While we cannot stop the aging process, heavy wrinkles are not a foregone conclusion by any stretch of the imagination. Proper skincare habits in combination with various anti-aging creams can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, lines, and other skin blemishes. All it takes is some basic knowledge of how the skin works, and a commitment to change our habits, to make healthy, youthful-looking skin a reality. The following paragraphs briefly describe the five common types of wrinkles and what causes them.
Forehead Wrinkles
Forehead wrinkles come in two types: vertical and horizontal. The vertical wrinkles usually occur between the eyebrows, just above the nose. Horizontal wrinkles occur all across the entire surface of the forehead, anywhere between the top of the eyebrows and the hairline. They are usually the first wrinkles to be noticed and are common in people as young as their late 30s and early 40s. There are a variety of causes including gravity, sun exposure, and normal aging.
The most common cause of forehead wrinkles however, seems to be repetitive facial expressions and muscle movements. People who frequently squint because of vision problems or bright sunlight commonly develop deep forehead wrinkles. They’re also common in people who work in high stress environments. The formation of a forehead wrinkles via facial expressions and muscle movements are called mimicry.
Eye Wrinkles
Wrinkles around the eyes develop in the form of crow’s feet, tear troughs, and under-eye bags. These wrinkles have a variety of causes depending on what part of the eye they form near. Crow’s feet for example, are usually the result of exposure to extreme weather and frequent facial muscle movements, like squinting. These wrinkles form deep lines that begin in the outer corners of the eye and work outward into the rest of the face. The shape they take as they spread out reminds one of a crow’s foot, thus the name.
Tear troughs and bags under the eyes are generally the result of gravity as fat deposits around the eye sockets and the upper portion of the cheek began to recede. As these fat deposits begin to fade there is nothing under the skin to keep it stretched out, thereby causing the skin to hang loosely and form these wrinkles.
Neck Wrinkles
The most common form of neck wrinkles are horizontal lines known as “Venus’s Rings”. These are usually the first wrinkles the form on the neck and are caused by normal aging and the effects of gravity. It’s not uncommon to see Venus’s Rings begin to form as early as the late 20s and early 30s, especially in people who are subjected to severe weather on a regular basis. Vertical wrinkles are also not uncommon on the neck and can be caused by sun exposure and certain repetitive muscle movements.
Back ripples are some of the most difficult to treat because of the leathery texture of the skin in that area. However, it’s not impossible to deal with them. With the right treatment and some preventative measures they can be almost completely eliminated.
Lip Wrinkles
For many people, especially older women, lip wrinkles are some of the most unattractive one can develop with age. Lip wrinkles usually appear as vertical lines that start in the lips and run upward and downward into the surrounding skin. To one extent or another most people develop lip wrinkles as they age.
The primary cause of lip wrinkles is the slowing down of the body’s natural production of collagen, one of the substances which give plumpness and firmness to the skin. Just as collagen injections have been used as a means of making the lips look fuller and plumper, it can also help decrease lip wrinkles.
Chest Wrinkles
Wrinkles on the chest are the ones easiest to hide by simply making sure we always wear a shirt. But they can be the most embarrassing on trips to the beach or swimming in the family pool. Many people suffer during hot weather because they are ashamed of chest wrinkles and refuse to uncover. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the case.
Chest wrinkles usually begin to form sometime in the 40s or 50s. Most commonly, they are caused by the combination of gravity and the weight of the skin itself, which tends to be heavier in the chest region. As muscle tone is lost and fat deposits begin to fade away, the weight of the chest skin is forced down by gravity and forms wrinkles. Chest wrinkles are usually horizontal but can be vertical for people who have lost excessive amounts of weight. Chest wrinkles should not be confused with stretch marks, which are an entirely different animal.
Unfortunately, the natural process of aging is something that none of us can stop. With every passing day we age. And with that age, comes certain physiological changes which cannot be avoided. But where blemishes, wrinkles, and lines are concerned, there are plenty of things we can do to reduce their appearance. In some cases, they can even be eliminated totally. Being cognizant of our personal habits, environment, stress levels, diet, and exercise, we can make certain lifestyle changes which will enable us to reduce the signs of aging. Thankfully, health and beauty aid manufactures are developing new skin products every day that help significantly in the battle against wrinkles.
