What Makes an Effective Anti Wrinkle Treatment?

One of the downsides of aging is that not only do we end up with more and more wrinkles, but those ones that started out as fine lines will become that much more defined over time. Of course, everyone wants to have healthy and youthful looking skin, particularly on their face, so finding an effective way to treat and even prevent wrinkles can be very important. Choosing an effective anti wrinkle treatment starts with understanding why wrinkles are formed and what ingredients are the most helpful to the skin.

The Science Behind Anti Wrinkle Treatment

As we age, cells in the body begin to divide slower, including those found in the skin. Fewer new skin cells result in the skin appearing thinner, as there are less cells making up the three layers of the skin. Coupled with this slowing in division, the cells that make up the dermis (the middle layer of the skin) produce less of two important proteins, collagen and elastin.

Collagen is a structural fiber that supports the epidermis (the outer layer) of the skin. As collagen breaks down, the outer layer has less support, which leads to creases and depressions (wrinkles) on the surface of the skin. Elastin is the protein that allows the skin to stretch and retain its shape. With a decrease in elastin, the skin loses its elasticity so it is less able to return to its original shape and also becomes looser in general. Finally, skin becomes drier and less able to heal itself.

External Factors Leading to Anti Wrinkle Treatment

Sun, smoking, pollution and other chemicals also increase the damage to skin cells. UV from sunlight, as well as other chemicals, cause the increase of free radicals found within the cells of the body, including the skin. Free radicals are unstable chemicals that attack proteins and DNA found within the cells. In skin cells, free radicals can cause collagen and elastin to break down, which makes the skin looser and wrinkled. Free radicals can also damage the DNA found in cells, which means that they will not reproduce themselves, which leads to further thinning of the skin.

Anti Wrinkle Treatment Options

There are many treatment options when it comes to wrinkle removal and prevention. Effective anti wrinkle treatments should remove fine lines, wrinkles and even discolorations of the skin. The goal of the anti wrinkle treatment is to make the skin look younger and healthier. Although there are plenty of treatments to choose, finding one that actually works may not be that easy.

Some people choose treatments such as Botox injections, laser therapy or micro-dermabrasion. For many, these treatments are not an option due to their cost, but there are plenty of over-the-counter remedies that can help. What is important is to find the right treatment for what you want to accomplish. In most cases, increasing the amount of collagen and elastin in the skin will help smoothen and tighten skin on the face.

What is important to remember is that the health of your skin depends on what you are putting on it and also what you are taking into your body. Eating a nutritional diet and drinking plenty of water will help skin maintain its health and keep it looking younger. There are a number of all natural supplements that can also be taken to help keep skin healthy.

As well as having a healthy diet, there are over the counter creams, lotions and serums that can help fight wrinkles. When deciding on which of the topical treatments to choose, you should look for one that contains the following ingredients:

Sunscreen

UV from the sun is very damaging to skin cells, so it is important to use a sunscreen to prevent further damage and, thus, more wrinkles.

Moisturizer

Older skin gets drier due to the oil glands in the skin becoming less efficient at producing the oils that keep the skin lubricated. Also, as skin cells shrink and die, they hold less moisture. Any anti wrinkle treatment should have a moisturizer to help improve the texture of the skin.

Antioxidants

These are naturally occurring and can be found in plants. Antioxidants that are commonly included in skin treatments are Vitamins A, E and C and beta carotene, as they help skin repair itself. Antioxidants help reduce the damage to the skin by reacting with and breaking down free radicals. Antioxidants can be taken through supplements as well as be applied topically through a cream, lotion or serum directly on the skin. By applying an anti wrinkle treatment containing antioxidants to the skin, you are ensuring they are working on the skin cells.

Collagen and Elastin Promoters

Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant but also helps promote the production of collagen and elastin in the skin. Other naturally occurring substances that help improve the appearance of the skin include wakame (a Japanese type of kelp) and manuka honey.