by Steven C. Mares, M.D.
As you get older, your skin naturally becomes less elastic and more fragile. Decreased production of natural oils dries your skin and makes it appear more wrinkled. Fat in the deeper layers of your skin diminishes. This causes loose, saggy skin and more-pronounced lines and crevices.
Some treatments include topical retinoids, nonprescription wrinkle creams and “in-office” medical procedures. Topical retinoids such as Retin-A or Tazorac are derived from vitamin A and are commonly applied to the skin to reduce fine wrinkles, splotches and skin roughness.
The effectiveness of nonprescription wrinkle creams depends a lot on the active ingredients. Retinol, alpha hydroxy acid, antioxidants and some peptides may result in slight to modest improvements in wrinkles.
Some additional options to discuss with your skin specialist include:
Botox: a medical procedure paralyzing the muscles that lead to some wrinkles.
Fillers: “plump” the skin by filling the void left from the loss of collagen and fat.
Dermabrasion and chemical peels: remove the top layer of skin and as new skin replaces it, helps reduce wrinkling.
Plastic surgery: completely removes wrinkles with very good results, but is expensive with prolonged down time.
Laser treatment: less expensive than surgery with less downtime, if the non-ablative treatment is performed.
The best thing to do is see your skin specialist to discuss what treatment options will work best for your skin.
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