Everything about wrinkles on the face

Wrinkles on the face are folds in the skin caused by the loss of elasticity. Low levels of hyaluronic acid and natural collagen lead to aging and the stretching of elastin fibers. This process results in sagging skin, giving it a wrinkled, loose appearance with folds.

Over time, facial expressions, modern diet, and genetic factors largely determine whether we can remove facial wrinkles with mild treatments or if deeper measures, such as injection treatments or facial fillers to eliminate wrinkles, are necessary.

If we add unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking alcohol, and staying up late… well, it can create a perfect mix for getting a lot of expression lines in no time. That’s why it’s important to start paying attention as soon as possible to the reasons why wrinkles appear, what they are, and how to address them.

Causes of facial wrinkles

We’ve previously discussed why they appear and how you can deal with them. Now, here are the most common causes:

Repeated facial expressions, such as smoking, not only cause internal health issues but also result in what are called smoker’s wrinkles. These appear on the lips as fine lines that age the face, becoming deeper and more pronounced with age.

This type of wrinkle is one of the most common reasons for aesthetic consultations. Since the mouth and lips are central features of the face, they play a significant role in a person’s appearance. Having wrinkles on the lips can make you look older and less attractive. That’s why preventing them is important.

Additionally, sun exposure significantly accelerates aging. The evaporation of water and the direct impact of sun rays act like tiny daggers piercing the heart of skin tissue. If you observe, people who tan a lot in summer often have weathered facial skin with many wrinkles, even when using moisturizing and nourishing creams. If you ask a doctor, they’ll tell you to avoid the sun completely. I’ll say take it in moderation. I’m not one to recommend otherwise, but I know how hard it is to resist the warmth of the sun while lying on the beach. Plus, it helps produce some vitamin D, which isn’t bad.

But remember.

Doctors are always right, and nothing in excess is good. Not even sex, or so they say. But like exercise, it releases endorphins, which are great for feeling good, relaxing facial muscles, and stopping frowning. I mention this because facial tension is another cause of wrinkles. So it’s up to you, but keep moving…

Types of wrinkles

These three types of facial wrinkles are influenced by genetics. They largely determine whether your body produces more elastin or less collagen, but your facial expressions and daily habits also play a role.

Collagen: is linked to elastin production and is essential for skin strength. Without these substances, degeneration is inevitable, and having wrinkles becomes the norm. When collagen levels decrease due to genetics, an unbalanced diet that fails to replenish nutrients, or simply aging, sagging skin in certain areas of the face becomes noticeable. You can boost collagen production with collagen-rich foods or by using hydrolyzed collagen supplements.

Elastin: is essential for skin health and, like collagen, is a common protein. Elastin provides elasticity, while collagen gives resistance and strength. Just as a lack of elastin leads to facial wrinkles, an excess can cause other issues. This condition, known as elastosis, means there’s too much elastin.

Here’s something interesting.

Having too much elastin, contrary to what you might expect, also causes facial wrinkles. This happens because overly elastic skin lacks structure. So, it’s not ideal either.

Excess elastin fibers become more pronounced with prolonged sun exposure. As with many things, balance is key.

Expression wrinkles: are a part of us and are mostly unavoidable. People who make a lot of facial expressions tend to have more expression lines. Frowning, squinting, or even frequent smiling—all contribute. Even smiling too much influences wrinkles. But honestly, it’s better to smile a lot, even if it means having a few extra lines, than to stay serious and motionless just to avoid them. In any case, constant stretching and contracting of the skin fibers reduce their natural tension, eventually causing them to sag.

How to prevent wrinkles on the face

The best treatment is always prevention. Protecting yourself from the sun is essential. On one hand, it helps prevent the appearance of facial and body sunspots, and on the other, it prevents water loss.

You must avoid dehydration of the face and skin tissue, which is partly achieved with cosmetics that shield against UVA and UVB rays. Additionally, maintaining a healthy diet ensures essential nutrients reach the skin through blood circulation. A bit of exercise is also great—it tightens the skin, works like a natural facelift, and generates endorphins, which help you feel better, be happier, and therefore frown less and relax your facial muscles. This is a repetition, right? I already mentioned an alternative for those who dislike exercise… I won’t repeat it…

And there’s more.

There are alternatives like meditation, yoga, etc. These help relieve stress, which tends to build up and tense facial expressions. Facial exercises and self-massages work really well.

Finally, we have cosmetics, which are truly amazing. I left them for last because they work best when combined with other methods. Seriously, there are some incredible beauty products, but when deep wrinkles are present, cosmetics and creams can improve the skin but struggle to be 100% effective. Considering all the factors working against them, some still perform quite well—so imagine the results when combined with the other methods we’ve discussed.

Moreover, when facial wrinkles become quite noticeable and have deep creases, opting for a wrinkle filler with hyaluronic acid or collagen can work wonders.

If you incorporate a bit of everything we’ve discussed and also use some of these highly effective anti-wrinkle creams, you can truly keep facial wrinkles under control for a long time. Promise. Here are some more options—don’t forget about facial serum, which is an absolute game-changer.