Turn on the TV at certain times of the day and all you seem to get are ads and infomercials touting the latest wrinkle treatment. From creams, masks and serums to strips, injections and surgery the options are endless. So which is the most effective and which will give you the best bang for your buck?
To get the best wrinkle treatment we need to look at how you got those 'character lines' in the first place. As you know, the most common cause of creases and lines on your skin is the natural aging process. We know that as we age, our skin becomes less elastic but it also becomes more fragile, meaning that it becomes damaged and scarred far more easily than it used to. Exposure to sunlight, smoking and poor nutrition can not only cause damage to the skin, they can also greatly accelerate the signs of aging.
So now that we know how we got those 'character lines' what can we do about them?
One of the best wrinkle treatments is to stop harming your body and in particular your skin. If you are a smoker, then stop, if you have a diet that consists of fatty, fried food, and a lifestyle that involves little exercise, then changing to a healthier lifestyle and diet will do wonders for the appearance of your skin. Using sun block will not reverse the damage that has been done, but it will prevent any further damage occurring.
Topical anti wrinkle treatments.
These are the creams and serums that you find in your supermarket, pharmacy and even your health store. Basically these are moisturizers that have added nutrients that are essential for healthy skin and that are known to deplete as we age. The regular topical application of these nutrients like retinol, vitamin C, coenzyme Q10 and peptides can make a difference to the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Serums are simply a concentrated form of the nutrients.
The next way to remove wrinkles is to simply remove the aged layer of skin; this can be done several ways;
Dermabrasion - Like a sander removes the top layer of wood so the underlying new wood can be seen, dermabrasion involves the complete removal of the top layer of your skin. This is quite a major procedure and it can take many months for the scarring and redness to fade and the new layer of skin to 'settle'.
Similar to dermabrasion is microdermabrasion. This is a far more subtle way of removing the skin as it is done in small increments instead of in one blast.
Laser Wrinkle Treatment - As the name suggests laser wrinkle removal or laser resurfacing, involves the application of a laser light to remove the outer layer of skin and stimulate the growth of new cells in the underlying layers. Wrinkles are not actually removed entirely but their appearance is diminished over several sessions.
Chemical Peels - These use a type of acid to remove the top layer of skin, again it is done over several sessions.
If you don't like the idea of having the skin stripped off and having some recovery time then the next step is to look at using fillers to plump out your skin or other chemicals to reduce the look of the lines.
Botox is the most famous and accessible. By literally paralyzing the muscles in your face you can not contract them, so the skin appears flatter. Your typical botox injection can last up to 3 months, but after this you will need continued injections to maintain your look.
If you don't like the idea of this then you can have fillers like collagen, fat and hyaluranic acid injected into the affected areas. These fill out the area, so that the skin smoothes out over it. You will need to have the procedure repeated every few months.
The Face Lift is the ultimate in wrinkle treatment options. Your skin is literally lifted off, the muscles and underlying tissue is realigned and tightened and any access fat is removed. The recovery time from a face lift can extend to several weeks, but the results can last up to 10 years.
Although there are cases where many of these methods would be understandable, many people do take an extreme view of their appearance. Medical procedures are often expensive and contain some degree of risk, but by having a healthy lifestyle, a nutritionally balanced diet and by using the proper topical anti wrinkle treatment you can age naturally, gracefully and beautifully.
S. Brooks is a specialized researcher focusing on providing valuable information & solutions for every day issues.
For more useful information on this subject please go to: http://www.skincareinsider.org.