The Reason Behind Your Wrinkles And How You Can Fight Against Them

Wrinkles are a part of life. Believe it or not, even babies get wrinkles. However, unlike baby wrinkles that disappear quickly, wrinkles associated with aging are harder to treat. Thankfully, you don’t have to live with the lines nature gave you. Dr. Lee can explain why you are plagued with wrinkles and what you can do about it.

Why skin wrinkles

Your skin has three layers. The epidermis is on the outside. It's strong and stretchy because of the elastin cells it contains. Just beneath the epidermis lies the dermis. This layer makes oil to keep your skin hydrated and collagen, a major factor in wrinkles. Finally, the bottom layer is the subcutaneous layer. Your body stores fat in this layer and connects the skin to the deeper layers of muscle and bone.

All three layers work together to create smooth skin. When there are problems with any of these layers, your skin will wrinkle, regardless of your age. For example, even a very young child will wrinkle when in the tub too long. This is because the outer layer of skin, the epidermis, absorbs water and gets bigger. However, the epidermis prevents the deeper layers from absorbing water, so the outer layer becomes larger than the inner layer, resulting in wrinkles.

Causes of wrinkles

Physicians split wrinkle causes into two different categories: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic wrinkles are caused by external forces, such as sitting too long in a bathtub. There are other causes as well. Sunlight, smoking, and dry air can all affect how your skin looks and how it wrinkles.

Intrinsic wrinkles are caused by issues beneath the skin. As skin ages, it changes. Collagen and fat disappear, which leaves the outer, stretchy layer without the support of the deeper skin structures. As the support wanes, skin sags, creating the hills and valleys we call wrinkles.

Wrinkle treatment

Thankfully, there are now ways you can treat your wrinkles. Many people start by treating the extrinsic causes of wrinkles. Smoking dries your skin, leaving it rough and wrinkles. Sun is another major contributor. UV light damages the outer layer and dries your skin. This not only leads to wrinkles, but it can also lead to skin cancer. Dr. Lee encourages his patients to stop smoking and use sunscreen. He also recommends a high-quality moisturizer to help replenish what your skin loses every day.

There are also procedures designed to help combat the signs of intrinsic wrinkles. They stimulate both collagen and elastin, two major factors in smooth skin. Dr. Lee offers both TempSure and PicoSure Envi.

TempSure

TempSure offers a pain-free, noninvasive way to treat your wrinkles. Dr. Lee operates a wand that he smooths over the target area. The wand sends out radiofrequency waves that penetrate the skin, stimulating collagen production in the dermal layer. As the collagen cells grow, they plump your skin, offering greater support and resulting in fewer wrinkles.

PicoSure Envi

Like TempSure, PicoSure Envi is also a noninvasive wrinkle treatment. However, instead of using radiofrequency waves, PicoSure uses lasers to penetrate the skin. The lasers not only stimulate collagen production, but also the elastin cells. Your skin appears thicker, smoother, and healthier with your first treatment.

Both PicoSure and TempSure are simple, office procedures with no downtime. You can leave the office and go right back to your daily activities with only smoother skin as the result. If you aren’t sure which procedure is right for you, give Dr. Lee a call, and make an appointment for a consultation. Together, you and Dr. Lee can look over your skin and discuss your goals and options so that you don’t have to live with wrinkles.