Wrinkles are more or less an inevitable part of life if you’re lucky enough to reach a certain age. But if you’re not thrilled about their appearance on your face, these dermatologist-approved wrinkle remedies can help.
“Wrinkles are a normal part of aging, and developing them does not mean that you’ve done something wrong or suddenly look ‘old,’” says Shereen Teymour, D.O., a board-certified dermatologist with Citron & Citron.
Meet the Experts: Shereen Teymour, D.O., a board-certified dermatologist with Citron & Citron; Coyle S. Connolly, D.O., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Connolly Dermatology; Audrey Kunin, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of 30A Dermatology
Skin undergoes two types of aging, says Coyle S. Connolly, D.O., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Connolly Dermatology. The first, intrinsic aging, happens due to factors like hormonal changes and genetics. You can’t do much about that without the help of a dermatologist. The second—extrinsic aging, or photoaging—is the result of damage primarily from too much sun. Experts say if preventing wrinkles is a concern, limiting UV exposure is one of the most effective things you can do.
“The biggest thing is protecting the collagen you already have while also encouraging your skin to keep making more of it,” shares Dr. Teymour. “That starts with daily sunscreen, because UV exposure accelerates collagen breakdown and contributes to fine lines, discoloration, and loss of elasticity.”
In addition to wearing sunscreen, Dr. Teymour says lifestyle choices like getting enough sleep and eating a nutrient-rich diet can help your skin look its best. Ahead, dermatologists share their go-to wrinkle prevention tips and ways to treat existing wrinkles.
Apply active skin care treatments
Doctors often recommend active skin care treatments for wrinkles. Active skin care creams contain one or more of six ingredients that do more than just moisturize the skin. They also help reduce wrinkles, make skin look brighter and more youthful, and stimulate fibroblasts (connective tissue cells that make collagen), which helps reduce fine lines and blotches. Using an “active agent” helps hydrate the skin, says Audrey Kunin, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of 30A Dermatology. If your skin still feels dry even after using the active cream with a sunscreen, add a moisturizer, she says.
The ingredients to look for in some product samples are vitamin C (found in many topical creams), GHK copper peptides, glycolic acid, N6 furfuryladenine, alpha lipoic acid, and tretinoin, a vitamin A derivative.
Add topical Vitamin C into your routine
Apply a topical vitamin C cream or ointment on a daily basis. You’ll notice a marked improvement in your skin’s overall quality, says Connolly. “Vitamin C creams help build collagen and gobble up free radicals, which, if left unchecked, will cause your skin to age or wrinkle,” he says. Vitamin C creams and ointments are available over-the-counter in many drugstores.
Rely on retinol
“I love retinoids because they’re one of the few topical ingredients that actually help stimulate collagen over time,” shares Dr. Teymour.
You can apply retinol creams at night to fill out lines. Retinol creams are weaker and gentler than prescription Retin-A, says Connolly. They may be a little drying, so use them every other night if redness or excessive dryness occurs, he adds.
Use skincare products with AHAs
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), found in plants and fruits, are available in creams, lotions, and gels. They act by defoliating dead skin cells on the surface to uncover the younger cells underneath. And they fill in the areas that cause wrinkles. Glycolic acid is the most common AHA, and there are fragrance-free versions of AHAs for sensitive skin around the eyes. If your skin is too sensitive for AHAs, you might try beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), such as salicylic acid. It’s available in moisturizers and cleaners, and it exfoliates the skin like an AHA but with less irritation.
Sleep on your back
Sleeping on one side or the other or on your belly with your face mashed into the pillow causes wrinkles, says Connolly. Some stomach sleepers develop a diagonal crease on their foreheads, running above their eyebrows. Sleeping on your back may eliminate this problem.
Hold your head up
Don’t let leaning on your hands become a habit. The constant pressure may lead to wrinkling, says Connolly.
Wear sunglasses
One way to avoid deepening or developing wrinkles around the eyes is to wear sunglasses whenever you go outside. This helps you avoid squinting, which can speed up wrinkle development in this area. A pair of UV-coated glasses can also protect your eyes from a type of melanoma that can form at the back of the eye, says Kunin.
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Quit smoking
Smoking makes your skin age faster, says Connolly. And for several reasons. It robs your complexion of oxygen and important nutrients and damages the collagen fibers that keep your skin firm and elastic. Constantly pursing your lips to inhale and squinting your eyes to avoid the smoke contribute even more premature wrinkles. But it’s not only your facial skin that suffers from a tobacco habit. A study at the University of Michigan suggests smoking is linked to skin aging, even in areas that aren’t typically exposed to sun (such as the upper inner arms).
Protect yourself from the sun
Most wrinkles are the result of too much sun. Today’s tan leads to tomorrow’s wrinkles, whether it’s achieved indoors or outside. “Obviously, excessive exposure to sunlight is going to increase your chances of developing wrinkles,” says Kunin. Wear your sunscreen, preferably with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher and with both ultraviolet (UV) A and B protection (also known as broad-spectrum). Kunin recommends titanium oxide or zinc oxide.
Connolly couldn’t agree more: “I cannot overemphasize the need to use sunscreen every day. That means on cloudy days and in winter months, not just in summer.” Apply sunscreen first thing in the morning whenever you’re going to go outside, even on cloudy days. If you have dry skin, look for a sunscreen that contains a moisturizer. The moisturizer in the sunscreen plumps the skin and helps prevent overdrying, says Connolly.
Stay away from tanning beds
Twenty minutes of tanning-bed use is equivalent to an entire day at the beach without sunscreen. Avoid them like the plague to keep from damaging your skin, suggests Kunin. “If you want to look tan, use a self-tanner lotion and perhaps a bronzer with your makeup foundation,” she says.
Wear a hat
Whether you’re heading to the beach or spending extended time in the midday sun, put on a hat with a 4-inch-wide brim to keep the sun off your face and neck, says Kunin. But steer clear of straw hats that are unlined and loosely woven. They allow the sun’s rays to penetrate directly through the hat. Also keep in mind that baseball caps don’t protect your ears, the back of your neck, or even most of your face from full-bore sun. Choose a hat with an extra-long bill and sun-protective cloth inside, says Kunin. “It gives you the extra protection you need to limit your chances of developing wrinkles.”
Be mindful about midday sun exposure
That’s 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. during spring, summer, and fall, or 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. during winter. These peak hours are when the ultraviolet radiation is the strongest. If you’re going to be outside during these hours, sun protection is especially important.
Take breaks in the shade
Wrinkles are caused by excessive sun exposure, so periodically retreat to a shady spot on sunny days. At the beach or in your backyard, sit under a large umbrella. While on hikes or on the water, if it’s not too hot out, wear tightly woven clothing. It helps keep UV rays off your skin.
Use the right moisturizer for your skin
If you have dry skin, daily use of a moisturizer can plump up your skin and temporarily hide smaller wrinkles that form on the skin surface, says Connolly. “It’s not a long-term solution for wrinkles, but it will give your skin a healthier look.”
Dine on fish and flax
Two dietary adjustments can help to maintain proper skin moisture. Eat fish such as salmon, trout, sardines, and tuna, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, at least twice a week to help replenish moisture to dry skin. Flax oil, which also is loaded with omega-3s, can be mixed into fruit juice or drizzled on salad and vegetables.
Talk to a dermatologist about in-office treatments
If wrinkles on a certain part of your body are seriously bothering you, consider talking to your dermatologist about treatment options. “In the office, I think about prevention as staying ahead of those changes rather than waiting until they become dramatic,” says Dr. Teymour. “Neuromodulators can help keep repetitive expression lines from becoming deeply etched, resurfacing treatments can maintain texture and tone, and non-invasive skin tightening treatments like Sofwave can stimulate new collagen to help preserve firmness and elasticity.”
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