When and why do wrinkles appear?

05/01/2023

Wrinkles are the folds in the skin that appear on everyone's face as part of the natural process of ageing. Although they form physiologically and do not compromise the cutaneous function, these signs of ageing are the main reason for a cosmetic consultation as patients are demanding and both men and women want to look as young on the outside as they feel on the inside.

Wrinkles can appear on different parts of the face: frontal wrinkles, frown lines or glabellar lines, crow's feet, wrinkles on the lower eyelid, on the cheeks, nasolabial fold, marionette lines, wrinkles at the corners of the lips, code of bars or horizontal neck lines, also known as a venus necklace. Whatever your type, there is a wide variety of options when it comes to improving your appearance and smoothing out wrinkles without having to go under the knife.

To get satisfactory results from your treatment, entrusting a specialised medical team that knows the oculofacial anatomy perfectly, works with high quality products, personalises each case and administers the right treatment dose to each patient is fundamental since no two patients have the same requirements.

When do wrinkles appear?

The skin's loss of collagen and elasticity  as well as the effect of gravity, causes them to show up slowly and gradually as years go by:

• Age 30: the first expression lines usually appear between the ages of 25 and 30, although they may do so before or after depending on the individual's expressiveness as these first muscles emerge due to muscle activity and repetitive gestures such as frowning or smiling a lot. They mainly appear in the periorbital area (eye contour) the upper third of the face (forehead) and the peribuccal area (around the mouth). When these dynamic wrinkles appear, it’s time to undergo preventive treatment.

• Age 40: around this age, more marked gravitational wrinkles appear that are usually a consequence of the natural process of ageing due to reduced adipose tissue, vascular degeneration and bone atrophy. At this stage, dehydration is also accentuated and the dermis loses tone and luminosity. The skin becomes rougher and drier. 

• Age 50: the signs appear at rest, regardless of facial mimicry, visible even when not gesturing, and will become more pronounced as the years go by. These static wrinkles are caused by the skin’s fatigued structures, which lose tissue volume, collagen and elastin and become visibly finer and floppier. 

It is also true that there are many factors that influence the evolution of wrinkles, such as genetics, a healthy lifestyle or the emphasis of gesticulation, so each patient will present unique needs.

Dr. Sandra Planella, ophthalmologist specialized in oculoplastic and oculofacial aesthetic surgery.