No matter how young you feel, you may notice your skin is starting to look dull and weathered. This change can sneak up on you, but the process can be slowed and, with a little loving care, reduced so any wrinkles are less visible.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a combination of factors cause your skin to form wrinkles. Only one of them, getting older, is beyond your control. As you age, your body produces lower levels of natural oils, so your skin becomes drier, less elastic and more fragile. At the same time, fat in the deeper layers of your dermis diminish (even though it may feel like it moves to other body parts). This results in looser skin that sags and shows more-pronounced lines and crevices.
If you cannot stop the hands of time, what can you do? Thankfully, there are more solutions you can control than not.
Turn that frown upside down
That advice helps both your mood and your skin. Repeatedly frowning and squinting creates new lines and wrinkles on your face that wear into grooves below the surface. As your skin ages, it doesn’t bounce back as effectively.
Before you work in any new lines, think about how your face reacts when you are stressed or concentrating. If you are used to furrowing your brow, make yourself more aware and try to react with your facial muscles in different ways. You can also do daily stretches by opening your mouth wide and moving your jaw around. Massaging your face also helps loosen up muscles and keep blood flowing to the underlying cells.
As a bonus, when you smile rather than fret, your brain releases neurotransmitters like serotonin (a natural antidepressant) and endorphins (a natural pain reliever). These help you recover faster from stress and slow down your heart rate. Smiling also uses more muscles than other sad faces so give yourself a happy little workout.
Look on the bright side
Exposure to the sun and its ultraviolet (UV) light, accelerates the natural ageing process. Even though it feels lovely to have the sun on your skin, its rays break down its collagen and elastin fibers, which connect your tissues in the deeper layers. Once they weaken, your skin becomes less strong and flexible, so it sags and wrinkles.
Start by limiting the amount of time you spend in the sun, especially when it’s at its peak midday. Use light clothing or hats with wide brims that make you feel colourful and lively.
When you do dress lighter, slather on sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more, preferably 30 or higher. It wears off after two hours so don’t forget to reapply, especially if you are swimming or sweating. It also takes a little while to sink in, so put it on while indoors about 15 minutes before you head outside. Look for mineral sunscreen, physical block, or zinc oxide ingredients such as those found in ELTAMD products.
More skin solutions
Your diet can help you plump up your skin by adding more fruits and vegetables. Not only do they have more fluids than other condensed foods, but they are also rich in vitamins that feed your body so it can rebuild your cells. The Mayo Clinic recommends carrots, apricots, spinach, tomatoes, berries, and salmon and other fatty fish, among other foods. These are also great for your overall health.
Trust your skincare experts when they say their products make your skin look more lush. Put it on right after your shower or face-washing to trap the water your cells have just absorbed. That way, it helps you mask the tiny lines and creases when they start. If this is a new routine for you, give yourself a few weeks before you expect to see a difference.
Neuromodulators, such as Botox® and Dysport®, soften your dynamic wrinkles, making your face appear more refreshed. They limit the activity of nerve impulses and relax those underlying muscles that kick your frown into gear. As a result, you end up with smoother skin. These treatments work well on horizontal forehead lines, the frown lines between your eyebrows, crow’s feet and wrinkles around the nose that we like to call ‘bunny lines.’ A treatment typically takes 10 to 15 minutes with trained healthcare professionals, such as our Cenoté specialists.
Dermal fillers add volume by helping to restore your skin’s hyaluronic acid (HA) content for a softer, fresher look. HA is a key molecule that helps you retain water in your skin. These fillers expertly and strategically replenish the hyaluronic acid loss that has occurred over time by entering sunken or wrinkled areas and plumping them up. This technique helps bring back volume and contour, restoring and enhancing your facial features with no down time. A Cenoté specialist will review your individual needs and goals to develop a treatment plan that will ensure optimal results.
While wrinkles may feel like an insurmountable problem for you, there are ways to minimize them with a few lifestyle changes and a little help from our pros. With the proper treatment and some patience, you can reverse your wrinkles and restore the youthful appearance of healthy skin once again.