Under the generic term wrinkling, the medical profession understands the aging of the skin and the accompanying expression of wrinkles. The formation of wrinkles is due to different causes and is different for each person. The process of wrinkle formation begins around the age of 25. The process cannot be stopped. However, various measures can slow down the formation of wrinkles. Not least because of its importance to the cosmetic industry, there are countless lines of research investigating wrinkle formation and how to combat it.
What is wrinkle formation?
Under the generic term wrinkling, the medical profession understands the aging of the skin and the accompanying expression of wrinkles. The generic term “wrinkling” summarizes the natural aging process of the skin. Wrinkling begins around the mid-20s in a person’s life. It progresses throughout life and is not complete until death. At the onset of wrinkle formation, wrinkles are barely visible to the naked eye, but as the process of wrinkle formation continues, the wrinkles become clearly visible. Especially the skin areas around the eyes, on the forehead and in the area of the mouth and nose tend to develop deep wrinkles. Around the mid / late 40s, wrinkles are clearly visible. Usually around the age of 40, people also notice the first wrinkles themselves. The formation of wrinkles can be attributed to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors refer to genetic conditions. Genes not only determine when wrinkles start to form, they also determine the extent and speed of wrinkle formation. Extrinsic factors are environmental influences. Environmental factors that influence the formation of wrinkles are, for example, heat, cold or UV radiation.
Function and task
Wrinkle formation can be attributed to intrinsic factors on the one hand, and extrinsic factors on the other. People have no influence on the intrinsic factors, i.e. genetic predisposition. Around the middle of the twentieth year of life, wrinkles begin to form, namely in the area of the outer skin layer (dermis). The dermis is composed of connective tissue cells and fibers. The connective tissue fibers collagen (provides stability) and elastin (provides elasticity) are produced less and less with age. In addition, the subcutaneous fat layer is increasingly degraded; deep wrinkles on the dermis are the result. The process is triggered by the increase of the protein transcription factor NF-kappa B. Man can partially influence the extrinsic factors. If the skin is increasingly exposed to UV radiation, wrinkling not only starts earlier, it also progresses faster. The following circumstance is responsible for this: UV-A radiation penetrates deep into the skin and releases free radicals and singlet oxygen. Free radicals and singlet oxygen cause the destruction of elastin and collagen – the immediate consequence is increased wrinkle formation. Dermatologists therefore recommend exposing the skin to only a small amount of UV radiation and using a cream with a high sun protection factor. If the skin is exposed to excessive heat or cold, this also has a direct effect on the formation of wrinkles. Fine cracks and scarring promote the formation of wrinkles. Here, too, dermatologists recommend protecting the skin from these influences. From a medical point of view, wrinkle formation does not perform any tasks. Nevertheless, the formation of wrinkles seems to make sense. The age of a person can be estimated quite quickly and accurately from the skin or from the depth of the wrinkles. Psychologists agree that the formation of wrinkles therefore very well fulfills an important task in the context of group dynamic processes. Thus, the principle of seniority facilitates orientation for the younger people in a group and offers protection. This benefit of wrinkling, which is interpreted more in terms of psychological dynamics, is currently the subject of corresponding research. Whether there is also a medical benefit is currently controversial. The release of the protein transcription factor NF-kappa B fulfills other functions in the human body, and the triggering of wrinkle formation is only a side effect. Research aimed at preventing the release of the protein or inhibiting it already exists.However, whether an agent can be found that can stop wrinkling by inhibiting the enzyme is uncertain at this time.
Diseases and ailments
Wrinkling itself does not cause discomfort or disease. Nevertheless, women in particular suffer from wrinkling. In today’s society, there is a cult of youth. Young people are said to have predominantly positive characteristics such as performance and willingness, while older people tend to be accused of poor performance and lack of motivation. In addition, today’s ideal of beauty is more oriented towards youthfulness. Many people therefore suffer psychologically from wrinkles. Particularly affected by psychosomatic complaints triggered by wrinkle formation are people who tend to have increased wrinkle formation already at a young age. Immediate consequences are not infrequently the constant preoccupation with the aging process and the attempt to prevent it through various cosmetic or surgical interventions. Some sufferers develop depression as a result of their efforts, which, despite all their efforts, fail to prevent the formation of wrinkles. Overall, however, and this is the tragedy of the perceived psychological burden of wrinkles and aging, these beauty standards are solely cultural and thus a self-made problem. If this is recognized and seen through, on the other hand, this also opens up the possibility of distancing oneself from this social norm and thus escaping the pressure for beauty and youth, which ultimately have no qualitative value. If the formation of wrinkles begins very early in a person’s life and if the wrinkles are very deep, a dermatologist should be consulted. The unusual formation of wrinkles may be an indication of deeper damage in the skin, such as that caused by strong exposure to UV light. The physician will work with the patient to determine how to treat the damage to the skin.
