Prevent and treat wrinkles
Everyone gets wrinkles throughout life because the skin becomes thinner and loses elasticity. However, you can prevent wrinkles with a healthy lifestyle – a balanced diet and careful UV protection are crucial factors. If wrinkles have formed, there are many ways to treat them today. Therapy with Botox or hyaluronic acid is an option, among other things. Inevitable wrinkles can also be removed with a laser. Please find out more about the different treatment methods and their risks here.
Why are wrinkles formed?
The natural ageing process of the skin causes wrinkles. The skin loses elasticity throughout life and contains less collagen and hyaluronic acid than when we were young. This causes wrinkles to form over time. How much the skin ages depends on internal and external factors.
Our genes play a decisive role in the internal factors – and unfortunately, we cannot influence them. The situation is different with external factors: Besides the proper diet, healthy lifestyle habits (e.g. avoiding alcohol and nicotine), regular skin care, and protection against UV light play decisive roles.
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Different types of wrinkles and causes
Different types of wrinkles are distinguished depending on the cause and place of origin. Below is a list of the most common types of wrinkles:
- A decreasing firmness of the skin causes gravity wrinkles. They are ubiquitous in the chin and neck area.
- Mimic wrinkles – such as the so-called frown lines between the eyebrows – are formed by the activity of the facial muscles.
- Perioral folds are folds that form around the mouth. In contrast, folds between the corners of the nose and mouth are called nasolabial folds.
- Wrinkles at the corners of the mouth extend the mouth downward, often giving the affected person a sad, bitter appearance.
- Visits to the solarium and years of exposure to the sun cause actinic wrinkles.
- Crow’s feet are small wrinkles, for example, when you squint when laughing at the corner of the eye.
prevent wrinkles
The formation of wrinkles cannot be prevented entirely naturally, but it can be delayed and reduced. Above all, a healthy lifestyle is essential because factors such as unhealthy nutrition, stress, too little sleep and alcohol and nicotine consumption can hurt skin ageing.
In addition, UV light is a critical factor in the formation of wrinkles. Therefore, always ensure adequate sun protection and avoid excessive sunbathing. It would help if you also avoid visits to the solarium.
Anti-ageing and wrinkle creams are often used to prevent wrinkles. Whether these creams are effective has yet to be scientifically proven.
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Prevention through proper nutrition
Instead of expensive creams, you should, therefore, prefer fruit and vegetables because the following foods are real anti-ageing miracles when used in the long term:
You can also prevent wrinkles with some facial exercises.
Treating wrinkles: what helps against wrinkles?
More and more people wish to have young and firm skin even in old age. Wrinkles are entirely natural and part of the ageing process. Therefore, consider carefully whether you want to treat your wrinkles – every procedure is associated with risks.
Wrinkle treatment methods
Various methods are available if you still want to do something about your wrinkles. In individual cases, you should always discuss the method most suits you with the doctor treating you. Below are four different treatment options:
- Treat wrinkles with Botox
- Inject wrinkles with hyaluronic acid
- Laser wrinkles
- Facelift
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Treat wrinkles with Botox.
Botox ( botulinum toxin ) is primarily used to treat facial wrinkles and crow’s feet. The bacterial toxin is injected directly into the muscle and ensures that it relaxes. In this way, wrinkles caused by muscle tension are smoothed out.
The neurotoxin takes effect after two to twelve days. The effect only lasts briefly since the body breaks down Botox over time. The following treatment usually has to be carried out after three to nine months, which creates a particular dependency.
Side Effects of Botox
If too high a dose of Botox is injected, it can lead to limitations in facial expressions and signs of paralysis in the face. Neighbouring muscles can also be affected. Headaches and flu-like symptoms can also occur after treatment. These side effects usually go away on their own over time.
Since Botox treatment is a purely cosmetic procedure, health insurance does not cover the costs. The treatment usually costs between 200 and 600 euros.
Inject wrinkles with hyaluronic acid.
Deeper wrinkles are usually not treated with Botox but injected with a filler such as hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of the skin that influences its elasticity. However, throughout life, the body produces less and less hyaluronic acid.
The treatment replenishes the natural hyaluronic acid stores, and the skin can store more water again. This lifts deep wrinkles towards the skin level. A treatment with hyaluronic acid is particularly suitable for the neck and décolleté as well as the cheeks and eyes.
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Side effects of hyaluronic acid
The treatment can cause swelling and redness, but these side effects usually disappear after a day or two. In addition, small bumps and nodules can form due to an accumulation of hyaluronic acid, some of which are palpable and visible. Most of the time, the bumps will go away on their own. In some cases, however, hyaluronic acid may also be encapsulated. Then, medical treatment is necessary.
Like Botox, wrinkle injections with hyaluronic acid must be treated again after a few months. The cost of the treatment is upwards of 300 euros.
Laser wrinkles
The aim of laser treatment is usually a general rejuvenation of the skin. The treatment removes the upper skin structures. As a result, wrinkles and age spots disappear, and the skin looks younger and firmer again.
After a laser treatment, it takes about a week for the redness on the face to subside. In some cases, however, the redness can last much longer. To avoid pigment disorders, you should avoid sun and solarium for three months before and after the treatment.
In some cases, despite not going to the sun or solarium, the treated area may darken. If this side effect does not go away, special creams can help. Other possible side effects are skin scabs, scarring and inflammation of the skin.
Facelift
A facelift is a surgical procedure in which excess fat and skin are removed, sagging fat deposits are transplanted to their original position, and the subcutaneous tissue is tightened.
The risks of a lift include circulatory and sensory disorders and a feeling of tension after the procedure. If facial nerves are injured during the operation, this can lead to disorders of the facial muscles.
In addition, there is a risk with a facelift that the face loses its facial expressions and takes on a rigid, artificial expression. Like any other surgical procedure, a lifting leaves scars. However, these are usually well hidden behind the hairline.
