Do you suffer from wrinkles and dream of a smooth, supple and radiant skin?Well, in this article, we enlighten you about the causes of wrinkles and some of the best “result-proven” home remedies to try out.
As you age, your skin tends to get thinner, drier, and less elastic, and its capacity to protect itself from environmental damage gets reduced.The elastin and collagen in the connective tissue of your skin, become weak and break down due to changes in the fibroblasts.Fibroblasts are the cells that produce collagen and elastin. All these factors lead to lines, wrinkles, and folds in your skin.
Causes of Wrinkles
Age
Intrinsic aging of your skin is a natural process that takes place over the years without the effect of any outside influences. After your 20th year, you may produce one percent less collagen in your skin with each passing year. As a result, your skin becomes thinner and more fragile. The functioning of your sweat and oil glands also diminishes. Your elastin production gets reduced, and above all GAG formation becomes less. Glycosaminoglycans (GAG) exist naturally in your skin as moisture factors and bind nearly 1000 times their weight in water. Hyaluronic acid is a perfect example of GAG.
Smoking
Smoking fastens the normal aging process of your skin and causes premature wrinkles. The more cigarettes you smoke and the longer you smoke, the more wrinkling you’re likely to have. The nicotine in cigarettes causes narrowing of your blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin.
The constriction reduces blood flow to your skin. So your skin becomes devoid of oxygen, essential nutrients and vitamin A. Tobacco smoke contains 4000 chemicals which damage your collagen and elastin. These fibers give strength and elasticity to your skin. As a result, your skin begins to sag and wrinkle prematurely.
Exposure to UV Light
UVA and UVB are the two types of UV rays that reach the earth. The UVA rays cause tanning as well as wrinkles and other signs of premature aging. The UVB rays cause skin cancer and sunburns. When UV rays reach your skin, they react with melanin. If you expose yourself repeatedly to UV rays, it can cause fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, freckles, and other discoloration.So always wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 and above when you’re out in the sun.
Repeated Facial Expressions
Facial expressions like repeatedly frowning, smiling, or squinting can lead to fine lines and wrinkles at a younger age. Each time you use your facial muscle a groove forms under the surface of your skin. When you’re young, your skin springs back, but as you get older; your skin loses its flexibility.So spring back becomes less hard and less frequent, resulting in more permanent grooves. Smoking and even chewing bubble gum can cause wrinkles.
Stress
The stress hormone cortisol degrades your collagen. When you’re constantly stressed, you’re routinely bathing your body in cortisol. So it becomes harder and more difficult for your skin to repair itself naturally. These factors, in turn, affect the production of collagen and elastin. At the same time, your body responds to stress through inflammatory pathways which may worsen skin issues. If you decrease your levels of cortisol and increase the degree of beta-endorphins, you can reverse this damage. Restful sleep and exercise can increase your levels of beta-endorphins.
Lack of Sleep
During the night time, your energy and cellular functions focus on recovery and repair to prepare your skin to defend itself against the environment the next morning. Less sleep means less defense and even less repair causing wrinkles overtime. Scientists found that people who slept for only 5 hours every night, for a month had twice the amount of wrinkles and spots compared to those who slept 7 hours.
Depression
Depression causes an increase in stress hormones. If you’re depressed, you suffer from personal neglect, sleep disorders, and poor nutrition. These factors speed up the process of aging. The prolonged feelings of sadness and hopelessness cause the shortening of telomeres. These structures are located in your cell and affect the lifespan of each cell. Telomere shortening affects cell division and results in premature cell death. These accelerated aging signs are more visible in the rapidly dividing tissue such as the skin.
Alcohol
Alcohol is the worst and the most aggressive compound to destroy your skin. The first effect of alcohol is dehydration. It sucks out all the moisture out of your skin. Alcohol inflames your tissues. The systemic inflammation that alcohol causes to your skin creates a histamine reaction that leads to redness and flushing of the skin.
But if you continue drinking, this flushing of your face can become prominent facial lines overtime. Always remember this it is hard to get back your collagen once you’ve destroyed it.
Dehydration
When the maintenance of your skin’s hydration is low, it loses its brightness and vitality.From a physiological viewpoint, your skin contains molecules that have the natural ability to capture water superficially and settle it deeply within the skin.
If your skin does not hold these molecules, then water will not be retained in your skin and will evaporate. As a result, you will notice fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes then on the face as a whole.
Hyaluronic acid is the molecule that captures water in the deepest layers of your skin. A variety of structures in your skin that support collagen needs water to work efficiently. Moisturizing your skin both externally and internally is critical to have beautiful skin without wrinkles.
Home Remedies for Quick Fix
Potatoes
Raw potatoes contain vitamins A, B and C, iron, phosphorous, calcium, and potassium. Vitamin A prevents the appearance of wrinkles. Vitamin B enhances skin tone and reduces darkening of your skin. Vitamin B deficiency can cause acne, wrinkles and even eczema.
Vitamin C helps to repair skin damage, combat free radicals, and aging and promotes healing to your skin. Reduced iron levels make your skin look pale and sickly looking. Calcium helps thegrowth of new cells, regulates moisture and reduces irritation. Potassium helps your skin to stay moisturized and phosphorus aids in cell repair.
How to use it: make a thick potato paste out of ½ or one potato. Apply it on your skin for 30 minutes before you sleep. Wash it off with lukewarm water. It is best to go in for organicpotatoes.
Olive Oil
Olive oil softens your skin, contributes to moisture retention, and preserves your skin’s resilience and elasticity. It is rich in antioxidants like polyphenols that fight against skin-damaging free radicals. It contains vitamins A and E that moisturize and plump up your skin.
Olive oil contains oleic acid and polyphenols that will moisturize your skin. Squalene present in olive oil repairs your aging skin by nourishing it with moisture. The monounsaturated fats and vitamins Band D present in olive oil prevent the formation of new wrinkles.
How to Use It:
Mix one egg white with one teaspoon of honey, one teaspoon of olive oil and two teaspoons of milk. Gentle massage it onto the wrinkle areas and spread it like a mask. Leave for 20-30 minutes and wash it with lukewarm water. Repeat this procedure for 2-3 times per week to clear lines.
Aloe Vera
A study published in Annals of Dermatology in 2009 says that researchers found that just ¼ tsp of pure aloe vera gel has anti aging benefits. It can even reverse the signs of aging.Thirty healthy women over the age of 45 received two doses of aloe vera gel.
A low dose and a high dose for 90 days. They found drinking aloe gel increased the production of collagen, the primary structural component of your skin. The more collagen your skin produces, the fewer wrinkles and sagging skin you’ll have.
How to use: Extract the gel from the aloe leaf. Apply the fresh gel onto your skin. Let it sit for 30 minutes then wash it with warm water. You can also mix the contents of vitamin E capsule with aloe gel and apply it onto your face.
Shea Butter
Raw shea butter is an effective anti-aging skin care substance because it forms a protective barrier on your skin. It shields your skin from harsh environmental factors such as pollution, sunlight and high winds. Shea Butter has high amounts of vitamins A and E which are two powerful antioxidants.
Vitamin A increases cellular turnover and collagen production, while vitamin E keeps your skin soft, smooth and nourished.Shea butter contains therapeutic fats and phenols that not only prevent wrinkles but smooth out even existing ones.
How to Use It:
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons raw, unrefined shea butter, one tablespoon jojoba oil, 3-5 drops of tea tree oil and lavender essential oils and two drops of frankincense essential oils.
Method:Gently heat shea butter in a double boiler until it melts. Place the butter in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to partly solidify. Add the oils as you slowly blend it with a spatula. Store in a glass jar. The shelf life is approximately three weeks.
Directions: Apply the cream in the morning underneath your makeup. Use at night leaving it on while you sleep.
Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter makes an excellent skin moisturizer. Natural hydrating products cause less irritation for people with sensitive skin. They are free from colors, fragrances, additives, and dyes used in most commercial products.
Cocoa butter contains cocoa mass polyphenols which studies say helps fight signs of aging such as wrinkles. Research shows these polyphenols improve skin elasticity and skin tone, better collagen retention and production and better hydration.
How to apply: you can mix cocoa butter with Argan, castor oil or jojoba oil and massage it onto your face. To add natural fragrance, you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil and apply it on your skin.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer that is suitable for all skin types. It prevents the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. Coconut oil contains essential proteins and vitamins E and A that promote the production of collagen and keep your skin firm and supple.
Coconut oil supports the formation of new cells. It maintains your connective tissue, prevents sagging and wrinkling.
The medium chain triglycerides and lauric acid in coconut help to repair damaged skinand protect against harmful UV rays. As a natural emollient, it softens your skin.
How to Use It:
Mix one tablespoon of virgin coconut oil with ¼ tsp of turmeric powder. Gently apply this mixture using your fingertips on to your wrinkles. Leave it for 20 minutes. Rinse with water and pat dry. Include coconut oil massage in your regular beauty regimen for stunning results.
Chia Seeds
Researchers at the Korean University of Dermatology formulated topical products containing 4 percent of chia seed oil. They tried it inpatients with renal dysfunction usually these patients suffer from dry skin.After two weeks the researchers found significant improvements in skin hydration, skin barrier function, reduced water loss and decrease in itchy skin.
Chia seeds are the richest vegetable source of Omega 3 fatty acids. They contain unusually high amounts of phytonutrients and antioxidants. Chia seeds fight free radicals and prevent premature aging and wrinkles. It enhances your skin’s hydration levels preventing dryness and plump up your skin. Hydration at the skin’s surface plumps up your dried cells helping to hide fine lines and wrinkles.
How to Apply:
Ingredients: 2 -3 tsp chia seeds, 4-6 tsp water, two drops of lavender essential oil.
Method: Blend the chia seeds to a powder. It doesn’t need to be perfectly fine and smooth. Mix water to this powder. Keep stirring until the seeds form a gel and thicken up. Add two drops of lavender essential oil.
Apply the gel onto your face using your fingertips. Let the chia work its magic for 10 minutes. Rinse off the mask and pat dry. Massage a pea-sized amount of coconut oil to moisturize.
Conclusion
All the above quick fixes we’ve discussed will certainly help you to ward off wrinkles. Along with these, you must follow a healthy lifestyle. Include foods such as berries, green tea, fish, nuts, avocados, yogurt, kefir, and honey in your diet. Quit the habit of smoking and alcohol, reduce sun exposure, drink enough water, sleep well and reduce stress.
Please try our home remedies and share your milestones with us in the comments section below.
