Fine lines and wrinkles How can I reduce or remove them?

The most noticeable first signs of skin ageing are fine lines and wrinkles. Depending on your genetics and lifestyle, they normally start to appear at around the ages of 25 to 30. Fine lines are small, shallow lines that normally first appear under the eyes and mouth, and these develop into more visible wrinkles as the skin’s structure weakens with age.

This article covers the signs and symptoms of fine lines and wrinkles on the face, what causes them, and skin care tips on how to reduce wrinkles and prevent them.

Unlike a loss of volume, fine lines and wrinkles are easy to spot as they appear as distinct lines or creases on the face. Over time, fine lines appear all over the face and develop into deep wrinkles. They tend to become visible in certain areas first, often those that are most often exposed to the sun:

Whilst facial expressions contribute over time, wrinkles on the face are largely caused by ageing. The substances that keep our skin smooth and firm, such as collagen, elastin and Hyaluronic Acid, begin to deteriorate as we get older.

Some of ageing’s influencing factors are natural and inevitable, but some are largely environmental and can be controlled:

• Internal causes: the natural ageing process predetermined by our genes. Also known as intrinsic, biological or chronological ageing.
• External causes: environmental factors that cause oxidative stress to the skin, e.g. over-exposure to sunlight. Also known as extrinsic ageing.

External causes of fine lines and wrinkles are all due to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress releases free radicals which damage skin cell structures and contribute to the natural degradation of the skin’s collagen, elastin, and Hyaluronic Acid. Causes of oxidative stress include:

Smoking. Oxidative stress is triggered by smoking. Free radicals damage the skin’s structure and contribute to the general signs of ageing, including wrinkles. In addition, the nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes damage the collagen and elastin in the skin. This has an effect on the skin’s elasticity and may also cause wrinkles.

Diet. Certain foods, mostly fruits and vegetables, are rich in antioxidants and can help to prevent premature ageing and slow down skin ageing in general.

Lack of sleep. The skin needs sleep to repair and regenerate. Poor sleep can also contribute to your day-to-day stress levels. When the body experiences stress it produces the hormone cortisol which is known to negatively impact the collagen levels, further accelerating the development of wrinkles.

Ageing is a natural process and therefore all healthy skin changes over time. However, there are skin care solutions to add radiance to your skin and reduce ageing’s appearance. Available methods are either invasive or non-invasive, with variation in the immediacy of results.

1. Study report: Saponins – a new generation of Hyaluronan-stimulating actives for human skin, S. Gallinat, F. Rippke, C. Keppler, J. Mergell, A. Bürger, F. Stäb, H. Wenck Beiersdorf AG, Hamburg, Germany
2. The standard unit for measuring the mass of an atom is a kilo Dalton (kDa). High molecular Hyaluronic Acid has a kDa of 2000 and low molecular Hyaluronic Acid has a kDa of 52. Both are contained in the Hyaluron-Filler, Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity and Sun Photoaging Control formulas.
3. In-vitro studies