How are Wrinkles formed?
The origin of wrinkles is notoriously complex. Current science tells us that wrinkles appear where fault lines occur in ageing skin. This process has been compared to an old leather glove, which is made out of skin after all, that develops creases at the joints due to repetitive strain. In the face, the repeated flexion may be due to facial expression. Studies show that you can predict the pattern of persistent wrinkles by superimposing upon the resting face the expression lines of temporary wrinkles that form when you smile. Over time the repetitive skin folding caused by everyday facial expression actions the temporary grooves into permanent wrinkles. As we cannot live without facial expression unless we live on our own or in space without gravity, the only option to freeze facial expression is Botox – interestingly, one of the contraindications for Botox is for patients in occupations which require a wide range of facial expressions.
How can we prevent Wrinkles?
Some wrinkles are genetic, e.g. lighter skin colour is a predisposing factor therefore Caucasian skin wrinkles more readily than Asian skin. Drier skin is another factor in the prediction of more persistent wrinkling which is something we can counter by the regular use of skin moisturisers which delay or slow down the rate of persistent wrinkling. Wrinkles are formed by repetitive creasing of ageing skin. Kids can scrunch their skin as much as the structure of their skin has not yet been damaged, e.g. the lack of creasing is why you don’t have wrinkles on your forearm no matter how much sun they may have soaked up. Rather than freezing your face with Botox, you could focus on preventing the underlying structural damage that makes your skin susceptible. This involves avoiding risky substances like alcohol, drugs and smoking, being sun smart and avoiding sun damage, eating a healthy diet, having deeply restful sleep, regular physical activity and dealing with the stresses and emotions which arise in daily life. A healthy diet is not only linked to disease prevention but also linked to less facial wrinkling.
What causes Wrinkles?
- Smoking
- Excessive sun exposure
- Genetics
- Sleep quality
- Poor diet
- Pollution
- Decreasing collagen production (from age 30)
- Ageing
- Dehydration
- Neglecting your skin and body
- Stress and emotions
- Lack of exercise
- Pharmaceuticals and drugs
- Free Radicals and Oxidative Stress
Smoking and excessive sun exposure make us look up to 11 years older. Compare that to extensive cosmetic face lift including face and neck lift plus removing excess skin from upper and lower eyelids plus a forehead lift which combined only makes us look about 8 years younger. Therefore, a healthy lifestyle with no smoking and applying Sun Smart suggestions works even better than cosmetic surgery. Imagine what adding all the other lifestyle factors like healthy nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management … can do for your skin! Tanning beds are also linked to looking older according to many studies. These studies show that a higher intake of green and yellow vegetable was associated with decreased facial wrinkling. Two or more servings a day was what was recommended.
What is Ageing?
Ageing is a “conglomerate of diseases caused by a lifetime of environmental assaults to the cells leading to a slow deterioration of the body and culminating in multiple breakdowns of bodily functions (what we now call chronic disease)”. In addition, oxidation is considered a disorder, not necessarily associated just with “senior disorders” but also found in diseases of the young and very young. This indicates that free radical damage causes disease across the boundaries of age. Progressive free radical damage leads to aging and the more serious, chronic diseases primarily found in old age.
Do free radicals cause Wrinkles?
Free radicals are responsible for breaking down our skin’s collagen and weakening the connective tissue, resulting in unflattering skin blemishes like wrinkling, dark spots, fine lines and loose, saggy skin.
What do free radicals do to the skin?
When free radicals overpower our body and trigger oxidative stress, they can impact the different layers of the skin. Damage presents as fine lines and wrinkles, a dull, uneven skin tone, an increase in dark spots, and sagging skin. Simply put – the signs of skin ageing. The increased oxidative stress load on our bodies is the direct mechanism that is responsible for the association between an unhealthy diet and skin wrinkling. Oxidative stress added to high inflammation and the damage that advanced glycation endproducts * cause are known as the three most damaging effects on our health and skin with the major ‘side effect’ of ageing and wrinkles.
*Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a family of compounds of diverse chemical nature that are a bio-marker implicated in ageing and the development, or worsening, of many degenerative diseases, such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, chronic kidney disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Heavy Metals produce Free Radical Overgrowth in our body! Free Radical Overgrowth is associated with lots of issues including early Aging and Wrinkles!
For more info see: https://total-health.com.au/free-radicals-oxidative-stress-and-redox-index
Healthy Nutrition comes with ‘internal’ sunscreen protection, stimulation of the Collagen production and DNA repair. Meat, processed food and junk food are associated with more wrinkles Higher Vitamin C was associated with less wrinkles in a study of 4000 american women.
What is the best Anti-Wrinkle Diet?
The best anti-wrinkle diet is the one naturally high/rich in antioxidants, is anti-inflammatory (see article below) and would limit both sugar spikes and glycation by limiting added sugar and refined/processed carbohydrates and avoiding preformed advanced glycation end products found in bacon, fried, grilled and broiled meat. The use of flaxseed meal not only showed a reduction of wrinkles but showed a significant increase in skin smoothness. Chlorophyll intake in studies has shown to significantly improve facial wrinkles and elasticity. Stop Skin Sabotage by avoiding eating patterns and foods that are known to cause collagen damage. Evidence recommends following a WFPB diet being high in vegetables, fruit, beans, rich in carotenoids, gluten free grains and moderate seeds and gluten free grains as the best preventative strategy and treatment against premature skin ageing. Fish is not associated with less wrinkling but also not associated with more wrinkles which meat, dairy, eggs, high fat and processed/junk food cause.
For more information on all aspects of healthy skin please consider purchasing our Skin Health webinar which is on Sunday the 13th of April 2025:
