5 Surprising Causes of Lines and Wrinkles

When it comes to wrinkles, we are all familiar with the common culprits: sun exposure, smoking, and repeated facial expressions. But what about the less obvious ones or the things you don’t pay attention to? You may not realize it, but your daily habits can sneak up on you and contribute to the formation of wrinkles. 

Here are some unexpected causes of lines and wrinkles. 

1. Sleeping on your side

Regularly sleeping (on your side) with your face pressed against the pillow means unconsciously applying repetitive pressure on your face. The constant pressure can lead to lines and wrinkles over time. If you, for instance, sleep on one side more than the other, creases are most likely to show up on one side of your face.

This can be aggravated if you use cotton pillowcases. While this fabric is absorbent, it pulls and tugs on the skin. Constant tossing and turning at night creates friction that can lead to lines and creases. This is why it advisable to sleep on your stomach or swap cotton pillowcases for silk ones. This is gentler on the skin and allows it to glide smoothly. 

2. Tech neck

Many of us are dealing with tech neck, or the pain and wrinkles that happen on the neck and chest, without realizing it. This is mostly due to flexing your neck forward to look at your phone or other electronic devices. Hours of doing this daily can lead to pain and creases. Your neck is particularly at risk because the skin in the area is thinner. 

Limiting the use of phones and mobile devices is the best way to prevent tech neck, but it isn’t possible. A much feasible recommendation is to hold your device close to the eye level. If you’re using a laptop, using an adjustable laptop stand or a second monitor can help. Read our blog about tech neck for other things that can help. 

3. Drinking from straws or water bottles

While using straws and water bottles seem like a harmless habit, regularly using them to drink can contribute to lines and wrinkles. Both cause you to repeatedly purse your lips, which contracts the same muscles over and over again. This can break down collagen over time, which can cause creases and lines to appear. 

You don’t necessarily have to avoid using straws or water bottles to prevent wrinkles. You can still do so, but don’t do it daily or throughout the day. Using a glass or a mug whenever possible also helps. Also, you shouldn’t purse your lips repeatedly, as this can lead to permanent lines and wrinkles. 

4. Overdoing it on sugar

A sugary diet can weaken collagen and elastin fibers, accelerating the aging process. Sugar binds with the protein in your bloodstream, resulting in the formation of harmful molecules called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs increase the breakdown of collagen, contributing to sagging and wrinkling. 

Limiting sugar consumption helps, but you should also mind refined carbohydrates, which play a role in the aging process. Load up on fruits and vegetables and improve your skin care regimen by using anti-aging products like a peptide serum and eye cream.

5. Exposure to air pollution

Airborne pollutants that enter and linger on your pores can hurt the barrier function of the skin and trigger damage. The main thing with pollution is it generates free radicals or the unstable molecules that cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is known to trigger cell damage and accelerate skin aging. 

There are a number of things you can do to reduce the risks of pollution. Make sure to clean your face at night to remove makeup, dirt, and pollutants. Double cleansing is advisable to fully cleanse your skin and remove any impurities. This involves using a cleansing oil or micellar water first, then following it with a water-based cleanser. 

If you’re bothered with visible facial lines and wrinkles, Botulinum toxin or Botox is worth considering. This FDA-approved anti-wrinkle treatment can improve or reduce the appearance of wrinkles, including frown lines, forehead wrinkles, and crow’s feet or wrinkles in the corner of the eyes.

Botox works by temporarily blocking the signal from a nerve to a muscle to relax the wrinkles. It can take about two weeks to see the full effects of Botox, with results that can last between three and six months or longer with touch-up treatments. There is also no downtime needed, so you can immediately go back to your normal routines.  

Make little tweaks in your habits to ward off lines and wrinkles. You can also contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics today and schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctor in Singapore to learn more about Botox and other nonsurgical treatments for younger-looking skin.