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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffWrinkles are caused by a combination of factors — some you can control, others you can't:
- Age. As you get older, your skin naturally becomes less elastic and more fragile. Decreased production of natural oils makes your skin drier and appear more wrinkled. Fat in the deeper layers of your skin, which gives the skin a plump appearance, starts to diminish. This causes loose, saggy skin and more-pronounced lines and crevices.
- Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. Ultraviolet radiation markedly speeds up the natural aging process and is the primary cause of early wrinkling. Exposure to UV light breaks down your skin's connective tissue — collagen and elastin fibers, which lie in the deeper layer of skin (dermis). Without the supportive connective tissue, your skin loses its strength and flexibility. As a result, skin begins to sag and wrinkle prematurely.
- Smoking. Smoking can accelerate the normal aging process of your skin, contributing to wrinkles. This may be due to changes in the blood supply to your skin.
- Repeated facial expressions. Facial movements and expressions, such as squinting or smiling, lead to fine lines and wrinkles. Each time you use a facial muscle, a groove forms beneath the surface of the skin. And as skin ages, it loses its flexibility and is no longer able to spring back in place. These grooves then become permanent features on your face.
- Gender. Women tend to develop more wrinkles around their mouths (perioral) than men do. That may be because women have fewer sweat glands and glands that secrete an oily matter known as sebum (sebaceous glands) to lubricate the skin and fewer blood vessels in this area.
- Poor nutrition. Nutritional deficiencies are believed to contribute to skin aging.
References
- Photoaging. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Health Care Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mkgr/mmg/sec15/ch122/ch122c.jsp. Accessed Nov. 13, 2010.
- Puizina-Ivic N, et al. Modern approach to topical treatment of aging skin. Collegium Antropologicum. 2010;34:1145.
- Zerbos ZJ, et al. Update on botulinum toxin and dermal fillers. Current Opinion in Opthalmology. 2010;21:387.
- Facial skin rejuvenation. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/cosmetic_facial.html. Accessed Nov. 5, 2010.
- Aging hair/skin problems: Wrinkles. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.skincarephysicians.com/agingskinnet/wrinkles.html. Accessed Nov. 13, 2010.
- Basavaraj KH, et. al. Diet in dermatology: Present perspectives. Indian Journal of Dermatology. 2010;55:205.
- Zussman J, et al. Vitamins and photoaging: Do scientific data support their use? Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2010;63:507.
- Tierney EP, et al. Recent advances in combination treatments for photoaging: Review of the literature. Dermatologic Surgery. 2010;36:829.
- Paes EC, et al. Perioral wrinkles: Histologic differences between men and women. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2009;29:467.
- Baumann L. Cosmetics and skin care in dermatology. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3007166&searchStr=xerosis. Accessed Nov. 13, 2010.
- 10 tips: Getting the best results from age-fighting topicals. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.skincarephysicians.com/agingskinnet/age_fighting_results.html. Accessed Nov. 13, 2010.
- Cosmeceutical facts and your skin. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/general_cosmeceutical.html. Accessed Nov. 13, 2010.
- Technology report: Fractional photothermolysis. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. http://www.asds.net/_NewsPage.aspx?id=1078&terms=fraxel#. Accessed Nov. 19, 2010.
- Technology report: Monopolar radiofrequency. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. http://www.asds.net/_NewsPage.aspx?id=1378&terms=radiofrequency#. Accessed Nov. 19, 2010.
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