Whether you have just noticed your first fine line or a recent upgrade in your home’s lighting has just drawn your attention to the deeper wrinkles that have accumulated over the years, you may feel a little disheartened. You have plenty of options to treat your unwelcome wrinkles, with a range to suit all budgets.
We are going to talk you through the methods you can use to reduce and remove unwanted wrinkles, ranging from simple at-home methods that you can incorporate into your daily routine, to the more invasive and expensive procedures such as cosmetic surgery.
Each of these methods can give you excellent results, and we recommend you start small and attempt the gentler methods first, rather than first going to the most extreme approaches.
Anti-wrinkles creams are designed to both prevent wrinkles from occurring in the first place and to reduce the appearance of those that have formed. There are different types of anti-wrinkle cream available, with varying strengths.
Many anti-aging creams are known as “pro-collagen” creams, which means that they contain ingredients that promote your skin’s collagen production, which naturally declines as you age. Commonly marine ingredients are used in pro-collagen creams. Often creams will also contain antioxidants such as vitamin E, which can reduce the effect of free radicals, which speed up the aging process of your tissues.
A key element of anti-aging cream is moisture. This is because moisturized skin is healthier than dry skin – which can gradually become thin and more likely to crinkle and form lines. Collagen molecules may even be used in anti-wrinkle creams, although collagen molecules are actually too big to be absorbed by your skin. Topical collagen, however, does help your skin to retain its moisture. Moisturising your skin can help to plump it out, reducing the depth of wrinkles and fine lines.
Another common ingredient of anti-wrinkles creams is retinol, which is a derivative of vitamin A. It is a multi-use ingredient which is used for skin complaints ranging from sun damage through fine lines and wrinkles to acne. It increases your cell turnover and stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, resulting in smoother, more toned skin.
If you are keen to try a topical product that packs more of a punch, speak to your dermatologist about being prescribed a retinoid. Just like a retinol-based product, retinoids are derived from vitamin A, but they are much stronger, and can, therefore, give much greater results. They can, however, be very drying on your skin and they are not suitable for everyone.
If you are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding, consult your doctor before using any products which contain retinol, retinoids or any other derivatives of vitamin A as it can result in harm to your baby. You will also need to take more care in the sun, as they can make your skin more prone to burning.
It is important that you are realistic expectations of topical products. Anti-wrinkle creams can give you brilliant results, at both preventing and eliminating wrinkles. However, the deeper and older the wrinkles are, the harder it is to eliminate them completely. For deeper-set wrinkles, it is worth combining an anti-wrinkle cream with another method of anti-aging treatment to give you even better results.
How To Enhance The Results Of You Anti-Wrinkle Cream
All of these methods enhance the results of topical products such as anti-wrinkle creams. These methods are best used semi-regularly such as weekly.
- Facial steaming – specially-designed nano steamers produce nanosteam which is absorbed by your skin more readily than regular steam. It moisturizes and warms your skin, increasing circulation and encourages deep absorption of topical products.
- Microdermabrasion – a technique used by salons and clinics to exfoliate your skin and suction out impurities. It is also used in anti-aging as it is though it can kickstart your body’s natural healing response, resulting in a greater production of collagen.
- Red light therapy – the results of technology originally developed by NASA. Certain wavelengths of red light have been found to promote healing. It also increases circulation and encourages the deeper absorption of topical products by your skin.
Does Light Therapy Work For Wrinkles? Click to learn more.
Surgical Options For Eliminating Wrinkles
You may find that deeper, long-standing and therefore more stubborn wrinkles require more encouragement to smooth out than newer wrinkles. There are a number of different cosmetic interventions that you can have, at a range of prices.
Botox
You’ve probably heard of Botox and associate it with Hollywood. In fact, you can get Botox injections at most dermatologists and cosmetic clinics. It can cost around $10 to $15 per unit, or $300 to $1000 for a flat rate, so it can add up.
Botox is a common treatment for facial wrinkles. It can be used as a preventative measure for less-set, dynamic wrinkles – those which only show when you form certain expressions such as a smile or frown. It can also be used to soften deeper wrinkles. The substance is actually a “neurotoxic protein,” which paralyzes your muscles to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and prevent new ones forming. It is also used in the treatment of migraines, bladder dysfunction, and twitching eyes.
If you are keen to try Botox injections, we recommend you speak to a doctor first. You will get the best and safest results if it is administered a registered, medical doctor. Be sure to check if it is suitable for you if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and follow their instructions regarding pain relief to minimize side effects such as bruising.
The Botox is a protein, so over time your body will break it down into amino acids (harmless components) and the results with reduce. Therefore, to maintain the results you will need to top it up every so often, and how often will vary in each instance. If you have multiple areas of your face treated, you may find that some results reduce sooner than others.
Dermal Fillers For Wrinkles
Dermal fillers are a similar concept to Botox, only instead of paralyzing the muscles, they plump-out the wrinkles, filling the lines and creases to smooth your skin. They can last between 4 months and over a year, giving you fast results at a fraction of the cost of a facelift.
Dermal fillers can also be used to plump your cheeks, fill thin lips and enhance sagging hands. They can give fantastic results and the treatment time is fast and easy. However, there is a higher rate of allergic reaction and a chance for small bumps to form under your skin, which may be permanent. Often the fillers which last the longest have a higher chance of reactions.
There are multiple different types of fillers, the most popular of which is a hyaluronic acid filler. This includes HylaForm, Juvederm XC and Restylane. Other types of fillers include synthetic wrinkles fillers such as silicone, collagen wrinkles fillers such as Cosmoderm and Autologous Wrinkles fillers. Autologous wrinkles fillers involve removing fat from your own body, such as from your thighs or buttocks and treating it before injecting it back into the wrinkle area. An example is a platelet-rich plasma injection.
Facelifts
A facelift is by far the most expensive and invasive method of removing wrinkles. It uses surgical techniques to reverse the appearance of aging skin. It can be performed under general anesthetic, or under deep sedation with a local anesthetic.
During a facelift, your cosmetic surgeon will make incisions in your skin in areas such as your hairline and/or around your ears. They will then redistribute your tissue and fat, sculpt your muscles and then re-drape your skin. Facelifts can give fantastic results, but often you will experience some bruising, pain and swelling afterward. It also has higher risk factors of infection, scarring and loss of symmetry than other methods.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of a facelift in the Us is $7448, but they can vary widely depending on where you go and what/how much you have done. It will rarely be covered by your health insurance, but often payment plans are available. Often it will require you to stay in the hospital for a night or more, and the aftercare will vary with each case.
How To Prevent Further Wrinkles
It is never too early, or too late to start looking after your skin. No matter what age you are, taking good care of your skin and protecting it from all sorts of damage will set you up better for the future. These are our top tips for preventing further wrinkles, and they can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, too!
- Protect yourself from the sun UV rays damage your collagen. Stay in the shade between 10 am and 4 pm and always wear sunscreen of SPF 15 and higher.
- Quit smoking or don’t start in the first place. Smoking lowers blood flow to your skin, particularly on your face, causing thinning of tissues making your skin more likely to wrinkle.
- Apply an anti-wrinkle cream Ingredients such as vitamin E, retinol or other pro-collagen ingredients help to stimulate your natural collagen production for smoother skin.
- Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water. This helps your whole body stay healthy by flushing out toxins and enabling efficient cell processes which keep your tissues supple.
- Increase your antioxidants in your diet, and you can apply them topically too. Blueberries, cranberries, grapes, and spinach will reduce stress from free radicals to prevent wrinkles.
- Increase oily fish in your diet such as salmon and mackerel. Such fish are a great source of protein and fatty acids, which nourish your skin and help it to remain plump and supple.
- Cut down your sugar intake as sugars can increase the rate of collagen breakdown. Similar effects come from diets high in saturated fats and those associated with fried food.
- Get enough sleep – ideally about 7 – 9 hours each night to give your body a good chance to heal and repair. This is also when you skin cells produce most of the collagen for your skin.
- Sleep on your back to avoid repeated compression of your face, which can restrict blood flow to your skin, resulting in weaker skin that is more likely to develop wrinkles and fine lines.
Conclusion
As you can see, you have many options for getting rid of your unwanted wrinkles. We recommend you start from the top of our list and work down as you feel necessary, rather than immediately going for a surgical alternative. This leaves you more possibilities in the future. Plus, if you continue to look after your skin well and prevent new wrinkles forming, you probably won’t feel the need to go for drastic surgical options. For more information on anti-aging creams, read our review of what we consider to be the best anti-aging creams on the market.
Great article pal. Anti ageing creams can be great, but in my opinion there’s only so much they can do. If you have found the cream that is working for you somewhat, it may be worth investing. But if they are not working you should try something else like wrinkle injections or something else.