4 Surprising Facts About Facial Wrinkles

Wrinkles. No one wants them but it seems like everyone gets them.

But you can slow the aging process that forces wrinkles to develop if you understand how wrinkles form, why they develop and what you can do to avoid them. With these suprising facts about facial wrinkles, you’ll be heading down the right road when it comes to limiting the wrinkles sneaking up on you.

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Fact #1: You Can Get Wrinkles in Your Car

Some days it can feel as though you’re stuck in your commute forever, letting your life pass you by while you sit in traffic hour after hour, and by the time you emerge from your vehicle, you’re stiff, tired, and old. While this concept is an exaggeration, spending hours in your car each day may be aging your skin faster than you think.

Although your car may provide small protection against the sun overhead, you are still vulnerable to UVA rays, which can breakdown the collagen in the skin and cause wrinkles. According to Ranella Hirsch, MD, and Dermatologist,” UVA Rays [. . .] have ample time to penetrate your window – regardless of whether it’s sunny or not.”

Tip: To protect your skin wherever you are, don’t forget to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day.

Fact #2: Sleeping on Your Side Causes Wrinkles on Your Face

We all have our favorite sleeping positions, but did you know that sleeping on your side or on your stomach can cause permanent facial wrinkles? The average human head weighs around 8 to 12 pounds, which is a lot of pressure to put on your face each and every night!

The added pressure on your face can temporarily cause sleep lines that normally fade as you wake up and get your day going again. But, as we age, the skin starts to lose its ability to spring back into place, resulting in more permanent wrinkles.

Tip: There are numerous pillows designed to give extra support to the head and neck, so you can retrain yourself to sleep on your back. Additionally, there are certain types of bedding that can nourish and feed your skin while you sleep.

Fact #3: Frown Lines May Be a Result of Poor Eye Sight

Although being in a constant state of stress and worry can definitely age your skin faster than normal, most frown lines are a result of squinting.

According to Dr. Hirsch, “Some people overcompensate for eye issues by squinting, which contracts the muscles in the forehead, between the brows.” She goes on to state, “repeatedly doing so over time may exacerbate the appearance of these creases.

Fortunately, you can prevent these kinds of wrinkles by simply taking a trip to the eye doctor. Getting a new pair of glasses will help your facial muscles to relax, thus limiting the number of creases and folds. While you’re there, you might wish to invest in a trendy new set of sunglasses as well, to protect the skin around your eyes from exposure to UVA light.

Fact #4: If Your Parents Aged Early, So Will You

There are two types of aging: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic aging is a result of external factors that you can control, such as your diet or your exposure to sunlight. Unfortunately, most aging is a result of intrinsic, or internal, factors that you can’t change no matter how hard you try.

Your genetics play a huge role in determining how soon and how much your skin will wrinkle. Looking at your parents or even your grandparents may be an accurate way to predict the future severity of your sagging skin or your chest, neck, and facial wrinkles.

On the other hand, just because you can’t control how quickly your body ages doesn’t mean that you should give up on yourself completely. By limiting your exposure to sunlight and keeping your skin well hydrated and moisturized, you can keep the damage to a minimum.

Final Thoughts

The more you learn about your skin, the more you’ll be able to protect it against damage. These 4 surprising facts about facial wrinkles may very well be your secret to holding on to your young, healthy skin for a few more years.

To find out more about what causes wrinkles and how to treat them, click here.