Wrinkles & Aging

How the Environment Affects Your Skin

Sun: The rays of the sun have more potential to change the look of
your skin than any other environmental factor. A sunburn or even a tan
indicates your skin has been damaged, and sun damage causes your skin
to age before it's time. Ultraviolet light from the sun breaks down
collagen and elastin , the building blocks of your skin, causing
wrinkling and sagging. The sun's rays also make skin rough and can
overstimulate pigment cells, causing brown spots. To protect your
skin: Doctors recommend the daily use of a sunscreen or foundation
with an SPF 15.

Winter and Summer: Your skin is pliable and soft, and tends to look
its best in humid climates. That's because skin actually draws the
moisture from the air into its top layers. Meanwhile, dry air will sap
moisture from the skin, leaving it flaky, tight and rough. Eventually
your skin adjusts -- even if you were to move to Alaska from the
tropics, your skin wouldn't stay dry forever. In the meantime, a good
moisturizer (and drinking lots of water) will help with the symptoms
of dry skin.

Pollution: Pollution is a troublemaker in a couple of important ways:
Dust can clog pores and increase bacteria on the face, both of which
cause acne . Invisible chemical pollutants in the air can interfere
with your skin's natural protection system. Studies show that
pollution can actually cause reactions in the skin that inhibit the
way skin builds and repairs itself.

Identifying Crow's Feet
What are crow's feet?Crow's feet are fine lines and wrinkles radiating
from the eyes. For the most part they're caused by sun exposure, but
smoking can make them worse. Years and years of smiling and squinting
can also play a part in how they're formed.

Treatments

Wrinkle Free Mask will tone and tighten the skin.

Sunscreen . Wear one every day and try to avoid prolonged sun
exposure.

Moisturizer . Applying lotion every day won't cure crow's feet, but it
will make your skin look more supple and decrease the appearance of
wrinkles.

Tretinoin (Retin-A ), other retinoids. When applied to the skin these
drugs help increase collagen production, strengthening the structure
of the skin and reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs)

Collagen injections. These will temporarily plump up the wrinkles.

Sagging Skin

Why does skin sag?
As you age, elastin fibers stretch and the skin droops.
Your genes and the level of sun exposure you've had during your
lifetime determine how much you sag. Smoking contributes to skin
sagging, too.

Thinning Skin

What causes thinning skin? As you age, cells flatten and lose their
plumpness, making skin thinner.
It's especially noticeable on your face and the back of your hands,
where skin is most exposed to the sun.

What's a Wrinkle in Time?
What are they? Wrinkles are caused by a loss of collagen and elastin
-- the tissues in the skin that make it firm and elastic -- as we age.
The degree of wrinkling depends on your genetic makeup, but smoking,
dry skin and sun exposure (especially sunburns) make it worse. Dynamic
motion -- making facial expressions -- also causes permanent creases
over time.