Anybody who has wrinkles would like to get rid of them; and for those of you who don’t have any wrinkles yet, I’m sure you’d like to do everything you can to prevent them! Wrinkles are a direct result of the collagen underneath your skin breaking down; the loss of collagen leads to a decrease in the elasticity of your skin, and thus we get wrinkles.

The onset of wrinkles is accelerated most commonly by two things: too much smoking and too much sun. Both of these activities work to break down collagen, exactly what you don’t want if you’re trying to avoid wrinkles. On top of smoking and overexposure to sun, stress is another leading cause of wrinkles. So relax, put down the cigarette, and stop tanning!

Stop Smoking

Among many other negative effects caused by smoking, wrinkles are one of them. If you’re intent on getting rid of or preventing wrinkles, stopping smoking is one of the most effective ways to do so. Smoking not only breaks down the collagen in your skin, but it also hampers your body’s ability to circulate blood. Poor circulation means less blood reaching the capillaries in your skin and leads to dry skin and more wrinkles.

Avoid Overexposure to Sun

No more tanning beds! Using tanning beds on a regular basis is a surefire way to get more wrinkles. Even if you’re not fakin’ it, make sure you wear sun block and stay hydrated while outdoors in strong sun. This will help prevent the collagen in your body from breaking down further.

Use Skin Moisturizers

The two main types of skin moisturizers that have proven effective in getting rid of wrinkles are alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy. Keeping your skin moist with these common, over-the-counter creams will not only help to prevent premature wrinkles, but will work effectively for treating clogged pores and preventing pimples.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants work to neutralize the free radicals (from sun, stress and pollution) that are responsible for causing wrinkles. Vitamins C & E, commonly found in green tea, are highly effective in getting rid of wrinkles – so do your skin a favor and drink up!

Natural Remedies to Get Rid of Wrinkles

Below are some organic methods for getting rid of wrinkles. Organic remedies can sometimes be the best – they’re safe, cheap, and effective!

• Water – Keeping your body properly hydrated with ample amounts of water (8+ 12 oz. glasses/day) will help to prevent premature wrinkles and work to remove ones that you already have. Drinking lots of water on a daily basis is something you should be doing anyway for a myriad of other positive effects on your health!
• Cocoa Butter – This natural cream will help to soften your skin and help it to better retain moisture, thus fighting against wrinkles.
• Vitamins – Vitamins C & E are the most potent for fighting against wrinkles; they can be found in a number of foods and drinks, so make sure you’re looking at your food/drink labels and making these essential vitamins a part of your diet.
• Coconut Oil – Coconut oil is very similar to cocoa butter in the way that it prevents wrinkles: it works to soften and moisturize your skin. It can be found in a number of different lotions and moisturizers, but getting the pure stuff will be most effective.

Medical Treatment for Wrinkles

In our humble opinion, medical treatment should be a last resort for getting rid of wrinkles. If you’ve tried all the methods above for removing your wrinkles and have been unsuccessful, only then would we suggest turning to medical treatment. Some of the more popular and effective treatments:

• Botox – Chemical injections into saggy, wrinkly areas of the skin that are common wrinkle spots.
• Laser Surgery – Laser surgery, or dermabrasion, works by using a laser on the parts of your skin where wrinkles have formed. Removing the dead skin around and near the wrinkles promotes new skin growth and collagen production.
• Collagen Injections – Actual collagen, typically from animals, injected into your skin to treat wrinkles. Since your body’s collagen has been broken down and production has been inhibited, an outside injection of collagen will help to fill the gap.