If you are considering treatment for your wrinkles, ask your doctor which procedure is right for you.

Topical retinoids

Topical retinoids are derived from vitamin A and are believed to help reduce fine wrinkles, some pigmentations as well as skin roughness. It can make the skin more susceptible to burning from exposure to sunlight. The patient needs to use topical retinoids with a skin-care program so as to protect the skin. At times, they may cause dryness, itching, a burning sensation and redness of the skin.

Over the counter wrinkle creams

These are creams with no prescriptions required whose effectiveness varies significantly and depends mainly on what its active ingredient is. The active ingredient concentration in an over the counter wrinkle creams will be much lower than a prescribed one. In most cases if any results are noticed, they usually last for a short time.

Chemical peel

A chemical solution is applied to the areas affected with wrinkles, making a layer of the dead skin to peel off and eventually get lost, thus the name chemical peel. The regenerated skin is generally smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin. Some chemical peels can be bought over the counter and be applied without any medical prescription. Despite this, patients are advised have a medical health care professional to perform the treatment.

Dermabrasion

This is a surgical procedure that involves the controlled wearing off (abrasion) of the upper layers of skin with sandpaper or some other mechanical means. Dermabrasion is used to remove fine wrinkles, tattoos and scars for example those caused by acne. Its side effects are dry covering that forms over a wound as it heals, swelling and redness, which generally go away after a number of weeks. The pinkness may take several months to fade and expected results are not realized immediately and may take several months.

Microdermabrasion

Here, a powerful vacuum is used to spray microcrystals of aluminum oxide across the surface of the skin. The process removes the epidermis layer of skin cells and stimulates growth of cells in the underlying dermis. Microdermabrasion gives a fresher and smoother appearance to the skin, as well as weakening the appearance of lines and wrinkles, enlarged pores, coarse skin as well as sun damage. The patient may have slight redness in the affected areas of the skin. Constant treatment is required because for better results.

Botox

It blocks the chemical signals that cause muscles to contract. It is injected in small doses into the targeted muscles. The skin flattens when the muscles can no longer tighten and this reduces wrinkles and gives a smoother appearance. Botox is more effective for lines on the forehead and between the eyes (frown lines), as well as the lines around the corners of the eyes (crow's feet). The treatment in most cases lasts for about four months, but repeated injections are required.

Rhytidectomy

Also known as a face lift, is a type of cosmetic surgery that is aimed at giving a more youthful appearance. It usually involves the removal of excess facial skin and fat, either by tightening or loosening the underlying tissues. The skin of the patient's face or neck is relaxed. Healing takes a long time and the patient may get bruises and swelling for a few weeks after surgery.

Soft tissue fillers such as collagen, hyaluronic acid or fat that are injected into deeper face wrinkles hence plumping and smoothing them out to give the skin more volume. Patients may sometimes experience swelling, redness and bruising in the affected areas for a short duration. In order to get lasting results, the treatments will need to be repeated every few months.

How good the results are depends on several factors, including where the wrinkles are, as well as their depth. There is no current treatment that can stop the ageing process.

Preventing wrinkles and lines There is nothing we can do to stop the ageing process; eventually, everybody will have wrinkles and lines, which become more prominent over time.

It’s also important to eat foods rich in other antioxidants. Free radicals are the toxic byproducts of natural cell metabolism; they’re also introduced into your body through your skin in cigarette smoke, pesticides, pollution, and other factors.

To get more antioxidants in your diet, think about color. The more colorful foods you can eat, the better your skin will look and such foods that are rich in antioxidants may include: Sweet potatoes, Carrots,Squash, Tomatoes, Mangoes, Pumpkins, Sunflower seeds, and Spinach.

It is advisable that when you want to use the commercial products, research on them first . This is to enable you to access the commercial cosmetic products, like the sunscreen, lotion, and soaps, to rate the safety of the ingredients used in each product. You might even be shocked at just how dangerous some of the brand-name products that people use really are.

In summary, remember to be gentle with your skin, especially the skin around your face which is so thin and delicate and scrubbing it hard or drying it vigorously with a towel will pull on the muscles which, with time, will lead to sagging skin. Instead, wash gently and pat dry softly.