Men and women alike show physical signs of aging for instance our hair and skin go through many changes as we age. The hair may turn grey or get thinner due to hair loss or our skin may begin to sag and wrinkle. On this article we are going to examine at what wrinkles really are.

The outer layer of skin changes as we get older. It gets thinner and less sticky as the years go by. This causes dryness. It takes more time for the skin to repair itself as epidermal cells decrease ten percent per decade. Our sweat glands decrease as we get older. Less collagen is produced in the dermal layer and the skin loses its elasticity causing it to sag

Now that we know more about wrinkles we can see that they are only creases and ridges on the surface of the skin. Skin aging is not necessary caused by getting older. There are many other factors to be considered. Ninety percent of skin aging is due to being exposed to ultraviolet light. Race is also a factor. A darker skinned person is not as likely to develop wrinkles as soon as someone with lighter skin.

Oxygen free radicals are particles the body produces through its chemical process. Smoking and pollution such as car exhaust cause the body to produce excessive amounts of these. When this happens cells become damaged causing wrinkles and other skin disorders. As you can see the environment as well as smoking can speed up the aging process and spawn wrinkles.

Losing weight fast will make your skin wrinkle and sag. This happens because the fatty tissue on your face and body goes away when you lose weight. In other words the skin has grown to cover the excess fat, when you lose it too fast the skin stays big.

Wrinkles can be treated. Retinoic acid is recommended by some experts. You simply smooth it on your face and it fills in the cracks. There are many creams and ointments on the market that will peel off the layer of dead dry skin, leaving a smooth moist complexion behind. Collagen or botulinum may be injected under the skin to reduce sagging and wrinkles. The top layer of skin may be refinished using a procedure called dermabrasion. There is also laser surgery for the treatment of aging skin.

Not every treatment is appropriate for everyone. Many factors have to be taken into consideration to decide which procedure to use. Find out what risks are involved, is it safe, how effective is it, and how competent is the person doing the treatment. Talk to your dermatologist about any options you are thinking about using.

If you get rid of the old dead dried up skin on the surface the new skin cells will be able to grow. You may have to use a combination of treatments to achieve this. Whichever you choose you can be confident in having a younger looking healthier skin.

There is not much you can do to stop wrinkles from happening. It can however be slowed down by limiting your exposure to the sun. The hours between 10 am and 4 pm are the most important times to stay indoors. Use mild cleanser on your face instead of using soap. You should dry your skin and use a water base moisturizer after cleaning. The best one to use should contain a SPF30 filter to prevent dryness.