Fine lines and wrinkles
Unfortunately we can't stop the march of time. However our collective desire to stay forever young has created an enormous market for anti-ageing treatments. Until recently the overwhelming majority of such treatments involved the use of lotions and moisturisers or cosmetic surgery to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. However recent developments in laser technology are now delivering a longer lasting scientifically proven method of restoring the natural beauty of the skin.
What causes lines and wrinkles?
When a person is young they don't have wrinkles because the skin is moist and elastic. As a person ages the skin cells in the epidermis become thinner and less 'sticky'. As a result the skin cells begin to lose moisture more easily causing the skin to dry. In addition less collagen is produced in the dermis, which is responsible for skin firmness, and the elastin fibres begin to wear out (elastin is responsible for 'bounce' and resilience), while the skin also thins as it loses fat in the subcutaneous layer. Combined these changes cause the skin to sag and wrinkle.
One of the principal factors responsible for the aging of the skin is exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun (80-90%). These rays damage the collagen and dry the skin out. Other factors that can accelerate aging are poor diet, lack of exercise and smoking.
The first signs of the aging process begin in the late 20s and accelerate in subsequent decades. Initial signs are horizontal lines across the brow, droopy eyelids and 'crow's feet' around the corners of the eyes. After the menopause the ability of a woman's skin to renew itself is further reduced.