As men and women get older, their skin naturally loses its elasticity and becomes dry and loose, resulting in wrinkles. Excessive smoking, a poor diet, and overexposure to sunlight can also cause the appearance of wrinkles. There are many options for treating and removing wrinkles, including prescription and over-the-counter topical creams, chemical peels, toxic injections, and plastic surgery. A person who is concerned about removing wrinkles should consult a licensed dermatologist to determine the best treatment for his or her specific condition.
One of the most frequently employed methods for removing wrinkles is to use a daily topical cream. Nonprescription anti-wrinkle creams are sold in retail pharmacies, supermarkets, beauty shops, and online stores. The products usually contain small amounts of vitamin A and antioxidants, which supposedly moisten and smooth away fine lines and wrinkles. People who do not see results from over-the-counter medications often consult their dermatologists about prescription topical creams. Prescription creams typically contain high concentrations of Vitamin A,and other minerals proven effective at removing wrinkles.
Another option for getting rid of wrinkles is applying and removing a chemical peel. A chemical peel is a acidic solution that a dermatologist applies to a person's face. The acid eats away at the outer layers of skin, exposing the newer skin underneath. The underlying skin typically appears less wrinkled, though wrinkles are likely to reappear a few weeks after treatment. Some people choose to undergo routine chemical peels once every few months, although many skin experts and dermatologists consider the process to be somewhat dangerous.
Some individuals choose to have their wrinkles injected with a concentrated neurotoxin that effectively paralyzes certain facial muscles, preventing them from contracting. When muscles cannot contract, the outer skin is stretched, flattened, and smoothed. The most common substance for such treatments is a form of the botulinum toxin, or Botox®, though other types of injections that are less damaging are constantly being investigated in clinical trials. The wrinkle-removing effects of Botox® and similar treatments usually wear off after about four months.
A final solution for removing wrinkles is plastic surgery. An individual may consult a plastic surgeon to determine the best means to tighten, smooth, and lift skin through surgical procedures. The surgeon performs a facelift, which consists of cutting away excess loose skin, pulling facial tissue and skin together, and stitching the skin back together. The procedure is highly invasive and can be quite painful, though it generally accomplishes the goal of removing wrinkles for years to come.
