DEL Articles

Wrinkles are unwanted. This is true of everyone everywhere, whether it is admitted or not. Our society is youth-oriented and we do not want to grow old. Wrinkles and other signs of ageing are looked upon with general disfavour and we all strive to look younger than we really are. Hence we look for ways to get rid of wrinkles.

Tightening and smoothing the skin through laser resurfacing is one of the ways to reduce wrinkles. This anti wrinkle treatment involves using laser to restructure the skin. CO2 laser was used in the first complete resurfacing. Nowadays, the method of choice is the fractional laser method. In this method, laser delivered in tiny pinpoints to only a fraction of the area to be treated leaves healthy tissue in between ablated areas for faster healing and reduced risk.

Dermabrasion removes the outer layer of the skin so that a newer, more youthful surface can be grown. In this anti wrinkle treatment, the surface of the skin is removed by abrasion. This is not the procedure of choice because it is very painful and requires anesthetization. It can also take several months for the skin surface to heal and regenerate after dermabrasion.

Retinoids such as vitamin A derivatives tretinoin and retinol increase the collagen production of the skin and encourage the renewal of skin cells. Primarily used for treating acne vulgaris and keratosis pilaris, these are also good anti wrinkle treatment options. Exposure to the sun should be avoided when undergoing retinoid treatment because of the increased susceptibility to sunburn. Retinoids may also cause thinning of the skin. Hence, removal of hair by waxing should be avoided because it could remove the top layer of the skin along with hair.

Chemical peels, another kind of anti wrinkle treatment, use alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), beta hydroxy acids (BHA), salicylic acid, lactic acid, trichloroacetic acid, and phenol singly or in suitable combinations to make skin blister and peel off. After some time the skin will heal and regenerate. The regenerated skin surface will be smoother and look younger than the old surface.

Procedures such as face lifts and facial implants are surgical anti wrinkle treatment options. Face lifts, also known by the medical term rhytidectomy, involves removing excess facial skin. The remaining skin is then re-draped over the face and neck. In facial implants, fat taken from another part of the body or an artificial substance is deposited under wrinkled skin to plump it up.

Cosmetic injections like collagen, Botox, and Restylane are easily administered and take up only a fraction of the time required for the other anti wrinkle treatment procedures. Collagen, a type of protein naturally found in the body and thus produces little or no side effects, is used as a subdermal filler to decrease the prominence of wrinkles. Botox is the trade name for botulinum toxin type A and reduces wrinkles by immobilizing the muscles that cause wrinkles to appear. Restylane is the trade name for hyaluronic acid and it acts by filling out and adding volume under wrinkled skin.

These are just some of the ways to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. More are being discovered and implemented, with varying degrees of effectiveness and success. In this day and age, one no longer has to live with wrinkles.