A Close-Up On Wrinkles:  Part 1 Wrinkle Formation

Ageing wouldn’t be so bad if the proof weren’t all over your face. But one day you look in the mirror and there they are: fine lines and wrinkles. For most women, it’s not a welcome discovery. In fact, from the beginning of time, women have been concerned about the signs of ageing. And research now validates these concerns: It’s proven that anxiety over ageing is directly linked to poor self-image and even age-related discrimination. Poor self-image is also associated with chronic illness and fewer preventative health behaviors, like exercise. No wonder everyone is searching for the fountain of youth.

A wrinkle is a wrinkle is a wrinkle. Or is it?
There are two main types of wrinkles. As if one wasn’t enough. There are surface wrinkles, often called fine lines. And there are deep wrinkles and folds.

Surface wrinkles, as their name suggests, are crevices that only delve into the surface, or epidermal layer, of the skin. Surface wrinkles are less than 0.1 mm in depth and can disappear or be barely visible when you’re relaxed. These fine lines are thought to be the easiest to reduce or eliminate without the use of invasive procedures.

Deep wrinkles or folds range from 0.1mm to 0.4mm deep and permeate the dermal layer of your skin, which is directly below the epidermal layer. Deep wrinkles remain well defined and evident even when your muscles and skin are relaxed because they reach the subcutaneous layer, the third layer of skin where fat is stored.

The birth of a wrinkle.
So why oh why do we get fine lines and wrinkles? The cause of ageing skin is both external and internal. Internally, just like any other organ in your body, your skin’s functionality slowly deteriorates as you age. A multitude of natural changes contribute to the onset of fine lines and wrinkles.

Fluctuations in hormone levels, particularly estrogen, can reduce collagen production in your skin. Collagen is a connective tissue that contributes to skin’s structure and firmness. Cell regeneration and circulation also become sluggish as you age. Elastin, which allows skin to bounce back and reshape itself, decreases. Hyaluronic acid, a natural moisturizer in the skin, also declines. All of these changes compromise skin’s elasticity, firmness, structure, and moisture. This contributes to areas of collapse and irregularity that ultimately manifest as fine lines and wrinkles.

But the external factors? That’s where we seal our own fate. The most obvious, of course, is UV exposure. Keeping well protected from the sun is a surefire way to reduce your chances of premature ageing. Smoking is also a no-no—in addition to the blatant health risks, it also wreaks havoc on your skin. Environmental pollutants add to the wrinkle risk factor as well.