Treat your facial wrinkle and look young

Representational picture

Wrinkles are creases, folds, or ridges in the skin. They normally appear as people get older, but they can also develop after spending a long time in water. We all age, however with modern science and technology, we can choose to look our best, no matter how old we are. We will develop our first dynamic facial wrinkles around 30years to 40 years of age. The first lines to appear are around the corners of our eyes (crows feet), then horizontal forehead lines and the frown lines between our eyebrows.

The muscles in our face are present just beneath the skin, in fact attaching them to the skin. Therefore, when we express ourselves - smile, frown, raise our brows - these facial muscles pull on the skin above and create expression lines. These are called as dynamic lines. As soon as we stop expressing these lines smoothen out. Over years as our skin matures, we lose the building blocks which keep our skin firm and supple, viz, collagen and elastin fibres in the dermis. The skin is less elastic and tends to form fine lines more easily. Slowly the lines become more ‘static' - that means the lines persist even without and facial expression.

Also Read: Daily Skin-Healthy Tips: Try This Secret Ingredient To Get Rid Of Wrinkles

Most wrinkles tend to appear in the parts of the body which receive the most sun exposure, especially the face and neck, the back of the hands, and the arms. Most people do not welcome wrinkles, and billions of dollars are spent globally on treatments to remove or delay them. Some of these therapies make great claims but have no effect, while others may have moderate, significant, or very considerable success.

These lines can be safely treated as soon as they start appearing. The advantage of early treatments is that they also prevent overuse of facial muscles retarding the development of static lines. Botulinum toxin is a purified protein derivative tested and approved by the US FDA and has been used clinically for more than 20 years. It's used in very small quantities for treating facial wrinkles. It is also safely used in larger doses for the treatment of migraines, excessive sweating from palms and soles and for children over 2 years suffering from cerebral palsy. Ideally a good treatment should only soften the lines, leaving room for natural expressions. For instance dermatologists across the globe now prefer to inject lesser and lesser doses (micro-Botulinum toxin).

The appearance of crow's feet is due to the contraction of the muscle around the eyes creating folds on the skin. It is highly unlikely that cosmetic creams/facials would be able to address this. This can be safely and effectively treatment with a little botulinum toxin injected superficially into the skin. The botulinum toxin relaxes the muscles and softens the appearance of the crow's feet. The treatment session takes 10 minutes, and results are seen from the 2-7th day after treatment, lasting for 4-6 months.

The effect of one treatment would last approximately 4 to 6 months, after which the lines gradually return to how they were before the treatment was performed. You can decide to take your next treatment whenever you want.
Most are temporary related to the injections like redness of the skin, headaches and bruising of the skin. Incorrect technique or spread may affect adjoining muscles leading to unwanted side effects like sagging of the eyelids/eyebrows. These can be avoided by correct technique.

Dr. Punit Saraogi, Consultant Dermatologist lists down the following steps that may help slow the process down

• Avoiding excessive sun exposure reduces skin damage, because the sun causes the skin to age faster. Hats, protective clothing, and sun screens can protect the skin from wrinkles by reducing sunlight damage.
• Zero exposure to sunlight totally is not recommended, however, because it is a vital source of vitamin D, and vitamin D is essential for bone strength and other aspects of health. Some sunscreens can protect the skin while allowing vitamin D to be synthesised.
• Moisturisers do not prevent wrinkles, but they may help temporarily make tiny lines and creases less evident.
• Quitting smoking can prevent the accelerated aging of skin. Even a long-term heavy smoker can slow down the process by giving up.
• Avoid alcohol because it dehydrates the body and the skin.
• Sleeping at least 7 hours a night, eating healthily and exercising regularly help to maintain overall health, and this may include skin quality, although this has not been extensively proven by research.

Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, current affairs from Mumbai, local news, crime news and breaking headlines here

Catch up on all the latest Mumbai, National and International news here

Download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get updates on all the latest and trending stories on the go