After years of smiling and laughing (or teeth clenching and brow furrowing in the case of the last few years), you may have started to notice lines becoming ingrained in your face. Hello, wrinkles. Wrinkles are an inevitable part of the aging process, but beyond being the product of emotional expression and too much sun exposure, there’s one main culprit behind the emergence of these not-so-welcome lines: hormones.
Back to Basics: What Are Wrinkles?
Wrinkles are a natural part of the aging process, the result of a slowdown in your body’s production of collagen and elastin which causes your skin to become thinner and drier. As the fat that once plumped up the deep layers of your skin diminishes, your skin becomes looser and more prone to developing those characteristic fine lines.
Beyond the normal experience of aging, there are a few factors that can cause this process to accelerate resulting in fine lines ahead of their time.
The Effect of Sun Exposure
Sun exposure is our best source of vitamin D, which is essential for balanced hormone production and overall health. But spending too much time basking in the UV rays will accelerate your skin’s aging process. In fact, studies show UV exposure may be responsible for 80% of the visible signs of aging on your face. This happens because ultraviolet radiation can cause DNA changes in the skin, which then lead to premature aging.