Stopping That Wrinkle in Time

What do most women (and quite a few men) dread seeing the most as they age? You guessed it - wrinkles. Wrinkles are creases or ridges that form in the skin. The good news is that most wrinkles are caused by things that we can do something about.

It is estimated that 90% of the visible signs of aging, such as wrinkles are caused by environmental factors. The biggest culprit is the sun. Doctors and dermatologists have been saying for years that exposure to the sun causes skin damage. That means more wrinkles.

Smoking is another cause of major wrinkles, especially around the mouth area. Most wrinkles come from repetitive movements over time. Puffing on a cigarette is definitely a repetitive movement.

Poor hydration also can cause wrinkling of the skin, in addition to a host of other problems. It is important to not only get enough water internally by drinking it throughout the day, but also to keep your skin hydrated using quality moisturizers.

But even if you do everything right - stay out of the sun, drink enough water, don't smoke and use a moisturizer, there is a good chance you will still end up with some wrinkles. Why? Because 10% of the visible signs of aging comes from just that - aging. Our heredity and genetic make-up plus the passage of time contribute to some wrinkling.

Wrinkles may start to appear as early as our 20's especially around the eyes and lips, although most people won't notice them. Elastin and collagen begin to decline in our 30's. In fact, Collagen and elastin decrease 65% between the ages of 28-80. Since these two compounds are needed for strength and elasticity, we may begin to notice a few wrinkles.

Most people actually notice that they have wrinkles in their 40's. The elasticity of our skin is diminished and our skin loses memory (not just in our heads). The repetitive movements over 40 years of smiling, frowning, thinking (remember the furrowed brow?) are now permanent. Once you have a wrinkle, it's there for life.

By our 50's the decrease in collagen and elastin coupled with gravity cause our skin and muscles to sag. Wrinkles may appear deeper and more pronounced. There is good news for those with dark skin. It seems like less visible aging takes place on darker skin.

So what can we do? The best defense is a good offense. Stay out of the sun unless you are wearing an SPF15 or higher. Stop smoking. Make sure your skin is hydrated. Use skin care products with anti-aging properties and ingredients.

Some people opt for plastic surgery or Botox injections, but these options are expensive and may not yield the results you are looking for. Once it's done - it's done. I'd rather mask the wrinkles that I have with anti-aging cosmetics and use anti-aging skin care to keep from getting any more.

Mark Twain said, "Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been." Protecting your skin to prevent wrinkles is the best option. And that's something to smile about.

To read more anti-aging tips for both men and women visit http://www.effective-antiaging-tips.com You can also sign up for The Antiaging Extra, a monthly newsletter that is filled with more anti-aging tips, product suggestions, recipes and ideas to counteract the physical signs of aging.