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What causes wrinkles? Though wrinkles may sometimes symbolize wisdom and experience for some, most of us do not want them appearing anywhere on our skin. Wrinkles are simply ridges or creases that are formed on the surface of the skin. They are usually found on parts of the body that are exposed to the sun most of the time. This includes the neck, face, top of the forearms, and the back of the hands.

There are many factors, some controllable and some not, that cause people to age. Natural causes like over exposure to the sun's rays, stress, hormonal changes, smoking or simply getting insufficient rest, all hasten the skin's aging process. This is especially true for those who experience all of these factors, thereby accelerating the entire rate at which wrinkles are formed.

Usually, our skin can handle approximately 20-30 minutes of exposure to the sun's rays each day. Excessive exposure to the sun can cause damage to the skin because of UV rays that are emitted. UVA and UVB rays break down the skin's collagen and sometimes form free radicals, which can cause wrinkles to form regardless of how young or old one is.

The stress that we all experience can also cause wrinkles to develop. When the body experiences stress, it becomes weaker. A weakened body results in rapid cell degradation, which also means slower cell regeneration. As skin cells deplete, the skin will wrinkle. Also, stress is known to cause facial wrinkles because of the facial expressions that come along with stress.

If you are a smoker, then you ought to know that this habit is causing your skin cells to deplete rapidly. This means that you are increasing the chances of you developing wrinkles. Smoking has devastating impacts on the skin, almost as bad as the sun's damage. This is because it is known to negatively affect the collagen that is in the skin, as it dries it out and restricts oxygen and nutrients from reaching skin cells. This means that instead of the youthful radiant glow that we all want, the skin will eventually have a yellow-grey tone instead.

If you do not keep your body well hydrated, your skin will age even faster. Drinking enough water is very important to your body, especially when it comes to keeping the skin looking healthy. Remember, a dehydrated body will result in you having a more wrinkled skin.

To prevent wrinkles, try to wear sunscreen everyday when you are outdoors. This gives your skin added protection from UVA and UVB sun rays. Another way to prevent wrinkles effectively is to set aside time each day to wind down and relax. Stress will speed up the aging process, so take time off everyday to relax and breathe. The easiest way to prevent wrinkles is to not smoke. You can choose not to smoke, so don*t. Finally, drink at least 8 glasses of water each day. Water helps to flush out toxins as well as speed up the rate at which skin cells renew themselves.

Though we are constantly aging, there are many techniques that we can use to control and slow down the process. Thus, understanding what causes wrinkles effectively allows one to preventing wrinkles from forming and better manage those that exist.