Fight Those Facial Wrinkles

What causes facial wrinkles? Of course the #1 culprit behind fine lines and wrinkles is the sun and its skin damaging UV rays. Other contributing factors come naturally with age as our bodies produce less elasticin and collagen. In addition, we undergo cumulative stress and hormonal changes. It gets more difficult to hydrate ourselves and free radicals damage the outermost layers of skin. Skin tightening and deep wrinkles can get us down, but the good news is that we don't have to wield a celebrity income to take years off our looks. There are many anti wrinkle creams and procedures to combat an aging wrinkle or two.

A new Good Skin Labs product developed in Europe called Tri-Aktiline has done very well in recent clinical trials. Data shows that 68% of the women noticed an immediate filling of facial wrinkles and 83% reported significant improvements within a month. The formula is especially designed to remove deeper wrinkles, but smoothes the skin enough to erase crow's feet and fine lines. Extracts from the South American acmella oleraca plant relax facial tension and expression lines, while Kombuchka Ph extracts from sweet black tea plump the skin's under layer, and the naturally derived peptide, Argireline, boosts natural collagen production. Wrinkles of the face are further removed by a combination of shea butter, avocado, optical diffusers and matte silicones. Wrinkle fillers like Tri-Aktiline run about $40/ounce.

For more persistent wrinkles and telltale signs of aging, there are collagen fillers done via injection. This relatively inexpensive procedure will cost an average of $300, but generally needs to be redone two or three times per year to maintain maximum efficiency. In some cases, the collagen stimulates the body's natural processes and less maintenance is required. Doctors use either bovine-based or human-based collagen that has undergone a purification process. The anesthesia Lidocaine is mixed in with the collagen so patients don't feel a thing. After 30 to 60 minutes, the procedure is done and the patient is free to go. Results show up once the swelling goes down. Cosmetic surgery is not covered under health insurance plans, but most surgeons offer financing plans for any budget. Compared to Botox injections, collagen is more flexible and is said to be much more natural looking.

Each year, Americans purchase over $6.4 Billion worth of "cosmeceuticals" and creams targeting facial wrinkles. Whether prescribed or purchased over-the-counter, this non-invasive option appeals to many consumers who'd rather not be bothered with medical procedures. In addition to anti wrinkle creams and injections, cryotherapy, or freezing, and microdermabrasion treatments, which involves scraping off the top layer of the skin, may be performed. After any process, though, it is important to stock up on sunscreen and avoid further skin damage from the sun.