Help! I Have Wrinkles and I Want to Get Rid of Them!

Wrinkles, we all get them at some point, that it unless you are one of the lucky few who actually has FLAWLESS skin (and if you are, I am extremely jealous!). Fine wines age well, our faces, however, do not. The harsh rays of the sun, smoking, stress, poor diet, and pollution are just a few of the things that wreak havoc on our skin on a daily basis.

There are actually two types of aging, intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic aging, unfortunately, is genetically programmed. In other words, you are born with it and can't really do much about it (unless you want to spend money and consult a dermatologist…which actually, isn't a bad idea). Extrinsic aging (also known as photoaging) is the damage that is done to your skin due to pollution and sun exposure (which YOU CAN do something about!).

Nobody (that I know of anyway) likes wrinkles. Some men actually look better as they age and wrinkles don't seem to bother them. Women, however, tend to fight the aging process every step of the way and will invest in skin care products like Obagi Nu-Derm and Meaningful Beauty. I know this because I watch my wife apply skin cream to her face every night before bedtime….God bless her.

If you have wrinkles, don't worry, there are several things you can do to avoid getting more and reducing the look of the ones that you already have.

The first thing you should do (and this one should be obvious as you have probably heard it 500 times before) is to STAY OUT OF THE SUN! The sun is probably the biggest reason that people develop wrinkles and age spots. If you love to be outside then it is VERY IMPORTANT that you apply sunscreen BEFORE you even step out of your house and re-apply every two to three hours! Also, be sure that the sunscreen you use has both UV A and B protection. In order to protect your eyes, wear a pair of UV-coated sunglasses and if you REALLY want to protect your ENTIRE BODY you may even consider washing your clothes in Rit Sun Guard. Rit Sun Guard is sun protection for your skin that you can actually WASH into your clothing (who knew….I know I didn’t')! Also, while on the subject of the sun, stay away from tanning beds too! Tanning beds are AWFUL, downright TERRIBLE for your skin. Did you know that only twenty minutes in a tanning bed is equivalent to an entire day at the beach!? That is A LOT of BAD exposure! Instead of a tanning bed, do yourself a favor and invest in a good self-tanning lotion and or spray.

No smoking please! While smoking is BAD (oh so very bad) for many different health related reasons, it is extremely harmful to your skin. Smokers tend to have twice as many wrinkles as non-smokers…and that my friends, is reason enough to quit!

Did you know that sleeping on your side or your belly can actually cause wrinkles? I had no idea until my dermatologist en-lightened me on the subject. Sleeping on your belly with your face mashed into your pillow can actually cause you to develop wrinkles! Now I am a big fan of sleeping on my side and stomach and yes, I have awoken with sheet and pillow creases across my face (I'm a heavy sleeper) but I had no idea that these creases can actually lead to wrinkles. Oh no! Getting used to sleeping on my back will be difficult but if helps, I guess I'll give it a shot (who am I kidding…sleeping on my back will never happen, I will just have to take the wrinkles as they come and age with pride…but at least I have passed on this bit of interesting wrinkle information to you!).

Put some fruit on your face. Huh? Ok, let me be a bit more specific, if you want to reduce the look of wrinkles and fine lines (and even try to stop some wrinkles from forming) use a papaya mask two times per week. Papaya contains enzymes that can actually break down the outer layer of your skin encouraging fresh cells to form. Simply grind up some papaya (peel it first, please) in a food processor, add some oatmeal and apply to your skin. Leave the mixture on for 10 to 15 minutes (or until it sets) and then wash off. Mmmmmmm, yummy! Speaking of yummy, did you know that fish such as trout, tuna and whitefish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are actually really good for your skin! If you are able, eat fish at least two times per week and you just may see a difference in how your skin looks (plus, we all need a break from red meat now and again!).

While we are on the subject of foods that are good for your skin, any food or juices that contain vitamin C are a plus! If you don't care to "eat" your daily requirement of vitamin C then simply purchase a skin care product that has Vitamin C listed in the ingredients. Vitamin C creams actually help build collagen…which is a good thing (the big C also helps to keep wrinkles and fine lines at bay).

If you are really worried about developing wrinkles, or already have them, you can always make an appointment with your dermatologist in order to get advice as to what type of skin care regimen is best for you. There are many prescription strength skin care products that simply work wonders (though beware, they can be expensive!). Over all, if you make smart choices (such as always wearing sunscreen and not smoking) you should be ahead of the wrinkle game! We all get older and unfortunately, you can't escape the aging process. In my opinion, the best thing you can do is love yourself, enjoy life, and never stop searching for the fountain of youth (if you happen to find it, please let me know!). Here's to healthy, glowing, wrinkle free skin!