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Dermatology
> Wrinkles
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What causes wrinkles?
As a person ages the
epidermal cells become thinner and less sticky.
The thinner cells make the skin look noticeably
thinner. The decreased stickiness of the cells
decreases the effectiveness of the barrier
function allowing moisture to be released instead
of being kept in the skin. This causes dryness.
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The number of epidermal cells
decreases by 10% per decade and they divide more slowly as
we age making the skin less able to repair itself quickly.
The effects of aging on the dermal layer are significant.
Not only does the dermal layer thin, but also less collagen
is produced, and the elastin fibers that provide elasticity
wear out. These changes in the scaffolding of the skin cause
the skin to wrinkle and sag. Also, sebaceous glands get
bigger but produce less sebum, and the number of sweat
glands decreases. Both of these changes lead to skin
dryness.
The rete-ridges of the dermal-epidermal junction flatten
out, making the skin more fragile and making it easier for
the skin to shear. This process also decreases the amount of
nutrients available to the epidermis by decreasing the
surface area in contact with the dermis, also interfering
with the skin's normal repair process.
In the subcutaneous layer the fat cells get smaller with
age. This leads to more noticeable wrinkles and sagging, as
the fat cells cannot "fill in" the damage from the other
layers.
Aging
Effects of the Sun and Wrinkles
Exposure to ultraviolet light, UVA or UVB, from
sunlight accounts for 90% of the symptoms of premature
skin aging. Most of the photoaging effects occur by age
20. The amount of damage to the skin caused by the sun
is determined by the total lifetime amount of radiation
exposure and the person's pigment protection.
Free Radicals and Wrinkles
Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules that have
only one electron instead of two. Because electrons are
found in pairs the molecule must scavenge other
molecules for another electron. When the second
molecule looses its electron to the first molecule, it
must then find another electron repeating the process.
This process can damage cell function and alter genetic
material. Free radical damage causes wrinkles by
activating the metalloproteinases that break down
collagen. There are several factors that start this
cascading process including exposure to even small
amounts of UV radiation in sunlight, smoking, and
exposure to air pollution.
Hormone Effects and Wrinkles
It is likely that there are skin changes as a result of
the hormonal effects of menopause or decreased estrogen
production. However, studies in humans have not
documented which skin changes are specific to decreased
estrogen and which skin changes are a result of sun
exposure or just normal chronological aging. In animal
experiments lack of estrogen can cause a decrease in
collagen levels of 2% per year and a decrease in skin
thickness of 1% per year.
Muscle Use and Wrinkles
Habitual facial expressions cause the skin to wrinkle
as it looses elasticity. Frown lines between the
eyebrows and crows feet radiating from the corners of
the eyes develop as the tiny muscles in those areas
permanently contract.
Gravity and Wrinkles
The effects of gravity make the loosening of the skin
more apparent as skin sags more. This causes jowls and
drooping eyelids.
Wrinkle
Treatments - Restylane,
Collagen, Botox
What
Do Wrinkle Fillers Treat?
Wrinkle fillers are especially effective on deep lines
or wrinkles - the ones you can see even when your face
is fully relaxed. They can also be used on any
indentation in your skin, such as scars.
What Are Wrinkle Filler Treatments Like?
Wrinkle filler treatments are performed in the office.
Anesthesia and topical creams are used to numb the
treatment area. Wrinkle filler is then injected, using
a very thin needle, and results can be seen
immediately. You can get back to your normal activities
the following day.
Does It Hurt and What Can Go Wrong?
Serious complications from wrinkle fillers are rare.
Swelling, redness and tenderness might occur, but
minimize over a few days.
What should I expect from Wrinkle Filler Treatment?
There is no pain after the injection. Immediately after
the treatment, you can expect slight redness, swelling,
tenderness or an itching sensation in the treated area.
This is a normal result of the injection. The
discomfort is temporary and generally disappears within
a few days.
The length of time of wrinkle correction varies
depending upon the filler used and the severity of the
wrinkle.
Ned Snyder IV, MD
/ Plastic Surgery
Renee
Snyder, MD / Dermatology
901 West
38th Street, Suite 410
Austin,
Texas 78705
Phone:
512-533-9900
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