5 Wrinkle Myths You Need to Stop Believing

When it comes to preventing signs of aging, misconceptions are abundant. Some swear by the power of water in keeping your skin young while others believe that moisturizers can prevent or lessen wrinkles. Some, on the other hand, go to greater lengths or spend lots of money to treat or prevent those pesky lines from forming. It is easy to be deceived, which is why we list the top wrinkle myths you should stop believing:

1. You are bound to get wrinkles if your parents have them.

While genes play a part in the way we age, most wrinkling on our face and body is due to extrinsic aging. This is caused by bad habits and other factors, such as sun exposure, smoking, poor diet, and inadequate sleep. Over exposure to the sun is one major contributor to premature skin aging, especially wrinkles. 

Fine lines and wrinkles are also bound to appear due to aging or as the skin naturally loses elasticity. The production of collagen and elastin also declines with age, making the skin more susceptible to developing lines and creases. Fortunately, there are ways to decelerate the process of skin aging, such as:

• Wearing sunscreen daily
• Using anti-aging products recommended by your skin/aesthetic doctor
• Moisturizing skin regularly
• Considering products with retinol, vitamin C , or antioxidants

2. Moisturizing lessens/prevents wrinkles

Although moisturizer is an essential skin care product, it does not necessarily prevent the formation of wrinkles. What it does is it keeps the skin hydrated, making wrinkles less noticeable. You should moisturize daily, but you shouldn’t solely rely on it to prevent lines and wrinkles from forming.

If it is your goal to delay or prevent wrinkles, Botulinum toxin or Botox is worth considering. This US FDA-approved anti-wrinkle treatment is commonly used for improving the appearance of dynamic wrinkles. These are lines formed due to repeated facial expressions or muscle contractions. 

Botox in Singapore works by temporarily blocking a signal from a nerve to a muscle to relax the wrinkles. It can help soften or treat:

• Frown lines
• Forehead lines
• Wrinkles in the corners of the eyes
• Lip lines or smoker’s lines

3. It’s okay not to wear sunscreen on cloudy days.

Since sun exposure is responsible for the majority of skin damage and aging, it is only important to wear sunscreen daily. But what about on cloudy days or when the sun is not shining bright? You still need to because UV rays can penetrate clouds (as well as glass) and damage your skin. 

With sunscreen, you can lower your chances of getting skin cancer and sun damage. Just be sure to choose a broad-spectrum product that offers protection for both UVA and UVB rays. Your sunscreen should have an SPF of at least 30 and you need to apply it 20 to 30 minutes before going outside.

4. The best anti-aging/wrinkle products are the most expensive ones. 

Many anti-aging products can be expensive, but a high price tag doesn’t necessarily mean that it is also highly effective. It is also likely that you are overspending and over treating your skin if you’ve spent hundreds or thousands of dollars on a number of anti-wrinkle/skin care products.

Do your purse and skin a favor by keeping your products and routines minimal. It is also a good idea to consider medical-grade skin care products, which have stronger active ingredients and are more effective than OTC products. You can also consult a skin or aesthetic doctor for product recommendations. 

5. Facial exercises prevent wrinkles.

The idea behind these exercises is that they can strengthen facial muscles to reduce and firm sagging skin. Unfortunately, this does not make sense, as many wrinkles are formed due to repetitive muscle movements and facial expressions. These include frown lines, forehead wrinkles, crow’s feet, and smile lines. 

What actually helps reduce facial wrinkles is the inactivity of the facial muscles. This is also the reason why Botox is effective in treating dynamic lines. It temporarily paralyzes the muscles that cause wrinkles, which therefore improves the appearance of lines.

Arming yourself with the right information can help you delay the aging process. Contact Cutis Laser Clinics in Singapore today and schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctor to learn more about other tips and treatments on treating wrinkles.