One of the biggest problems with anti-aging creams is their blanket claims to treat all forms of wrinkles. The science involved dictates that different treatments may be required for different types of wrinkles. Creams that contain alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) may help to prevent wrinkles caused by sun, but if you're looking for a magic cream to blast them away, it doesn’t exist. Noninvasive and invasive cosmetic surgical procedures are really the only way to go once wrinkles have formed.

Most wrinkles happen due to glycation and various other aging processes. Glycation is a natural aging process by which a sugar molecule bonds to a protein or lipid molecule without the controlling action of an enzyme. Glycation of cells in the body is responsible for many age-related illnesses such as Alzheimer’s as well as wrinkles. While there is no cure for aging, there are techniques by which you may slow it down or, in the case of surgical techniques, even reverse its effects.

Sun exposure is also key to the development of wrinkles. Matrix-degrading metalloproteinases (MMP) are increased within hours of UV-B light exposure. Elevated MMP levels degrade the collagen and elastin which are so necessary to a youthful appearance through their prevalence throughout the connective tissue and the dermis.

Before getting into the physiology behind the four classes of wrinkles, a few words are necessary on the effects of smoking.

Where: Entire body

Smoking inhibits collagen production, causing wrinkles over the entire body and particularly the face. Collagen is responsible for 70% of the content of your connective tissue; when it is damaged the face begins to sag and lose its “tightness”.

Smoking also robs the body of oxygen, which decreases blood circulation to the face.

How to Treat:
Quit smoking. There really is no way to treat wrinkles caused by smoking other than kicking the habit. While surgical treatments can help to reverse the effects of most wrinkles, taking up smoking again after your surgery will simply encourage their return, making subsequent treatments necessary.

Crinkle Lines
Where: Throughout Face

What: 
Crinkle lines are light and usually run parallel to each other. The most notable of this group would be lines in the forehead. Crinkle lines disappear when the face is stretched.  These wrinkles occur because of atrophied collagen bundles in the skin.

How to Treat:
Surgery may be too drastic a step for this condition. Collagen shots are usually enough to minimize the appearance of crinkle lines.

Permanent Creases
Where: The cheeks, upper lip, and nape

What: In areas that are frequently exposed to the sun, elastotic creases become permanent lines in the skin. Collagen atrophy starts breaking down the connective tissue and a deep criss-cross pattern is formed which makes the skin appear rigid and leathery in appearance. Sun exposure is a strong factor in the development of crinkle lines. They will be noticeably decreased in people who get minimal sun exposure and people with darker skin.

How to Treat:
Surgery and Botox or other injectables may be necessary, depending on how extensive the damage is. It is very important that the patient stays out of the sun going forward as much as possible after their treatment to avoid further degradation.

Crow’s Feet and Frown/Smile Lines
Where: Under Eyes, around mouth

What: Dynamic expression lines caused by natural aging processes. There have also been studies that have put forward an inverse relationship between the development of permanent wrinkles and skin cancers, but this has so far remained unproven.

Repeated facial movements can form and deepen these lines through a strong bonding from the skin to the muscles underneath. These wrinkles are quite unavoidable with traditional aging and as always may be minimized through limiting sun exposure.

How to Treat: Botox releases muscular tension and minimizes or eliminates the appearance of these wrinkles. Studies have shown that with repeated use, the affected skin also continues to improve.

Gravitational Folds

Where: Entire Body

What: These are the natural wrinkles that occur when skin begins to sag. They frequently occur around the chin, neck, and the jowls. They happen because heavy and loose skin starts to pull at the underlying fat and muscle. A fat face may actually show less wrinkles than a thin one.

How To Treat: Surgical procedures are usually the only way to get these under control, such as skin lifting procedures. A healthy fitness regimen concentrating on toning and muscle development is excellent preventative medicine for this class of wrinkle.

Tightening It Up

Once a wrinkle forms, the reasons for it being there become almost irrelevant. However, the patient should be aware of the biological processes which go into the formation of the wrinkle so that they can avoid factors like sun and smoking that may have created it in the first place. While the aging process will still continue after surgery, avoidance of its underlying causes will help maintain the youthful appearance of the patient both prior to and after any surgical procedures.