Wrinkles are the bane of an otherwise fulfilling existance. if 50 is the new 30, then why do we have wrinkles that make us look older that we feel? The answer much of the time is sun exposure over the years. but what’s done is done, right? Well, even if you’re not quite ready to call a plastic surgeon, there are some treatments available to help you lose the wrinkles or at least minimize their appearance.
One non-surgical treatment for wrinkles is to use prescribed topical retinoids. Derived from vitamin A, retinoids help the skin to speed up the process of shedding dead skin cells. This can act something like a chemical peel, only more slowly, shedding extra layers of skin to reveal newer and younger looking skin. Two drawbacks are that it takes a while to get the desired effects and the skin is more sensitive to sun exposure.
Over-the-counter wrinkle creams are another option. Many of these use low levels of retinol, alpha hydroxy acids, coenzyme Q10, antioxidants, kinetin, and copper peptides. Unfortunately, while many af these can be helpful, the results are typically temporary and slight compared to prescription or medical treatments.
Microdermabrasion is a treatment that does not require a prescriptioin. This procedure uses a powerful vaccum that usesvery fine aluminum oxide crystals to blast the surface of the skin to remove some of the outer dead layers. This reveals fresher undamaged skin and reduces large pores, sun damage, and coarse skin. It also stimulates the skin cell growth in the process. Drawbacks are that hte treatments only bring temporary results, thus rewuiring repeated treatments, and the skin may be red or irritated for a shor period after each treatment.
Another treatment for wrinkles is collagen. Collagen does not have to be injected to provide at least some minimal benefit and is available in over-the-counter creams. Collagen fibers are strong, helping skin cells to be buoyant, firm, and smooth. Collagen creams can help provide some temporary improvement in the appearance of wrinkless. However, injections procide more lasting results.
Finally, chemical peels cause the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin to slough off. The skin will literally peel. The skin recealed underneath the surface will be smoother and younger-looking. Some weak chemical peels are available over the counter without a prescription, but stronger prescription chemical peels are able to deliver better results.
