Guest Author - Carolyn Chambers Clark, ARNP, EdD

What causes wrinkles?

As you age, your skin becomes both thinner and dryer. Both contribute to wrinkle formation. Wrinkles form when your face has lost its elasticity. As long as you can keep your skin supple, any skin creases will disappear as soon as you return to a neutral face expression. Some wrinkling is due to aging, but there's a lot you can do to prevent them.

Where do wrinkles appear first?

Wrinkles first appear in the delicate tissue around your eyes. These are called "crow's feet" or smile lines. The cheeks and lips show damage next.

Find out what you might be doing to worsen wrinkling

Here are some ways you will bring on more wrinkles or worsen the ones you already have...

* frowning or holding your face in a less than neutral position

* not keeping your skin from getting dry

* smoking

* poor muscle tone

* poor diet

* stress

* improper skin care

* exposure to environmental pollutants

* sun exposure

What you can do to reduce wrinkling

* catch yourself frowning or holding your face in a less than neutral position; try to smile all day

* keep your skin from getting dry by drinking 10 glasses of water a day and applying moisturizer during the day

* stop smoking: the Lung association in most towns offers a free stop smoking program. Call, enroll, do it today, not only for your skin, but also for your lungs, heart and total health

* learn ways to improve the tone of the muscles in your face by clicking on A Great Body. This e-book includes ways to not only tone your face, but the rest of your body!

* avoid eating chips, fried foods, sodas, ice cream, meat, and other sugary or animal fat foods and eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, soy, whole grains, and legumes

* learn how to reduce your stress click on Stress Relief for ideas

* take care of your skin by avoiding perfumed and harsh soaps (pine tar soap is great!), leaving makeup on over night and squeezing pimples

* turn down your exposure to environmental pollutants by covering your head and face when it rains or when the air is full of soot or other pollutants; avoid using spray cleaners, varnishes, paints, etc.

* exercise every day to enhance circulation to your face

* avoid sun bathing and sunburn

* lie on a slantboard 15 minutes a day to bring nourishment to your face

* use witch hazel instead of alcohol-based toning products

* use a facial loofah several times a week to remove dead cells and stimulate
circulation

* mash half an avocado and apply as a mask; leave on until it dries, then wash
off with warm water

* consider taking the following supplements:

primrose oil capsules, 1,000 mg 3x a day to heal your skin

Vitamin A, 10,000 IU daily

Vitamin B-complex (anti-stress) as directed on label

Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, 3,000-5,000 mg a day in divided doses to
help develop collagen, the protein that gives your skin flexibility and
strengthens and feeds the capillaries that feed the skin

Vitamin E 400-800 IU a day to protect against free radicals that damage
the skin

Zinc, 50 mg daily (do not exceed 100 mg a day) for skin repair

Copper, 3 mg a day for collagen production, health skin and to balance
zinc

Calcium (1,500 mg a day) and magnesium (750 mg a day) to strengthen
Your skin

Collagen cream: apply topically as directed on label

Elastin cream: apply topically as directed on label

Flaxseed oil (1,000 mg a day) to supply needed essential fatty acids


This article is for information purposes only. For treatment, consult your health care provider.

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