Once you reach middle age, fine lines starts appearing under your eyes, around the corners of mouth and other areas. It is a gradual process and can send a few into depression. Aging can sometimes be hard on some but it cannot be escaped. Aging at the right time is acceptable, but sometimes due to several factors premature aging is seen in few individuals. Now that could really be a traumatic experience.
As we grow older our skin becomes dry and less elastic. Frequent exposure to sun, harsh weathers and environmental toxins, particularly tobacco smoke, will only quicken the process of aging. Especially constant sun exposure results in uneven pigmentation, difference in skin texture and wrinkles. Fine lines and wrinkles are a result of uneven thickening of epidermis (outer layer of the skin) and decrease in the quantity of water held by epidermis.
Causes for Premature Wrinkles
Some of the causes for premature wrinkles include:
- Constant exposure to sun
- Muscle movement
- Injury
- Smoking
- Lack of sleep
- Surgery
- Acne
- Skin diseases with a tendency to scar
- Pollution
- Reduction of fat cells under the skin
- Loss of collagen and elastic fibers in the epidermis
Procedures to Prevent Premature Aging
Remarkable changes in facial appearance can be obtained, improving your complexion and giving you a younger appearance. A good combination of different procedures will help in combating wrinkles and fine lines. Here are a few:
- Moisturizers: Regular application of moisturizer helps the aging skin to feel and look better. It is known to improve the water holding capacity of the skin. It is advisable to use tap water and non-soap cleanser to clean face daily. You can also try using alpha-hydroxy creams which contain vitamin A and B. These creams help in renewing the skin and it also maintains the moisture of the skin.
- Anti-aging Creams: Anti-aging creams are often used to ward off premature aging because they contain antioxidants and exfoliates including tropical retinoids, Vitamin C, alpha hydroxyl acids, polypeptides and various plant extracts. But the effectiveness of these creams differs from person to person and also the conditions.
- Resurfacing: Resurfacing is primarily of two types. One is the laser and the other is non–ablative laser. Laser resurfacing happens to be a new treatment for treating facial wrinkles and other skin irregularities such as blemishes or acne scars. On the other hand, non-ablative lasers are used to remove the entire epidermis and portions of epidermis. This technique is said to soften the skin, remove fine and moderate deep facial wrinkles and also even out pigmentation by replacing the damaged epidermis and superficial dermis with brand new papillary dermis and the overlying dermis.
- Peeling: Peeling is a procedure which is used to even out pigmentation and to improve skin texture. They also are known to improve fine lines and static furrows but they seem to have no effect on dynamic lines.
- Implantation: Implantation is another technique which is used to lift individual lines and furrows with implants, i.e. temporary or permanent fillers or grafts.
- Cosmetic Surgery: Cosmetic surgery is an elaborate procedure that involves repositioning of facial tissues (rhytidectomy) and changing the structure of the sagging tissues. Some of the techniques include:
- Forehead or Brow Lift: It is used to reduce static lines and to lift up drooping eyebrows. Also a mid-temporal lift is used for the same purpose.
- A Facelift or Mid-face Lift: It is used to remove excessive skin and to tighten underlying muscles of the lower two thirds of the face (cheek and neck).
- Rhinoplasty: It is most commonly used to lift up the tip of the nose and to reshape it or thin out excessive tissue due to rhinophyma (large, bulbous, ruddy appearance of the nose).
- Plication: It is the correction of platysmal bands in the neck by an open plication technique which improves the appearance of a sagging neck.
- Botox: It is also popularly known as Botulinum toxins or Dysport procedure or injection. It is considered as one of the most useful techniques for dynamic lines. Cosmetologists basically use this technique to paralyze the muscles that are responsible for frown lines, crow's feet and forehead lines. It is also used to change the shape of the eyebrows and to soften the so-called smoker's lines around the lips.
- Dermabrasion: As the name suggests it is a surgical procedure that involves the controlled abrasion (wearing away) of the upper layers of the skin with sandpaper or other mechanical means. The purpose of this procedure is to soften the skin and, in the process, remove small scars (as from acne), moles (nevi) or even tattoos or fine wrinkles.
However, one does not have to necessarily go under the knife to prevent premature aging. It can be controlled by carrying out healthy lifestyle and nutritional diet. Drink plenty of water and this will prevent the skin from drying out which is primarily responsible for wrinkles. Exercise regularly for at least an hour every day to enable blood circulation. This will flush out the toxins from your system. Sleep adequately and protect your skin from sun and harsh weather. And don't go to bed before cleansing your skin to get that flawless skin.
