The skin is made up of three layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous tissue. The outermost layer of the skin is the epidermis, the middle is the dermis, and the innermost layer is the subcutaneous layer.
When you are young, the skin does a great job of stretching and holding in moisture. The dermis has an elastic quality due to fibers called elastin that keep the skin looking young. A protein in the dermis called collagen also plays a part in preventing wrinkles.
However, over time, the dermis loses both collagen and elastin, so skin gets thinner and has trouble getting enough moisture to the epidermis. The fat in the subcutaneous layer that gives skin a plump appearance also begins to disappear, the epidermis starts to sag, and wrinkles form.
What makes wrinkles worse?
i) Age
ii) Ultraviolet rays from the Sun or from tanning machines. The sun destroys more collagen than with normal ageing process and creates an abnormal elastin. An enzyme is then produced in great amounts (called metalloproteinases) is produced which creates collagen. However the process does not always work properly, and instead breaks down the collagen. It creates disorganised collagen fibres (Called solar scars). When this process repeats, wrinkles develop.
iii) Smoking and Air Pollution. Free radicals (ie unstable oxygen molecules with just one electron instead of two) cause damage to the skin because they look for another electron. As these electrons occur in pairs, when one electron is removed, it leaves another unstable molecule. This damages the function of the cell. The enzyme (called metalloproteinases) is activated causing collagen damage resulting in wrinkles.
iv) Hormones. It may be due to decreased production of the Oestrogen hormone as in the menopause. This can cause a decrease in collagen levels and a decrease in skin thickness.
v) Muscles. Habitual facial expressions can cause wrinkles.
vi) Gravity. Skin sagging can be caused by the gravity.
vii) Heredity. Some families wrinkle more than others.
What age do you get wrinkles?
Some people get wrinkles around their eyes (or Crows Feet) at the age of twenty and other people don’t get them until their fifties.
Which laser treatment helps with wrinkles?
Laser Resurfacing helps fine lines around the eyes and mouth but is unsuitable for deep wrinkles or jowls.
