What causes wrinkles and fine lines on a person’s face?
A combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors can affect how early or late in life people develop wrinkles and fine lines on their face. Intrinsic factors are those we do not have much control over, such as genetics, hormones, gender and stages in life. The extrinsic factors are things we can control, such as UV radiation, air pollution, tobacco smoke, and nutrition.
Intrinsic Factors
Skin is composed of three basic layers: the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous. Wrinkling appears in the outlet layer, the epidermis, because of changes in the dermis, the layer below it. Two of the main structural components of the dermis are proteins called collagen and elastin. Collagen provides support and strength, while elastin provides stretch, recoil and elasticity. After people reach their mid-twenties, the production of elastin and collagen decreases each year. The decrease in collagen and elastin as we age result in sagging and wrinkling of the skin. Dry skin also contributes to wrinkles and fine lines. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is found in both the dermis and the epidermis, it plays an important role in preventing the skin from drying out. As we age our body does not produce as much Hyaluronic Acid, as it once did.
Other intrinsic factors are genetics, hormones and gender. Women tend to have a decrease in collagen after menopause, due to estrogen levels being low. Caucasians tend to wrinkle earlier than people of Asian descent. Men tend to get deeper wrinkles and sagging under the eyes earlier than women.
Extrinsic Factors
Some of the extrinsic factors that contribute to wrinkles and accelerate the aging process are smoking, UV light exposure, air pollution and an unhealthy diet. Up to 85% of the visible signs of aging can be directly attributed to extrinsic causes, so skin aging also depends heavily on environmental exposures, lifestyle, and habits.
Smoking can both decrease collagen production and damage collagen and elastin. Nicotine constricts blood vessels, preventing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the skin. An unhealthy diet of sugar and refined carbs can cause collagen to become weak, dry and brittle.
Ultraviolet light reduces collagen production and causes collagen to break down quickly. The different types of UV rays can affect all layers of the skin, drying the skin as well as damaging collagen. The artificial light from digital screens, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and fluorescent lighting also may affect skin aging. Extended exposure to high energy blue light has been shown to increase cell and tissue death, skin barrier damage, skin pigmentation and photoaging. Concerns about blue light and its potentially damaging effects in skin have grown during the past couple of years with increased exposure to smartphones and digital devices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Air pollution is a consequence of an urban lifestyle and makes it difficult to minimize skin exposure to pollutants. One study found that air pollution positively correlated with the presence of coarse wrinkles and a 20% increase in pigmented spots on the forehead and cheeks. Research also found that those living in highly polluted areas have significantly worse skin hydration and more compromised skin barrier functioning than subjects living in cleaner suburban areas.
Some of the things we can do to keep our skin healthy and prevent early onset of wrinkles are as follows:
1. A good skin care routine washing and moisturizing
2. Protecting your skin from the sun with a sun screen, hats and UPF clothing 3. Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke
4. A healthy diet.
Contact Lace Curtain Med Spa for a personalized skin care routine.
References
Eleni Papakonstantinou, 1 Michael Roth, 2 and George Karakiulakis 1 ,*Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging, Dermatoendocrinol. 2012 Jul 1; 4(3): 253–258.
Leslie Baumann, MD, Eric F Bernstein, MD, MSE, Anthony S Weiss, PhD,1 Damien Bates, MD, PhD, MBA,2 Shannon Humphrey, MD,3 Michael Silberberg, MD, MBA,4 and Robert Daniels, PhD5. Clinical Reference of Elastin in the Structure and Function of Skin, Aesthet Surg J Open Forum. 2021 Sep; 3(3): ojab019.Published online 2021 May 14. doi: 10.1093/asjof/ojab019
Nuria Caturla, Ph.D., Monteloeder, Alicante, Spain, The ins and Outs of Aging: Intrinsic/extrinsic Factors and Nutricosmetic Fixes. Cosmetics and Toiletries, Oct. 21
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