Wrinkles Specialist

What causes wrinkles?

You already know that wrinkles are the fine lines and deep creases that form on your skin as you age, but what exactly is it that causes them? During the aging process, your skin loses some of its natural elasticity and becomes more fragile; it also experiences a decline in oil production that makes it drier. These factors combine to promote the formation of wrinkles.    

Exposure to sunlight also promotes wrinkling, because ultraviolet light breaks down the deep layers of your skin’s connective tissues that help keep it flexible and strong. Once that support system is damaged, you’ll begin to notice more sagging and wrinkling. Smoking is another controllable factor that can cause skin wrinkles, partly because it affects the blood supply to your epidermis.

The major uncontrollable factor that contributes to wrinkling is facial muscle use. Routine facial expressions, such as a signature smile or a chronically furrowed brow, can eventually lead to the formation of permanent wrinkles and creases called dynamic wrinkles.     

How can I reduce the appearance of static wrinkles?

Most wrinkles fall into one of two categories: static or dynamic. Static wrinkles, or wrinkles at rest, are the lines and creases associated with genetics, sun exposure, and chemical exposure, such as smoking or air pollution. Static wrinkles respond well to laser skin resurfacing, a treatment that stimulates collagen production to help improve skin tone, texture, and elasticity.

The team at Easton Dermatology Associates use the state-of-the-art Cynosure Icon™ laser, a fractional, non-ablative laser that works by delivering rapid-pulse, precision beams of light deep into the dermis of your skin to stimulate collagen and tighten the underlying layers. In addition to drastically improving the appearance of static wrinkles, laser resurfacing treatments can also help reduce the appearance of scars and complexion irregularities.   

How can I reduce the appearance of dynamic wrinkles?

Dynamic wrinkles, also known as wrinkles in motion, are the ones caused by facial expressions. The squint lines around your eyes, the deep worry lines in your forehead, the crow’s feet that come from smiling all the time, or the marionette lines that come from frowning too much — all of these wrinkles are dynamic in nature. While dynamic wrinkles typically respond best to cosmetic injectables, including Botox® and dermal fillers, they can also be improved with laser skin resurfacing treatments.