There is no magic formula to turn back the clock on aging. As the years roll by, the steady onslaught of time is perhaps most noticeable on your skin. Besides being the largest organ of the body, your skin is also reflective of your internal well-being. In other words, the appearance of your skin is an indicator of how healthy you are and vice versa.
Time may be the most dominant reason for skin aging, but it alone is not responsible for adding years to your face. The skin gradually loses its elasticity and suppleness with advancing age due to several factors, some of which are beyond your control while others can still be avoided. You may not be able to escape skin aging altogether, but you can certainly delay the process and mitigate its effects.
Some of the most common physical manifestations of skin aging include the surfacing of wrinkles around the eyes, fine lines around the lips, and age spots on the hands.
The most conspicuous and stubborn wrinkling pattern to appear on the face develops in the form of vertical or horizontal creases on the forehead. Once these forehead wrinkles set in, it can be hard to get rid of them, and they usually stick around for a lifetime, unless certain cosmetic procedures are performed, such as cosmetic injections and laser resurfacing.
Moreover, there is reason to believe that deep-seated forehead wrinkles can be more than just a harmless cosmetic concern.
A research paper presented in 2018 established an association between deep forehead wrinkles and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Results of the study showed that the cardiovascular mortality risk of the subjects tended to increase with their wrinkle score.
Although the exact logic behind this relationship is yet to be established, the researchers suggest that it may have something to do with atherosclerosis or plaque buildup inside your arteries.
Because the blood vessels in the forehead are relatively small, they may be more vulnerable to plaque buildup. Thus, the appearance of forehead wrinkles could actually result from and be a sign of vessel aging. However, these results have not been confirmed and future studies are warranted to establish these findings.
What Causes Forehead Wrinkles?
- Aging: Collagen is the primary structural protein that is responsible for keeping your skin firm and supple. As you grow older, there is a natural decline in your body’s collagen synthesis, causing your skin to lose its elasticity. The age-related decrease in collagen production is perhaps the major contributor to the development of wrinkles and fine lines, which become more prominent and permanent over the years.
- Sun Damage: Exposing your skin to the UV rays of the sun can accelerate skin aging like nothing else. The only good thing about sun-induced skin damage is that it is something you can control, unlike time and genetics. Whether spending a day at the beach or running errands, sun protection is essential. You can protect your skin by seeking shade, covering up with clothing, and using sunscreen that is broad spectrum, SPF 30 (or higher), and water resistant. You should apply sunscreen every day to all skin that is not covered by clothing.
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