Wrinkles Treatment
Wrinkles can be caused by aging, facial contractions, and sun damage.
Treatment for wrinkles include laser resurfacing and injection.
What causes
wrinkles?
There are many factors that contribute to the
onset of wrinkles. The following are the most important:
1) Aging
Wrinkles are a natural by-product of the
aging process. With age, skin cells divide more slowly. The inner layer of the
skin, called the dermis, begins to thin. The network of elastin and collagen
fibers, which support the outer layer, loosens and unravels. This process
results in depressions on the skin surface. With aging, skin becomes more
fragile. Also, oil-secreting glands are less efficient, making the skin less
able to retain moisture and appear more wrinkled. All of these factors contribute
to the development of wrinkles.
Lines between the eyebrows
(“eleven” or frown lines) and lines coming out from the corner of the eyes
(crow's feet) are believed to develop because of the underlying muscle
contractions. Smiling, frowning, squinting, and other habitual facial
expressions cause these wrinkles to become more prominent with age. Over time
the expressions, along with gravity and the loss of underlying bone and fat
mass, contribute to the formation of jowls and drooping eyelids.
Excessive exposure to ultraviolet
radiation (too much sun) can result in premature aging of the skin, also known
as photoaging. The ultraviolet sunrays that cause photoaging damage collagen
fibers (the major structural proteins in the skin) and elastin fibers (the
protein that enable skin to stretch). Both of these fibers are important
components of the skin’s connective tissue. Without them, the skin loses its
strength and flexibility, leading to wrinkles. When ultraviolet light damages
skin tissue, certain enzymes are produced. These enzymes create and reform
collagen. During the process, however, some healthy collagen fibers are
damaged, resulting in a disorganized formation of fibers called solar scars.
Wrinkles develop when this rebuilding process occurs over and over.
Researchers have found that
smoking tobacco products causes a reduction in the production of new collagen.
A lack of new collagen results in the development of wrinkles. This may also be
due to the lack of blood supply to the skin caused by smoking.
Removing skin layers to reduce
wrinkles or irregular depressions is an effective way to regain smoother, more
youthful looking skin. Dermabrasion (scraping
layers away) and chemical peels (dissolving
skin away) are two of the traditional methods used in skin resurfacing.
Additional techniques have been developed to repair prematurely aging skin.
These include the following:
Laser skin resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing is a treatment to
reduce facial wrinkles and irregularities caused by sun damage or acne. The
laser technique directs short, concentrated pulsating beams of light at
irregular skin. Ablative laser skin resurfacing removes skin very precisely,
layer by layer, which stimulates the growth of new collagen fibers. This mode
of laser also results in fewer problems with hypopigmentation (lightening of
the skin). Non-ablative laser resurfacing promotes the development of new healthier
collagen, helping to restore the skin contour and appearance with minimal
downtime. Fractional laser technology is also available. The laser light is
delivered in a grid allowing normal, untreated skin to remain within the
treated area, which leads to quicker healing.
You are an ideal candidate for laser skin
resurfacing if you have:
Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) injection
therapy
Botox is a medicine derived from the
botulinum toxin. It blocks the chemical signals that cause muscles to contract.
Botox is injected into the muscles whose contractions cause wrinkles, such as
between the eyebrows (frown lines) and the lines that radiate from the corner
of the eyes (crow's feet). The effects of Botox usually last for 3 to 4 months.
When the Botox wears off, the muscles again become active and the wrinkles will
begin to reform. The treatment would then be repeated. If you choose not to repeat
the injections, your wrinkles will return to no worse than they were initially.
There might be temporary redness, bruising,
or stinging around the Botox injection site(s). In extremely rare cases, there
might be a slight lid droop for several days after the injection, but all
reported side effects have been temporary.
Fillers
Wrinkles that remain at rest may require
filler to fill-in or lift up skin that is depressed. Prominent folds around the
mouth, nose, and chin are the most commonly treated. Hyaluronic acid, a natural
occurring sugar polymer, is the most common filler used. Most fillers are
temporary, providing improvement for around 4 to 6 months, at which time the
treatment would need to be repeated. Side effects may include bruising,
temporary swelling, and pain.
Facelift
A facelift is a surgical procedure during
which excess skin and fat is removed from the face and neck. Tightening of the
muscular and connective tissue layers is also performed. The results usually
last 7 to 10 years.
Sun exposure should be minimized
to prevent further wrinkles and sun damage. Daily use of sunscreen is very
important in prevention. There are treatments to repair prematurely aging skin
including topical retinoids and glycolic acid. If there is significant damage,
photodynamic (blue light) treatment and/or topical chemotherapy creams such as
5-fluorouracil are also sometimes used.