to hear, let alone see on their face. Mother Nature hasn’t given us a fountain of youth, but technology is helping close the gap. In the last few decades, doctors and scientists have come up with incredibly effective ways to correct wrinkles and turn back the hands of time by 5-10 years or more.
In addition to keeping skin healthy with a daily cleanser and moisturizer, you may want to consider going a step further to iron out persistent wrinkles.
Dermal Fillers
Let’s go ahead and cut to the chase. Dermal fillers like the ever-popular Juvederm are one of the most effective ways to not only conceal wrinkles but to also restore lost volume.
As we age, we begin to lose hyaluronic acid that naturally occurs in the skin. Hyaluronic acid helps to moisturize and plump the skin, which helps keep wrinkles at bay. Elastin production also slows down with age. Since elastin is the support system of the skin, sagging can also become an issue that makes wrinkles look worse.
Often one or two syringes of Juvederm, Restylane or Radiesse are all that’s needed to smooth out wrinkles and give the face a more youthful appearance. However, dermal fillers have become highly specialized. Some work best for a specific area or wrinkle depth so choose wisely.
Botulinum Toxin Type A
Botulinum toxin type A (i.e. Botox and Dysport) is a nerve blocker that works by cutting off signals to muscles, thereby inhibiting their ability to flex and crease. This combats wrinkles in two ways. The first is the softening of wrinkles that occur when a muscle moves. These are called dynamic wrinkles since they only show up when the muscles are activated. Crows feet are an example of dynamic wrinkles that are eliminated with botulinum toxin type A.
Botox and Dysport can also help prevent wrinkles from forming or getting worse since there’s less muscle movement and skin creasing in general. Some women in their late 20s and early 30s have begun getting regular Botox and Dysport treatments strictly as a preventative measure.
The results last 3-4 months, but nerve blockers definitely deliver results that are noticeable within a few days of the injections. These wrinkle relaxers are so effective they’re now the most popular minimally invasive cosmetic procedure according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons annual statistics.
Laser Resurfacing
Today there’s a wide selection of lasers that are used to correct skin issues like wrinkling. There are even at-home devices that can be safely used on a daily basis.
Lasers that are found in a dermatologist’s office can be more invasive, but they offer quicker results. The machines fall into one of two categories:
Ablative lasers – Ablative lasers target the top layer of skin (epidermis). They work by vaporizing the outer layers of skin. As the skin heals it produces more collagen.
Non-ablative lasers – Non-ablative lasers work by heating up the tissue in the lower dermis layer without destroying it. This is the type of technology used with fractional lasers. It’s less invasive and requires less recovery time.
Micro Needling
You may have heard about this fast trending med spa treatment. Basically, a tool with dozens of miniscule needles is moved over the skin to essentially aerate it. Micro needling helps encourage collagen and elastin production. If you pair micro needling with a serum or facial treatment the nutrients will also penetrate deeper into the skin.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are close to ablative lasers in that they target the top layers of the skin. A chemical solution that dissolves dead cells is applied to the skin to speed up the exfoliation process. After the outer layer of skin has shed, the smoother fresh skin underneath is revealed.
One of the advantages of a chemical peel is the solution can be customized to meet specific skin needs. The solution can also be adjusted for people with sensitive skin.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion works in a way that’s similar to ablative lasers. Instead of using laser technology, a specialized tool is used to buff away the outermost layer of skin. Sloughing off the dead skin cells on the surface helps to improve texture and fine lines. When paired with a chemical peel, a series of microdermabrasion treatments can also help soften deeper wrinkles.
Natural Oils and Antioxidants
There are also plenty of things you can do at home to soften and conceal wrinkles. Natural oils like coconut oil and vegetable glycerin provide an ample amount of moisture to dehydrated skin. They’re a quick and easy way to plump up skin and fill in wrinkles.
Taking a multivitamin and eating an antioxidant rich diet can also help. Antioxidants protect the skin from the inside out by neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are atoms with an uneven number of electrons. They go around stealing electrons from healthy cells, causing damage in their wake. If free radicals constantly outnumber antioxidants it can prematurely age the skin.
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