Just about everyone dreads the day that they see their first wrinkle. Unfortunately, once that first wrinkle appears, it doesn’t take long for more to join it, leaving the skin looking much older than its years. Don’t worry, a smooth complexion can be yours once again – here’s what you need to do to get rid of the fine lines and wrinkles on your face.
Contents
What Causes Wrinkles on the Face?
Although primarily caused by sun exposure and its associated UV damage, there are several other factors that also contribute to the development of wrinkles on the face. Some of the biggest culprits are:
- Aging skin
- Genetics
- A poor diet
- Skin type
- Certain facial expressions
- Smoking
How to Get Rid of Wrinkles at Home
While professional treatments tend to have a more immediate and dramatic effect, there are still several things that you can do at home to get rid of wrinkles.
Establish a Consistent Skin Care Routine
If your skin has started wrinkling, then this means that it needs some extra help. One of the side effects of the skin aging process is the decline in your skin’s collagen and elastin content – these two proteins are responsible for how tight and smooth your skin is.
Since your skin cells are now not able to produce enough of these vital proteins, you’ll need to topically feed them with products that can stimulate this process once again. A good anti-wrinkle skincare routine will consist of the following products used in this order:
- A cleanser
- A toner
- Anti-aging serums
- An eye cream
- An anti-aging moisturizer
- SPF during the day
Of course, not all products are created equally. So, in addition to making sure that your beauty routine contains all of the above steps, you need to also check the content of the products that you’re using. Make sure that these have been formulated with ingredients that really can transform your skin, not only on your face, but on your body too.
Use the Right Ingredients
There are so many ingredients out there that could help to turn back the clock on your wrinkles, but some have been studied much more extensively than others.
Vitamin A is known for being one of the most effective when it comes to kickstarting the collagen production process and reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Over-the-counter forms of the vitamin work well for light wrinkles, whereas those with deeper creases may want to consider Retin A, for which you’ll need a prescription.
Other noteworthy ingredients are:
- Glycolic acid
- Hyaluronic acid
- Vitamins B3, C and E
Protect Your Skin Cells from Sun Damage
Did you know that up to 80% of the fine lines and wrinkles that you develop on your face are due to sun exposure and UV damage? Some dermatologists believe this figure to be even higher.
So, it goes without saying that protecting your skin from the sun can have a huge impact on facial wrinkling, as well as on dark spots, sagging skin, and the other visible signs of aging. This means ensuring that your skin is constantly covered with a sunscreen, no matter the time of year. Ideally, look for a product that contains a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30, and make sure that you regularly reapply this throughout the day.
Taking additional sun protection steps, such as wearing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat, as well as staying in the shade when the sun is particularly strong, can also have a noticeable effect on wrinkle reduction.
Eat and Drink Your Antioxidants
Nourishing your skin topically is important, but you also need to make sure that you’re feeding it from within. The only way to do this is with a healthy and balanced diet.
Try to eat more antioxidant-rich foods. Fruits and vegetables that are orange or yellow in color are a great source of beta-carotene. A chemical reaction takes place in your body when you consume this antioxidant, where the beta-carotene is converted into retinol. Other foods that are particularly rich in different antioxidants include:
- Kidney beans
- Blueberries
- Leafy greens, such as spinach and kale
- Dark chocolate (but this should be eaten in moderation)
- Herbs and spices
Try Sleeping on Your Back
When your face rubs against your pillow each night while you sleep, this causes friction and creases on your skin. In your earlier years, your skin will bounce back to normal each morning. However, as you age, those creases stick around. In fact, a good dermatologist will be able to tell which side you sleep on simply by looking at the skin on your face.
The best way to prevent sleep wrinkles is by sleeping on your back. This also protects your neck and chest area from wrinkling too.
Stop Smoking
We all know that smoking is a dangerous habit – there’s so much health information out there that confirms this. However, in addition to being harmful for your general health, did you know that smoking also contributes to wrinkles on the face?
This is partly down to all of the chemicals in tobacco smoke, along with the way in which people purse their lips and squint their eyes to take a puff. This leads to more wrinkles forming around the mouth and eyes.
While quitting the habit isn’t easy, it’ll make a huge difference to the health of your skin. There are also plenty of organizations and people out there that can help with this, so reach out if you’re willing to try giving up the cigarettes.
Professional Treatments for Erasing Wrinkles
While there are several things that you can do at home to reduce the visibility of your wrinkles, professional treatments bring about faster and more noticeable results.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are available in a variety of strengths. The more powerful the peel, the deeper the results. However, scarring is a side effect that you should be aware of with deep peels. If a deep peel is what your skin needs, speak to your dermatologist to weigh up whether the benefits are worth the potential side effects.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a beauty treatment that makes use of a hand-held device with an abrasive tip. This is held against the skin, on either the face or the body. It then sands off the skin’s outer layer, revealing the fresh, smooth, and wrinkle-free cells beneath.
Cosmetic Injections
Botox is one of the most popular injectables for treating wrinkles. Although most commonly used for frown lines and forehead wrinkles, these injections can treat lines anywhere on the skin.
Fillers are another popular injectable wrinkle treatment. These plump the skin up from within, reducing the visibility of lines and the other signs of aging skin.
Laser Resurfacing Treatments
There are quite a few different types of lasers out there, and the good news is that they all work to stimulate collagen production, which leaves the skin firmer and plumper. The bad news is that laser resurfacing can often come with side effects and is considered to be quite an invasive method for dealing with wrinkles. If you’re interested, speak to your doctor about whether or not this would be a suitable option for you.
Ultrasound Therapy
Ultrasound therapy is a non-invasive treatment that lifts and tightens the skin. While most commonly carried out on the face, this treatment can also service the neck, chest, and body. Ultrasound therapy may not be as well-known as some of the other options on this list, but it’s an FDA-approved procedure that has been confirmed to produce fantastic anti-aging results.
Cosmetic Surgery
If you’ve tried everything else on this list without any success, then your last option is cosmetic surgery. Most people will opt for either a standard facelift or a mini facelift – how major or minor your surgery is will depend on the severity of your wrinkles. Since this is an invasive beauty treatment, seeking advice from your doctor is important.
FAQs
Can you really get rid of wrinkles?
Yes, you really can get rid of wrinkles, but this usually requires a combination of the above-mentioned prevention methods and professional treatments.
Is Vaseline good for wrinkles?
Vaseline doesn’t do anything for wrinkles themselves, but it’s a good way to keep your skin moisturized and protected, which helps to prevent wrinkles from forming. However, just about every moisturizer will also have this effect.
What is better for wrinkles; retinol or hyaluronic acid?
Both are great as anti wrinkle ingredients, and they each work quite differently. If you had to pick one, retinol would be the way to go, but combining both ingredients will produce the best results.
Do any wrinkle creams actually work?
Yes, many wrinkle creams are extremely effective and work very well. However, this all depends on the ingredients that they use, making it important for people to understand how to read ingredient lists, rather than focusing on packaging claims and marketing content.
Conclusion
There are several different steps that you can take to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and the other signs of aging on your skin. Begin by following preventative skin care tips, for both your face and body. These will help to a great extent, but, for even bigger improvements, consider a professional treatment too. Combining multiple methods is what you need to do to achieve a smooth, tight, and wrinkle-free complexion.
