Can You Really Reverse Wrinkles?

Can You Really Reverse Wrinkles? We Investigated

The best way to reverse fine lines and wrinkles is to never develop them in the first place, but that may be easier said than done. Wrinkles are caused by a wide range of skin aging factors. Still others you are unable to control, for example, your age and genetics. Thus, how your skin will age has to do with your lifestyle as well as who your parents are.

The most common signs of aging that women want to reverse include:

Expression Wrinkles

Also referred to as frown, smile or laugh lines, these facial wrinkles tend to show up on the face where from making expressions, like around the mouth, between the brows and at the outer corners of the eyes and around your eyes. They are caused by making muscle contractions, as in squinting. These wrinkles can be reversed with aesthetic treatments, include Botox and light- based devices.

Compression Wrinkles

This category of wrinkles can appear on the face, neck and chest. Wrinkles on the chest can be caused by the way you sleep at night. Notice that if you sleep on your stomach, for example, your face may be pushed into your pills which can cause premature wrinkles sign. These wrinkles may be improved by having them filled with injectables such as hyaluronic acid gel fillers.

Atrophic Wrinkles

These are the vertical lines that form between your eyes on the forehead and show when your face is at rest. As you lose collagen and elastin every time, these creases may appear to be more noticeable. They are usually treated with toxins like Botox and dermal fillers.

What happens to your skin during the aging process?

As your skin ages, you may start to see changes appear over time. It becomes thinner, loses fat, and no longer looks as plump and smooth as it once did. Your veins and bones become more visible as the skin thins and loses elasticity. Scratches, cuts bruises and other skin damage may take longer to heal. Your skin may also feel itchy and times and show signs of dryness, redness and flaking.

Cumulative sun exposure will also lead to wrinkles, creases, dark spots, discoloration, dullness and other signs of premature aging. Another side effect is the potential development of skin cancer that also increases with sun exposure and aging.

Dermatologists agree that the best way to prevent skin cancer is to be vigilant about daily sunscreen use to protect skin from the sun. Checking your own aging skin at home for any suspicious moles or dark spots as well as having an annual skin check with your doctor can diagnose skin cancers early.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to protect your skin and keep it looking youthful for longer.

Simple treatments that can prevent premature wrinkles from forming

Can using sunscreen daily prevent wrinkles?

Sunscreen is widely considered the most important anti-aging treatment to use. A study from Australia found that regular sunscreen use protects against photoaging: the wrinkling, discoloration and loss of elasticity caused by exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.

So, if you are looking for ways to prevent wrinkles, applying a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every single day is a good place to start at any age. Sunscreen should also be used during the winter and when the sun is not even shining. Sunlight contains visible light rays and also invisible ultraviolet rays (UV rays) that can tan or burn the skin.

Do digital devices cause fine lines and wrinkles?

HEV, or blue light rays, are also everywhere. Most notably, the display screens of computers, tablets, smartphones, and other digital devices. Your devices emit only a fraction of what the sun does, but because we spend so much time on them, blue light rays factor into skin aging too. This is why dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons wearing SPF30 or higher even while working indoors.

More ways to improve deep wrinkles

In addition to avoiding direct exposure to UV light, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and what you eat are also factors in wrinkle formation. Healthy skin habits include eating a healthy diet rich in antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables.

Aesthetic practitioners also recommend trying to stop smoking and sticking to a skin care products regimen every day to prevent premature wrinkles from showing up.

It’s never too late to start incorporating these healthy habits and changes into your lifestyle. Fortunately, there is more you can do to reverse the fine lines and deep wrinkles that may have already started to form.

How do you get rid of premature wrinkles?

Topical formulations, energy-based treatments, dermal fillers and cosmetic surgery top the list of effective wrinkle-reversing wrinkle treatments.

Retinoids

Vitamin A-based drugs called retinoids can reduce fine lines and wrinkles by increasing the production of collagen, which is a protein that gives skin its structure. Our supply of collagen diminishes with advancing age. It takes three to six months of regular use to see an improvement in wrinkles with daily usage. Retinoids may be recommended for reversing forehead wrinkles, as well as improving skin texture and tone.

The alternative to potent retinoids such as Retin-A® that requires a prescription is retinol and other vitamin A derivatives that may be found in a medical spa, drug store, or doctors’ office but do not require a prescription.

Injectables

Neuromodulators such as Botox® Cosmetic (Allergan), Dysport® (Galderma), Xeomin® (Merz Aesthetics) and Jeuveau® (Evolus) can also help smooth wrinkles. They block the release of a chemical called acetylcholine which triggers the muscle contractions that creates wrinkles, essentially paralyzing the muscles so they stop contracting. Results are evident in a few days and can last from 3 to 6 months. Soft tissue fillers including hyaluronic-based injectables like Juvederm® (Allergan) and Restylane® (Galderma) fill wrinkles from the inside out. The effect is immediate and lasts for a few months.

Facial plastic surgery

Facial plastic surgery, such as a facelift, deep plane facelift or neck lift, can help reposition lax skin, remove excess skin and fat, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. However, all surgical procedures also come with some risks that may include infection, poor healing, scarring, asymmetries, and long downtime. In addition, many people are not good candidates for surgery or are unwilling to accept these risks to reverse wrinkles.

Energy-based devices

Energy-based devices that reverse wrinkles include ablative and non-ablative laser technology, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), radiofrequency devices, and High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), Sofwave, a next-generation ultrasound device, is emerging as a clear leader among available energy-based wrinkle-reversing technologies.

Sofwave delivers a unique form of ultrasound waves to boost the supply of collagen and elastin under your skin’s surface. Starting in our mid-20’s, collagen and elastin start to break down causing our skin to wrinkle.

Wrinkle reduction is visible after just one 30-45 minute Sofwave treatment. It may also be recommended to treat deep wrinkles including forehead wrinkles.

By contrast, the more aggressive options can cause damage to the skin, which requires a long healing period. In addition, there is a high risk of side effects, including discoloration and discomfort. Sofwave’s unique technology protects the skin surface with a cooling mechanism.

The good news is that although skin aging is inevitable, today there are many effective treatments available that can help prevent and reduce wrinkles as we get older, including the new Sofwave technology.

Schedule an appointment with your aesthetic provider today to find out which methods are right for you and give your skin a new life.