Are There Lifestyle Changes That Can Help Remove Wrinkles?

“Wrinkles are hereditary. Parents get them from their children.” - Doris Day

No one wants to look their age. Everyone wants to cheat time. It’s impossible to tamper with DNA and nature, but there are many things that can be done to lessen the impact time, the environment, and living have on the skin. Theoretically, wrinkles are nature’s response to getting older, but that’s no reason to allow time to be a tattletale. The face, especially the eyes and mouth, as well as the neck, are the most vulnerable to getting wrinkled. As aging reduces the amount of moisture in the skin, lines begin to develop. Initially, the lines are hardly noticeable. Inevitably, they become deeper and more pronounced. The natural fatty layer beneath the skin, which keeps it smooth, diminishes over time, and the skin begins to become loose, saggy, drier, and less supple. This results in layers of skin that are less attractive and display the unmistakable signs of getting older. The combination of these symptoms causes an individual to look and, thus, feel older. That’s why it’s important to reduce the signs of aging whenever possible. A person who looks good will tend to feel better and have a more positive feeling about life.

A Wrinkle in Time

While it’s important to be familiar with the things that can be done to eliminate wrinkles, the most important goal is to prevent them from developing in the first place. That makes the job of treatment that much easier. The two most damaging things that can happen to the skin have to do with the sun and smoking. While it would be next to impossible to completely avoid the sun, protecting the skin from its destructive ultraviolet rays is imperative. There are creams and lotions that protect any exposed skin from these rays, and it’s a good idea to never leave the house without an application of one of these products. Wearing sunglasses and a hat with a wide brim can help protect exposed skin. Smoking causes premature aging. Stopping smoking is, perhaps, the best thing a person can do to improve overall health and the condition of the skin. That’s one way to not only look better but to feel better, as well.

Questions and Answers:

Understanding what wrinkles are and how they can be prevented is important but, eventually, time will take its toll, so being familiar with the treatment of wrinkles is a good idea. Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about the treatment of wrinkles that can become part of a healthy lifestyle.

Q: When should a person start treating potential wrinkles?

A: Start today. It’s never too early to develop a good skin care routine. A dermatologist can give advice about the best products that can be used to nourish healthy skin and keep it looking youthful. This will slow down the inevitable aging of the skin and help prevent premature aging.

Q: Does diet affect the health and appearance of the skin?

A: Remember that the skin is the largest organ in the human body. What a person eats contributes to how the skin looks and feels. Eating right also makes a person feel better which helps a person look better. Fatty fish, like mackerel, herring, and salmon, have omega-3 fatty acids which are important to the health of the skin. Walnuts, sunflower seeds, sweet potatoes, broccoli, tomatoes, avocados, soy, red and yellow bell peppers, green tea, red wine, and chocolate are some of the foods that keep the skin healthy.

There are foods that should be avoided or, at least, reduced because they do not contribute to healthy skin. These include refined carbohydrates, dairy products, soy, wheat, gluten, alcohol, processed meats, spicy foods, caffeine, and nuts. Many of them are considered good for overall health so, as with many things in life, moderation is the answer to living healthy. Finally, avoid fast food because it has a high amount of sugar, refined starches, and fat.

Q: Are there prescription creams that treat wrinkles?

A: A topical retinoid, derived from vitamin A, can treat the signs of aging, but there are side effects. The skin becomes more susceptible to the sun’s rays, so it’s critical that a good sunscreen is used whenever exposure to the sun is possible. As a person gets older, this type of treatment can become part of an individual’s daily beauty routine.