Types of Wrinkles

Wrinkles are a natural, unfortunate part of aging. There are, however, some things you can do to protect your skin and help delay the development or wrinkles. To properly prevent wrinkles, it’s important to have a clear understanding of the various types of wrinkles which can occur. 

There are 4 main types of wrinkles; each with its own distinct characteristics:

Atrophic Crinkling Rhytids: These wrinkles signal that the skin has lost a part of its elasticity and occur because of a loss of collagen. Atrophic crinkling rhytids can show up in different areas of the face and body. An indicator of atrophic crinkling rhytids is that they disappear when the skin is stretched, either by hand or if you change body posture. These wrinkles are usually shallow and parallel to one another. It is essential to protect your skin from these wrinkles by wearing sunscreen whenever out in direct sunlight and properly moisturizing your skin.

Dynamic Expression Lines: When people repeatedly make the same facial expressions that fold the skin (such as smiling or frowning), dynamic expression lines are formed. Over time, these lines can become permanent. If you smoke cigarettes, another common example of dynamic expression lines are the creases that may develop around your mouth.

Gravitational Folds: As the name implies, these wrinkles are from the effects of gravity, and they become increasingly obvious as skin begins to fold and sag. As you age, your skin loses its elasticity, causing wrinkling and sagging. These wrinkles typically occur in thicker skin, where more folds are visible. Surprisingly, a plumper face will show less gravitational folds than a lean face.

Permanent Elastic Creases: Permanent elastic creases are lines in the skin that become increasingly apparent over time due to the natural loss of collagen and accelerated aging from sun exposure. These types of wrinkles typically show up on your cheeks, upper lip and at the base of your neck. There are many things that contribute to the development of wrinkles: sun exposure, smoke exposure, daily skin care and even genetics. Proper skin care and protection is something we should all be aware of at an early age. Don’t wait until your skin starts to show the signs of aging. Take care of it now to help prevent wrinkles. If you already have wrinkles, Dr. Permancan help you with cosmetic treatment options. Contact Kevin I Perman, MD to schedule an appointment today.