We will admit that we’re not exactly up-to-date on our wrinkle knowledge here at OTC Beauty Magazine, but we certainly know we don’t want them! So, we reached out to Vartan Mardirossian, MD FACS, to learn more about the different types of wrinkles there are, and how to avoid them. We’re sure your customers, and you, may be intrigued to learn this information too!
Dr. Mardirossian reports, “There are essentially four types of facial lines and wrinkles:
- Atrophic Crinkling Rhytids – Fine lines on the face that are almost perpendicular to each other. They show up in different areas of the face and body, but tend to disappear when skin is stretched transversally (this just means they shift when your body posture changes). These wrinkles are associated with loss of elasticity. Since these wrinkles are due to the loss of collagen, you need to protect your skin by using sunscreen. You can also use moisturizers to temporarily plump the skin with fillers and diminish the appearance of these fine lines. Micro needling is also a good treatment for this problem.
- Permanent Elastic Creases – Crease lines in the skin that become increasingly permanent over time, especially with sun exposure. These show up most frequently on the cheeks, the upper lip and the base of the neck. Sun exposure and smoking make this type of wrinkle worse. Don’t smoke, minimize sun exposure and use a sunscreen to prevent this kind of wrinkling.
- Dynamic Expression Lines – Wrinkles that are caused by facial muscle movement. These are commonly referred to as frown (or smile!) lines and crows feet. These wrinkles respond best to Botox or other similar injectable wrinkle treatments.
- Gravitational Folds – As the name implies, these lines are due to the effects of gravity and become increasingly obvious as skin begins to fold and sag. The location of these wrinkles is related to the thickness of skin. While I would have thought this means that thicker skin shows more folds, surprisingly researchers have said that a plumper face may show fewer gravity folds than a lean face. Cosmetic surgery (like face lifts) are the most effective at removing these kinds of wrinkles.
My best skin-saving advice is to minimize sun exposure, wear sunscreen and don’t smoke. Moisturizers can help temporarily “fill in” and plump wrinkles, but if you are looking for more permanent results you may want to consider cosmetic procedures like Botox or facelifts.”
There you have it! We encourage you all to follow the doctor’s orders and “minimize sun exposure, wear sunscreen and don’t smoke.” Our skin will thank us!
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Meet Dr. Vartan Mardirossian
Dr. Vartan Mardirossian is an Assistant Professor of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Otolaryngology at the Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla. and operates in his private practice in Jupiter, Fla. He is double Board-certified in both Facial Plastic Surgery and Head and Neck Surgery, and has authored many studies on pivotal topics within the realm of Facial plastic surgery.
