Debunking Some Common Myths About Face Wrinkles
Despite our skin aging in a natural process, sun exposure really does dramatically enhance the rate at which the aging process occurs. Sun damage brings along a lot of problems such as dry, rough skin, sagginess, and, of course, wrinkles. Wrinkles can actually be two things: fine surface lines and deep channels that are related to muscular contractions. It’s important to note that some deep channels are actually anatomical in nature and don’t necessarily have anything to do with aging. However, it is the aging wrinkles that bother people. While it’s safe to say that I did a lot of research on wrinkles, I stumbled upon some very contradicting information. One website said one thing, while the other said completely the opposite. That is why I felt the importance to collect and present information that debunks some myths about wrinkles that a lot of us seem to have believed (including me).
Myths and truths:
MYTH: The leading cause of wrinkles is genetics.
TRUTH: Technically, yes, but that is not entirely true. The leading cause of wrinkles is sun damage. At the end of the day, sunscreen is your friend, but it all comes down to how much UV exposure your skin gets.
MYTH: People with oily skin get fewer wrinkles.
TRUTH: Unfortunately, this might be just a consoling fact that we tell ourselves to make up for frequent pimple-patch usage because there is no definitive evidence. If you do have oily skin, however, it’s fine not to use some products in certain areas, take, for example, the chin versus the under-eye area.
MYTH: If you use more anti-aging products, you’ll get rid of wrinkles faster.
TRUTH: There’s only so much that creams can do, and that doesn’t mean that aggressively putting huge amounts of creams will increase their effectiveness. Despite being costly, it might even give a counter effect, putting you at risk of side effects such as irritation and flaking.
MYTH: You can stop using anti-aging products once you see results.
TRUTH: Sadly, there is no quick or permanent fix. To keep those fine lines in control, it’s important to have a continuous skin care routine. Before you jump for joy, thinking you have kissed your fine lines and wrinkles goodbye, you might want to get that good cream out of the trash.
MYTH: If you find something that works for you, stick to it.
TRUTH: Although it’s best to keep a certain skincare routine, it’s also best to switch up your routine from time to time, since our skin changes as we age, so what works now might not work in the future and vice versa. Plus, new products with more effective ingredients hit the market almost every day.
MYTH: The more a product costs, the better it works.
TRUTH: It doesn’t matter if it costs $40 or $400, it all comes down to the concentration and chemistry of the ingredients. Doing a little research might even lead you to some drugstore options that will work wonders to your skin compared to their high ends.
MYTH: You won’t get wrinkles if you don’t smile.
TRUTH: Well that could be entirely true if you would Kim Kardashian. Ridiculousness aside, all facial expressions cause some degree of wear and tear on the skin, but that shouldn’t stop you from smiling.
MYTH: You should wear sunscreen only on sunny days.
TRUTH: I can’t stress this enough: Always wear sunscreen, always. A lot of people think that the best way to protect our skin from sun damage and wrinkles is to apply sunscreen when hitting the beach or on particularly sunny days. Truth be spoken, the sun’s harmful UV rays can penetrate clouds and even glass, so you should wear sunscreen every single day all year round.
MYTH: You can get rid of wrinkles by doing facial exercises
TRUTH: Recently, facial exercises have become a real hot topic in wrinkle-free strategies. They claim that by strengthening your facial muscles, you can ‘tone’ your facial contour and sagging skin. Truth is, the exact opposite process takes place as lines and wrinkles form in areas that are frequently involved in certain movements. That how smile lines, crow’s feet, and forehead wrinkles form. So when you these facial exercises, you’re regularly moving certain areas of your face which could lead to even more lines and wrinkles rather than getting rid of them.
MYTH: If your mother has a lot of wrinkles, you’ll get them too.
TRUTH: Although you might get your nose shape from your mother, that doesn’t necessarily mean you will develop the same wrinkles she has. This is because a big part of the way you age depends on environmental, habitual, and lifestyle factors, rather than genetics.
BONUS: This is going to be a bitter pill to swallow, but one of the worst enemies that most people don’t realize it’s causing premature face wrinkles, is your sweet little friend: sugar. This happens because when sugar enters your bloodstream, it attaches to proteins that form harmful new molecules called advanced glycation end (AGE) products. The more sugar you eat, the more AGEs you develop. Two of the most vulnerable things to AGE damage are collagen and elastin, the protein fibers that keep the skin firm and elastic. However, the good news about sugar-damaged skin is that you can always turn back the clock if you do the following:
– Cutting sweet stuff off of your diet
– Look for hidden sugar in foods
– Avoid high fructose syrups
You might also want to read:
Affordable Ways And Products To Get Rid Of Face Wrinkles
What Could Your Forehead Wrinkles Possibly Be Telling You?