No one is immune to thewrinkles, lines, creases and furrows that develop on the skin of the face and body with age. Here, San Francisco cosmetic physician Dr. Sheena Kong shares five things you may not know about wrinkles, including tips to help stave them off.
#1: Not all wrinkles are the same. In fact, there are two types of wrinkles: static wrinkles and dynamic wrinkles. Static wrinkles can be hard to control. They develop due to the natural aging process, hereditary traits and environmental factors. In addition, static wrinkles can also develop due to certain lifestyle habits, which you can control (see #5).
In contrast, dynamic wrinkles develop due to repeated muscle movement over the years. Examples of dynamic wrinkles include the horizontal forehead lines (“furrows”) that occur as a result of furrowing the brow constantly over a long period of time.
#2: The sun plays a significant role in the appearance of wrinkles. Sure, a tan might look good in the short term, but, over time, sun exposure causes major skin damage. Frequent exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays causes not only wrinkles but also hyper-pigmentation (a form of dark spots on the skin) and, potentially, skin cancer. That’s why it’s always a good idea to use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 every day.
#3: Smoking also plays a role. How does skin contribute to the development of wrinkles? It constricts the blood vessels, robs skin cells of essential oxygen and introduces harmful chemicals into the body that destroy collagen and elastin, two proteins that are crucial for elastic, healthy skin. Not to mention, the repeated motion of sucking on the end of a cigarette can cause dynamic wrinkles to appear around the mouth.
#4: Stress doesn’t help either. If you feel stressed out constantly, odds are you are often frowning or grimacing. These muscle movements can cause dynamic wrinkles over time. Take a warm bath, go for a walk, practice yoga or give a loved one a call (or a hug!). These are all things that can help you manage stress and ward off wrinkles.
#5: Eating healthy does. To improve your skin’s texture, keeping it supple and elastic, you should eat foods with good amounts of antioxidants and vitamins C and E. You should also avoid sugar, which can stimulate a physiological event called glycation, the hardening of proteins including collagen and elastin. Finally, drink plenty of water, to help your body flush toxins and support bodily functions like cell turnover.
If wrinkles have already started to creep up around your mouth, eyes or forehead area, Dr. Kong can help. She offers Dysport and BOTOX Cosmetic injectable treatment to suspend muscle movement temporarily, thereby smoothing out overlying wrinkles. She also offers Restylane, Perlane and Juvéderm dermal filler to fill in fine lines and wrinkles.
To schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Kong, please contact our San Francisco medical spa by calling (415) 673-7600 today.
