Know Your Wrinkles: Dynamic vs. Static and What to Do About Them

Unfortunately, we don’t have the secret to avoiding facial aging completely, but there are ways to mitigate it. The truth is that wrinkles will start to appear as early as your twenties. This may sound alarming to some people, but thankfully, advancements in skincare like non-surgical facelifts make it easy to deal with.

Before we dive into the ways that you can prevent or completely get rid of wrinkles, let’s first take a look at what they are, the different types of wrinkles, and what causes them.

What are Wrinkles?

Wrinkles, also known as rhytides, are a natural part of the aging process and volume loss. Wrinkles are the creases, folds, and ridges in the skin that typically appear as people get older.

Although heredity mostly determines skin structure and texture, there are also major contributors to wrinkles such as sun exposure, pollutants, smoking, injury, surgery, acne, dehydration, repeated facial expressions, and skin diseases that have a tendency to scar. Wrinkles tend to appear on the face, neck, back of the hand, and arms because these parts receive most sun exposure.

Many people simply see wrinkles as lines on their faces but are not aware that wrinkles have two types: dynamic and static.

What are Dynamic Wrinkles?

With every facial expression that you make (frowning, smiling, blinking, squinting, etc.), the muscles around your face contract in various ways to express what you’re feeling. When muscles contract repeatedly, the skin starts to crease and fold, and it starts to form dynamic wrinkles (also known as expression lines). They become more permanent and visible over time due to our skin losing its elasticity.

The common dynamic wrinkles are frown lines (between the eyebrows), smile lines, crow’s feet, and forehead wrinkles. They develop when the muscles are tensed and expressing intense emotions.

What are Static Wrinkles?

This is likely the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “wrinkle.” Static wrinkles are the result of sun damage and natural aging. As you age, collagen breaks down, skin loses elasticity, and production of proteins diminishes. As a result, they start out as small and practically invisible, but they intensify over the years and become permanently drawn in your skin.

Static wrinkles are the lines that remain even when our face is neutral. Examples of these include the deep crease under the eyes (tear troughs), the folds that start between the mouth and the chin (marionette lines), and the lines from the bottom of the nose to the corner of the mouth which are also known as smile lines (nasolabial line).

Preventive Ways to Reduce Wrinkles

If your wrinkles bother you, there are ways to reduce them. Here are some pieces of advice for protecting your skin and reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

• Use skin products with a built-in sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Also, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or more because it can help to protect your skin from harmful UV rays, as well as UVA and UVB rays.
• Moisturize your skin to temporarily make wrinkles look less noticeable. It is especially important when you get older and your skin becomes drier. Moisturizers act as water for your face and help to nourish and hydrate the skin.
• Do not smoke. Some toxins in cigarettes damage collagen and elastin, which are fibrous elements of the skin that keep it tight and supple. As a result, it speeds up skin aging and makes it more prone to wrinkles.
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet. Beautiful skin starts with nourishment from within by eating vitamin-rich food. By eating the right balance of foods, older cells will be replaced by younger ones, helping your skin stay soft and blemish-free.

Non-Surgical Treatments for Wrinkles

Through advances in technology, non-invasive techniques are available to meet each patient’s unique needs, such as fine lines, deep creases, facial volume loss, and others. Here are several treatments to lessen the appearance of wrinkles or even totally remove them.

Dermabrasion

This is an exfoliating procedure that uses a rapidly rotating device to remove the upper layer of skin. This treatment aims to improve the appearance of your skin by simply removing fine wrinkles, acne scars, sun damage, and uneven texture.

Botox

Well-known doctors have been using this treatment for years to treat facial creases or wrinkles. By injecting a small dose of Botox into targeted muscles, the chemical signal blocks the muscles to contract. It is also designed to help minimize the signs of aging and maintain a youthful appearance.

Fillers

This is a fast and easy treatment that can be used as “volumizers.” They are smooth gel injectables that help to restore the lost volume along your cheeks and under your eyes, forehead, and lips so that the appearance of wrinkles improves.

Carboxytherapy

This unique aesthetic treatment involves the diffusion of CO2 gas in the middle layer of the skin. It stimulates the brain to send more blood and nutrients to the treated skin area. In fact, maximum oxygen equals maximum cell rejuvenation. It is a safe and clinically proven method that treats wrinkles and can tighten sagging skin.

Chemical Peels

This is the most popular cosmetic procedure that helps in the regeneration of skin via the removal of dead skin. Glycolic acid (AHA), salicylic acid (BHA), lactic acid, resorcinol, and trichloracetic acid (TCA) are chemical exfoliants and the most active ingredients in most peels.

HIFU Technology

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is a relatively new and advanced FDA-approved technology. It works by targeting various body tissues and stimulates new collagen production. The treatment is quick and great for skin tightening, as well as effective for refining wrinkles.

Your Trusted Cosmetic Surgeon

You may want to consider any one of these non-invasive procedures and treatments when you are experiencing signs of aging. While the result will vary on how the treatment is regularly maintained and if the sessions are followed accordingly, seeking the help of an established cosmetic surgeon ensures that you get safe and proper treatments.

If you’re interested in finding out if these treatments are right for you, Dr. Vargas and her team of medical professionals at Vargas Face & Skin Center are here for you.

Schedule a consultation with us today!