Does life sometimes seem unfair to you? You spent your teenage getting rid of pimples and applying all sorts of lotions to prevent you from tanning. Now in your middle ages, you need to worry about preventing wrinkles. Your face, your skin- shows your age because these unfriendly wrinkles are giving your age away!

There are numerous anti-aging creams available in the market and many more anti-aging remedies, ayurvedic treatments or clinical treatments available. But to know how to prevent, reduce and reverse the effect of wrinkles, you need to understand the how and why they appear.

What are wrinkles?

A wrinkle is a fold or a crease on your skin or on any fabric. It is not completely true that wrinkles are caused by genetics or by sun exposure. Some amount of sun exposure is good, as it provides us with Vitamin D.

A healthy skin has the following components:

  • Collagen which provides firmness to the skin
  • Elastin which provides skin elasticity and rebound
  • Glycosaminoglycans or GAGs is a chemical in the body which keeps the skin collagen hydrated. It also repairs skin and makes healthy skin.

What causes wrinkles?

A number of factors can cause wrinkles. We can divide these factors into two- intrinsic aging and extrinsic aging. Intrinsic aging is how your body is from within. That depends on what you eat, your smoking or drinking habits, your liver, your weight and also your exercise routine which helps in functioning your body.

Extrinsic aging results due to environmental factors like too much exposure to the sun, pollution, and dust around us. These can cause freckles, spot formation, and loss of collagen, elastin, and GAGs. These give the skin an uneven, rough tone resulting in wrinkles. Extrinsic aging can be dealt with preventive measures like:

  • Anti-aging creams
  • Sunscreen lotions
  • Multivitamins

It is the intrinsic aging that needs to be dealt with in order to minimise the effect of these extrinsic aging factors.  We need to understand that our body needs to be cleansed from within in order to look good or beautiful from the outside. Intrinsic factors are determined by our genetic make-up. Some people get wrinkles too early while some people do not get them at all. These factors cannot be altered but they can certainly be delayed if dealt with.

Anti-aging hormone:

The Insulin-Like Growth Hormone -1 or IGF-1 is a kind of growth hormone and also an anti-aging hormone. Growth hormones are produced in the pituitary gland of the brain. When released the IGF-1 triggers the growth of bones and body tissues. This hormone level peaks during puberty and reduces after the age of 30. But the pituitary gland never stops producing this hormone.

There are many hormonal tablets available in the market to induce the IGF-1 hormone but it is always better to not take medicines and trigger this hormone by making changes in your lifestyle and eating habits.

Changes you can make to reverse wrinkles

  1. Increase intake of fruits and veggies and a healthy diet

Leafy green vegetables and fruits keep your skin hydrated and healthy. They will not stop wrinkles but will delay them. The weakening of collagen and elastin happens as we age. Amino acids found in protein sources like meat, fish, eggs, grains, nuts, and seeds help rebuild and repair the damage caused to the skin. Potassium-rich food can offset sodium. Cutting down on your salt intake can reverse aging. Junk food will not only add to the calories but would also take a toll on your skin.

2. Reduce alcohol, smoking and caffeine intake

Unhealthy habits as such lead to premature wrinkles. Nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine constrict blood vessels and hamper the ability of essential nutrients to reach the surface of your skin. This causes dryness and skin wrinkles before you know it.

3. Hydrate yourself

The best drink that you can always have is water. Keeping your skin hydrated is the key to a healthy and beautiful skin. Avoiding dehydration makes sure that you do not damage your skin by drying it. Water, coconut water or green tea are full of anti-oxidants and boost skin elasticity and cell renewal.

4. Monitor insulin level

Glucose is a silent killer. Any excess level of glucose causes glycation where sugar in the binds with the proteins. This glycation process robs the plumpness of skin by breaking down the collagen. This is the reason that people suffering diabetes get early wrinkles.  Not only excess sugar breaks the collagen it also changes the type of collagen in your body. Collagens are of types 1, 2 and 3; with type 3 being the strongest. When blood glucose is high, type 3 changes into type 1 collagen, a weaker type of collagen that is more prone to skin wrinkles and sagging.

5. Proper sleep and rest to reduces stress

A human being is most stress-free when sleeping. An eight hour sleep is necessary for the body to function properly. A good night’s sleep not only does wonders for your mood or body but also rejuvenates your skin. It reduces the effect that stress has on your skin and health. Sleeping helps in the natural repair process. Skin makes collagen when you are sleeping. Less sleep can give you fine lines and leaves the skin dry. Sleep deprivation causes a decrease in blood flow surrounding the facial area, thus making you prone to wrinkles.

 6. Relax your facial expression

If you are always stressed, in a somber mood or unhappy, you will always have a frown on your face. Not only that, a raised eyebrow, a stiff jawline, squinting your eyes- all these are likely to develop permanent wrinkles on your face. Practice relaxing your facial muscles. Facial exercises are also helpful in reducing wrinkles.Smile often to help reduce stress. A happy person from within generally has a healthy skin from outside.

Does Ayurveda help with wrinkles?

Ayurveda considers premature wrinkles as an imbalance of Vata and Pitta doshas. The wrinkles are aggravated by dryness and dehydration. Ayurveda, first, try to correct the internal imbalance through cleansing treatment including purgative and light fasting, massages, detoxification of the body and skin, herbal medication, and rejuvenation. Ayurvedic massages and face packs are prepared in such as way as to penetrate the seven layers of skin. Massages help to eliminate stored-up toxins beneath the skin, improve blood circulation and provide deep nourishment. The idea in Ayurveda is to restore the balance in the body. Rasayana, one of the eight branches of Ayurveda uses herbal and herbo-mineral preparations to promote a youthful state of physical and mental health. Your wrinkles can definitely benefit from the 6000 years old tradition of Ayurveda.

Follow a holistic approach to health to reverse wrinkles and avoid premature aging.

 

For more on skin read at Treat Dark Circles Naturally  and Causes and Cure for Eye Bags and Puffy Eyes