What do wrinkles look like on the face?

Skin aging is an inevitable age-related process that, unfortunately, cannot be completely stopped. One of its direct consequences is the formation of folds of varying lengths and depths on the face and body, the fight against which has become the main task of aesthetic cosmetology and surgery.

Types and types of wrinkles are divided into several groups, depending on their time of occurrence, depth and location, reasons for formation. They are most clearly visible on the face, neck and décolleté, and hands, that is, in areas with minimal subcutaneous fat thickness and increased motor activity of adjacent muscles.

Why does our skin lose its original smoothness so quickly and what can be done about it? Which changes will you have to come to terms with, and which are completely reversible? Which procedures will help and which will not give the desired effect? TecRussia.ru tells and shows:

How, when and why do wrinkles appear?

For most people, the first signs of skin aging appear at the age of 20-25. Visually, they are still practically invisible, but it is at this age that the skin begins to lose moisture and tone, and its ability to regenerate decreases. Various fuels are added to the fire negative factors, both external and internal:

1. Various lifestyle deficiencies: stress, chronic overwork and lack of sleep, constant contact with dry and/or polluted air, low mobility, poor diet, bad habits.
2. Increased load on facial muscles (professional, for example, among announcers, or the usual everyday habit of actively grimacing)
3. Insufficient or improper skin care, incl. use of low-quality decorative cosmetics, selection of creams that are not suitable for skin type, etc.
4. Sharp weight fluctuations during weight loss, pregnancy, hormonal changes
5. Intense exposure to ultraviolet radiation - whether from a solarium or the sun
6. Heredity, etc.

It is quite possible to limit the impact of these circumstances, but it is almost impossible to completely avoid it. As a result, already at the age of 25-35, shallow irregularities in the form of grooves appear on the most vulnerable areas of the skin. They can be easily treated with home or professional salon care. But age inevitably takes its toll, and by the age of 35-40, wrinkles begin to increase and join, in some places turning into quite deep creases. To correct them at this stage, more serious methods will be needed: injections, hardware cosmetology, plastic surgery.

What are the types of wrinkles?

There is no single, unambiguously approved classification that would include all our skin folds. However, cosmetologists and aesthetic surgeons distinguish several dozen main types, depending on their depth, cause of occurrence and location. And this is not just theoretical research, but a completely serious basis for prescribing one or another anti-aging procedure: for example, eyebrow folds are well corrected with Botox, but this drug is absolutely useless for smoothing the skin on the hands. So, wrinkles differ:

By depth:

1. Superficial or epidermal - look like thin lines, located in the epidermis. Most often they appear due to insufficient hydration.
2. Medium-deep - reach the middle layers of the skin (dermis), appear as a result of the development and deepening of the epidermal.
3. Deep - are pronounced relief folds, changes affect the middle and deep layers of the skin down to the hypodermis.

By location:

1. There are horizontal lines on the forehead, a direct consequence of our facial expressions. They are also called “anxious” because they appear as a result of emotions such as excitement and anger;
2. between the eyebrows and on the bridge of the nose (“wrinkles of the proud” or “anger”) - large vertical folds that appear when the eyebrows move, as well as small folds on the upper part of the bridge of the nose.

1. on the nose - “rabbit's feet” - diverge from the center of the bridge of the nose to the lower eyelids or cheeks, becoming especially noticeable when we squint or frown;
2. periorbital - wrinkles around the eyes. These are, firstly, “crow’s feet”, which diverge from the outer corners of the eyes, and secondly, folds on the upper and lower eyelids;

1. tear trough - runs from the inner corners of the eyes towards the cheekbones;
2. on the cheeks - skin deformations of various types and depths (depending on the general anatomy of the face), best visible when smiling;

1. nasolabial folds - large creases diverging from the wings of the nose to the corners of the lips;
2. around the lips there are purse-string wrinkles - vertical folds above the upper lip, and sometimes also under the lower lip; wrinkles in the corners of the mouth and “marionettes” - folds running from the corners of the lips to the chin;
3. on the chin – here, as a rule, small skin irregularities appear with age;

1. on the neck - “rings of Venus” - long horizontal folds;
2. in the décolleté area;
3. on the back of the hands, etc.

Due to the formation of wrinkles, they are divided into:

1. Mimic - appear on areas of the skin closely associated with the facial muscles, which are responsible for the expression of emotions.
2. Gravitational – formed as a result of sagging (ptosis) of the skin – drooping corners of the eyes and mouth, nasolabial folds, “puppet lines”, etc.
3. Age-related (senile) - occur throughout the skin naturally as a result of chronoaging.

By nature of behavior:

1. Dynamic - appear and disappear depending on muscle activity; in a relaxed state they are invisible.
2. Static – preserved even in a state of muscle rest.

And how to get rid of them?

Skin smoothing is one of the main areas of aesthetic medicine, so a huge number of effective ways to combat wrinkles on the face and body have been developed. Among them there are both universal ones and those that are designed to eliminate wrinkles of one specific type and localization. Most often this is:

At the same time, it is important to understand that:

1. None of these techniques will get rid of wrinkles forever. The duration of the result may vary - from 3-6 months to several years, but sooner or later it will be necessary to take your skin seriously again.
2. Professional procedures must be supported by regular home care and general care for your health, otherwise the resulting effect will not last long.
3. Deep age wrinkles can only be dealt with through surgical lifting - a major operation with general anesthesia and a long recovery period (usually performed on patients aged 45 years and older). There are no non-surgical alternatives comparable in effectiveness. At the same time, after such plastic surgery you should not expect completely smooth skin; it is aimed at overall facial rejuvenation, and individual problem areas will need to be corrected pointwise, for example, with the help of hyaluronic injections or lipofilling.

The last word in choosing a technique usually rests with a specialist - a cosmetologist and a plastic surgeon - who makes a decision during an in-person consultation, having studied the condition of the skin, the anatomical features of the patient and related problems (and they almost always exist). Here's what it has to offer:

Prevention

To delay or reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the face, neck and hands:

Wrinkles and other signs of skin aging are the result of a natural biological process. They can appear even at a young age, when the skin loses its elasticity and ability to retain moisture. Over the years, folds of varying depths form.

Photo from dartsnews.bg

Eliminating the causes that provoke the appearance of grooves on the skin, regularly using age-appropriate care cosmetics, using modern rejuvenation techniques with the help of professional cosmetologists - this set of measures will help you admire the reflection in the mirror for a long time, forgetting about the passage of time.

Causes

The main cause of wrinkles is age, that is, physiologically caused aging of the skin. At the same time, there are numerous external and internal factors that accelerate this process.

For some women, noticeable folds appear only at the age of 40–50, while for others they are observed at the age of 20.

Why do wrinkles appear? The aging process is accelerated due to:

1. Unhealthy lifestyle, smoking and other bad habits. Nicotine destroys vitamin C, an antioxidant, the “vitamin of youth and beauty,” which blocks the toxic effects of free radicals, which cause rapid aging of the skin and the appearance of wrinkles.
2. Sudden weight gain and loss. Strict diets and dehydration of the body lead to rapid wrinkling of the skin. Hormonal imbalances with a significant increase in body weight also cause swelling and destructive changes in the skin.
3. Sedentary lifestyle, infrequent walks in the fresh air.
4. Numerous stresses, disturbances in sleep and rest patterns, nighttime gatherings with a gadget, long periods of watching TV series, chronic fatigue syndrome. Early aging is also caused by the habit of sleeping face down, “into the pillow” and rarely changing pillowcases.
5. Excessively active facial expressions. The reasons for the appearance of wrinkles on the face lie in the habits of squinting, frowning or wrinkling the forehead, and straining other muscles responsible for facial expressions.
6. Features of professional activity actors, singers, musicians and announcers also lead to rapid wear of collagen fibers and the appearance of facial furrows.
7. Unbalanced diet, habits of consuming instead of healthy foods: plenty of flour products, fatty meats, sugar and salt, smoked meats, fast food, sweet carbonated drinks, junk food with dyes, food preservatives, flavor enhancers, large amounts of strong coffee.
8. Bad ecology and abuse of ultraviolet radiation, dust and environmental pollution, dry climate, frosty and windy weather, frequent exposure to the sun without protection from UV radiation or trips to the solarium.
9. Genetic characteristics of the skin: hereditary predisposition to the early appearance of wrinkles, tissue inelasticity, oily skin, dry type of dermis.
10. Poor skin care. Wrinkles appear from the use of: inappropriate skin care cosmetics according to the type of dermis or according to age parameters. Products for 30-year-old women eliminate superficial wrinkles; for 40–45-year-old women, they contain bioactive components for rejuvenation, which can be harmful if used at an earlier age. Cheap decorative products. They contain aggressive drying components, which cause early wrinkles under the eyes. Decorative cosmetics also cannot be used around the clock. Low-quality serums, toners and sponges. Insufficient cleansing of the skin and sleeping with remnants of mascara on the eyelashes provoke early aging and the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes. Hard chlorinated water and soap, mechanical impact on the skin - squeezing out pimples and blackheads.

How do wrinkles form?

The elasticity of young skin is due to the ability of the framework of collagen and elastin fibers - protein threads that form the basis of connective tissue - to absorb and retain moisture.

With age:

1. the synthesis of building molecules is reduced;
2. the natural “mesh” of the skin loses strength due to the destruction of structural bonds;
3. skin turgor becomes weaker;
4. the remaining threads lose their ability to retain fluid in the epithelial cells;
5. the epidermis shrinks and wrinkles appear.

This process is especially noticeable on the face, areas of the skin of which are attached by tendons to the muscles. There are more than 55 of them. When you smile, 38 muscle fibers contract - zygomatic, nasolabial, helping to squint your eyes and others.

When tense, the muscles themselves noticeably decrease in size, and the skin above them is forced to gather into small folds. This is how the first wrinkles appear on the face, which are called “crow’s feet.”

Cosmetologists classify different types of wrinkles depending on:

1. Locations, or localizations - in the forehead, between the eyebrows, around the eyes and mouth, on the cheekbones, on the neck and in the décolleté area.
2. Stages of development, or depth of occurrence. They can be superficial, middle or deep.
3. Directions. There are horizontal and vertical grooves.
4. Manifestations. Dynamic wrinkles are visually noticeable only when the facial muscles are tense, while static wrinkles do not disappear even when the dermis is relaxed.
5. Mechanism of education. Mimic wrinkles are formed in areas responsible for the expression of emotions, gravitational wrinkles arise as a result of sagging tissues from the effects of gravity, age-related wrinkles cover a significant part of the epidermis as a consequence of chronoaging.

What do superficial, median or deep wrinkles look like?

Skin folds that form in the epidermis without affecting the deeper layers are called superficial wrinkles. They are thin lines. They can be a consequence not only of aging, but also of age-related dehydration - dehydration - of the skin. With intensive care, superficial wrinkles can be corrected.

Median - dermal - wrinkles reach deeper layers, as they are a continuation of the pathological development of epidermal wrinkles.

Deep, pronounced folds and creases affect not only all layers of the skin, but also subcutaneous fat. These types of wrinkles are formed on the face in the areas of natural nasolabial, glabellar, cervical and other folds.

Their formation is associated with gravitational ptosis - sagging - of tissues, which occurs due to age-related weakening of muscle tone. Under the influence of natural gravity, the contour of the face gradually loses clarity.

Localization

Aesthetic medicine specialists distinguish between age-related wrinkles on the face, neck and décolleté. Depending on the location, longitudinal or transverse folds and grooves are formed in different parts of the face and body:

1. in the forehead and eyebrow area;
2. “rabbit” wrinkles – bunny lines, appearing on the upper and side parts of the nose during a smile or a grimace of disgust. With a sad facial expression, they visually add several years to the woman;
3. around the eyes and mouth;
4. “smile” wrinkles – “crow’s feet” in the corners of the eyes, wrinkles on the cheeks, traces of laughter;
5. “puppet” wrinkles;
6. purse-string wrinkles - vertical lines around the lips;
7. nasolabial folds.

In the neck area, already at 16–20 years old, “rings of Venus” may appear - horizontal folds and wrinkles, which, with a lack of hydration, will deepen and show age.

In the décolleté area, the skin is thinner, there is no subcutaneous fat layer, the muscle frame is inactive, so vertical grooves form over the years.

At what age do wrinkles appear?

At the initial stage, signs of skin aging appear at a young age, from 20–25 years. In the morning, the skin glows, looks rested and smooth, and by the end of the day, nasolabial folds, dark circles on the lower eyelids and small folds appear.

At what age do the first wrinkles appear? This depends on the intensity of facial expressions during communication with people, timely and high-quality skin care and moisturizing, as well as lifestyle and habits.

Scientists have identified the following chronology of age-related changes in the skin:

1. At the age of 20–25, the first wrinkles appear around the eyes, on the forehead and between the eyebrows. They are unstable; during the relaxation phase, the folds are smoothed out, but they become noticeable due to tension in the facial muscles.
2. Closer to the age of 30–35, in emotional people who actively use facial expressions in conversation, these threads are strengthened and become more pronounced.
3. At 35–40 years old, wrinkles do not disappear even when the facial muscles relax. Peeling of the skin occurs more and more often, it becomes drier, its tone and elasticity decrease. Closer to 40 years of age, senile grooves may appear on the neck, cheekbones and forehead.
4. At 40–50 years old and older. Wrinkles deepen, and numerous small threads form around them. In addition, as a result of gravitational ptosis - sagging - the following become more noticeable: drooping corners of the mouth and eyes, “marionette lines”, nasolabial folds, eyebrow creases.

What influences the appearance of wrinkles?

Factors that cause the formation of wrinkles can act in different ways.

Genetics that predetermine early aging may have less of an effect than prolonged exposure to the scorching rays of the sun without special UV protection - a cream with the appropriate SPF index;

Oily skin can also experience age-related changes if you use products with an aggressive drying effect. For this type of dermis, it is better to choose cosmetics with retinol. For the T-zone area, around the lips and on the eyelids, it is better to use light gels; the neck and décolleté can be moisturized with creams.

How to get rid of wrinkles?

Photo from the site linline-club.by

Among the most effective procedures for eliminating wrinkles, the following procedures are used today.

For small folds on the skin of the face, neck, décolleté and hands, epidermal, or superficial, and medial peels are suitable. This can be chemical, laser or microdermabrasion.

Non-surgical lifting using ultrasound, radio waves and laser smooths out fine wrinkles completely, making medium and deep wrinkles less noticeable. ELOS-, phototherapy and nanoperforation have the same effect.

For eyebrow folds, stubborn crow's feet, grooves on the bridge of the nose and drooping corners of the lips, botulinum therapy is carried out with injections of Botox, Dysport, Xeomin.

For nasolabial folds, tear troughs and the consequences of gravitational ptosis - tissue sagging - contour plastic surgery with fillers with hyaluronic acid is used. For pronounced ptosis – bioreinforcement or hardware lift.

For deep age-related folds, jowls, restoration of facial contours - surgical lifting with correction with fillers.

Is it possible to hide wrinkles with cosmetics?

Barely noticeable expression lines can be disguised using moisturizers, a high-quality foundation, a suitable concealer, light mineral powder and blush. Special products with a light, silky texture will also help fill out wrinkles.

You can get the perfect make-up if:

1. Cleanse the skin with cosmetic milk, micellar water or toner.
2. Apply serum with a tightening effect.
3. Apply concealer around the eyes half a tone lighter than your foundation.
4. Treat the skin of the forehead, nose, cheeks and chin with a leveling makeup base. It should have a silky texture, then the silicones will fill the wrinkles and perfectly smooth the surface. The area of ​​nasolabial folds should be avoided so as not to emphasize the relief and not add age.
5. Blush with a creamy texture, masking wrinkles - peach or pink for the apples, bronze - for the lower part of the cheekbones.
6. The powder is applied with a special brush in a thin veil to the forehead, nose and chin - the T-zone - to eliminate oily shine. Powder should not be sprayed into the orbital area of ​​the eyes, as it will visually emphasize all wrinkles.
7. You need to be careful when choosing eyeshadows, as cheap ones roll up and get caught in folds, making even the smallest wrinkles noticeable. Products must be of high quality and lightweight.

Prevention

As soon as the first wrinkles appear on the neck, face and hands, urgent measures must be taken. Provide proper and regular care, use only high-quality cosmetic products, not necessarily expensive, but from well-known brands.

Anti-aging and lifting cosmetics should be selected strictly according to skin type and age characteristics. It should be applied exclusively along massage lines to avoid stretching the epidermis.

Decorative products must be of high quality, daytime - can be used only during the daylight hours, they contain SPF protection, evening - only if necessary. Remove cosmetic residues in a timely manner.

Regularly undergo rejuvenating home or salon treatments. For superficial wrinkles, people at home practice anti-aging masks, self-massage, rubbing ice cubes from decoctions of medicinal plants along the massage lines of the face, as well as gymnastics for facial muscles and neck.

Over the years, you should visit a cosmetologist more often, since medium and deep wrinkles are difficult to eliminate with self-care.

Maintain optimal activity: take walks in the fresh air, play sports, get proper rest, strengthen the psycho-emotional sphere.

Eat a balanced diet, drink enough clean water, saturate the body with vitamins and minerals.

Use sunscreen cosmetics, avoid excessive sun exposure and frequent trips to the solarium. During the autumn and winter periods, it is necessary to protect the skin from adverse weather conditions; the effects of photoaging at this time can be corrected with the help of retinol and retinoids included in seasonal cosmetics.

Quit smoking and other bad habits, and adjust eating behavior if necessary.

Watch your facial expressions. You should not refuse to express emotions, especially joyful ones, but it is better to avoid unnecessary contractions of the facial muscles.

Monitor your hormonal levels and visit a gynecologist-endocrinologist once a year.

It is impossible to stop the aging process, but slowing it down and looking 5-7 years younger than your age is a difficult task, but it can be solved. You need to constantly get rid of wrinkles; over the years, this problem requires more and more time and money, but as a reward you can get a smiling reflection in the mirror.

Author: Elena Perevertneva,
especially for Mama66.ru

Useful video on how to fight wrinkles

Are wrinkles normal?

Where do they appear?

What affects the appearance of wrinkles?

When is it time to treat wrinkles?

How to get rid of them?

What to do to reduce wrinkles?

Homemade masks probably won't work. You will have to wage a real war against wrinkles.

Are wrinkles normal?

Yes, wrinkles are a common occurrence Facts on Wrinkles and Their Causes for healthy skin. These are folds and grooves that appear because the skin loses its elasticity and strength over time.

However, even newborns have folds in the area of ​​the joints where their arms and legs bend and extend, and “bandages” where they have too much subcutaneous fat.

Where do they appear?

Wrinkles do not appear suddenly and all at once, except in the form of exceptions such as systemic diseases, when a mass of cells suddenly accumulates in the skin. Therefore, it is easy to predict where wrinkles will appear:

1. Places where muscles most often contract. For example, if you frown or smile, wrinkles appear around the eyes and on the forehead.
2. Places that are most often exposed to ultraviolet radiation. The sun, which gives us a tan, contributes to the appearance of wrinkles.
3. Places where the skin is thin. There she simply loses collagen (the protein that is responsible for strength and elasticity) the fastest.

What affects the appearance of wrinkles?

First of all, this is age, which does not spare anyone.

Secondly, wrinkles are the result of the work of Wrinkles ultraviolet radiation. The sun also colors them, changing the structure of collagen. And the lighter the skin tone, the more prone it is to the appearance of sun wrinkles.

And the third main enemy of smooth skin is cigarettes (this is another reason to quit smoking and even vaping).

When is it time to treat wrinkles?

Since wrinkles do not affect overall health, but only aesthetics, it all depends on the state of your wallet and your personal view of beauty. Of course, it is always easier to do prevention, since wrinkles are unlikely to become fashionable in the near future. Moles, unnatural whiteness of the skin, tan and shine were at their peak, but wrinkles were never the subject of envy.

How to get rid of them?

All wrinkle treatments are cosmetic procedures. Even if we are talking about surgery, it is not plastic surgery for health reasons. Such manipulations do not radically change anything in the patient’s condition, but they can improve well-being. And as we remember, health is not only physical, but also mental well-being, which is influenced by the reflection in the mirror.

Cosmetic procedures that treat wrinkles can be grouped roughly like this:

1. Paralysis of the superficial muscles of the face. This is Botox and everything that looks like it. There is such a dangerous bacterium - botulinum clostridium. Her toxin (that is, the poison she secretes) causes paralysis. And if, for example, you eat a can of canned food contaminated with botulism, you can die from paralysis of the respiratory muscles. But humanity has learned to use this effect to its advantage.

Enterprising researchers have purified and weakened the toxin so that it can be injected into spastic and superficial facial muscles. Due to the action of the toxin, they are paralyzed for two to three months, depending on the dose and characteristics of the body. As a result, those wrinkles that appeared due to muscle movements are smoothed out. The risks of Botox injection are headaches and flu-like symptoms.

2. Filling the recesses. There are many medications that can be injected into the deep cavities of wrinkles to smooth them out from the inside. For example, the same hyaluronic acid, which is now used to fill wrinkles, and to enlarge lips, and to correct the shape of the face.

There is a huge list of fillers approved for use by the FDA (American Food and Drug Administration), ranging from the patient’s own fat cells (pumped out in one place, pumped into another), collagen (and a lot of drugs based on it), lactic acid, hydroxyapatite, as well as various combinations thereof. Don’t forget about silicone and mineral oils, which, although they are becoming a thing of the past due to their unsafety, are still popular.

3. Changes in collagen through invasive destructive procedures or medical means. There are procedures that are supposed to improve the quality of collagen in the skin and change its appearance. The use of lasers, chemical peels, and dermabrasion remove dead cells and encourage fibroblasts to produce more collagen to remove fine lines and wrinkles. However, these same procedures can cause serious damage - a chemical burn - or leave a scar, so choose better. Ultrasound and low-frequency devices are used for this purpose.

4. Surgical removal of excess skin. This procedure belongs to plastic surgery and is performed in the operating room under anesthesia. The result depends on the skill of the surgeon and can be impressive.

Some procedures are as simple as applying a cream to the surface of the skin (though this doesn’t always work: as Study: Most Wrinkle Creams Don’t Work shows, most homemade anti-wrinkle creams are just a marketing ploy). Others are major interventions that require anesthesia. What exactly will help in each specific case depends on the skin type, the depth of the wrinkles and the cost, of course.

What exactly to use and how should be decided by a cosmetologist. Much depends on what drug the clinic or salon uses, how much you are willing to pay and how much you are willing to risk. Most injection methods of rejuvenation require constant repetition, because the fillers dissolve under the skin and it returns to its original state (this is if you are lucky, but if not, we see terrible side effects and disfigured faces).

What to do to reduce wrinkles?

There are not many ways to avoid wrinkles. For example, you can always walk with a straight face so as not to provoke the appearance of facial wrinkles (well, at least not frown).

We must not forget that no matter how you look at it, genetics will influence the quality of your skin.

On the other hand, we can reduce the harmful factors that spoil our skin and cause damage to it. This, of course, is the sun and smoking. Therefore, you should always carry UV protection cream with you and never carry cigarettes with you.

Tanning has come into fashion relatively recently, and there is an opinion that it is time to take it out of this fashion - after all, skin health is more valuable to us. A light tan, obtained naturally or on the beach, but with sunscreen, may well fill the need for vitamin D (especially if you eat fatty fish), and only hyaluronic acid (or something similar) will fill wrinkles.