Smooth, youthful-looking skin is something we all strive for. Wrinkles can get in the way of that goal. They make us look older than we are. They make us feel self-conscious about our appearance. And they make us feel unattractive. But wrinkles don’t have to be accepted as inevitable. There are ways to repair existing wrinkles and to prevent new wrinkles from forming.

This article will help you understand what causes wrinkles and what can be done to give your skin the radiant look and feel that you crave.

What causes wrinkles?

Wrinkles on the décolleté can be caused by a number of factors. Some you can control, some you can’t. Even if you’re genetically predisposed to wrinkles, there are steps you can take to repair existing wrinkles and prevent them from forming in the future. First let’s look at the causes of wrinkles so we can better understand how to avoid them.

1. Age

Collagen and elastin are proteins found in the dermis of the skin. They act as filler between the hypodermis and the epidermis and provide support to the skin above.

As we age, the collagen and elastin begin to break down. This effectively reduces the support that the epidermis receives from underneath. As a result, the skin begins to sag inward and a line or wrinkle forms.

In addition to the loss of collagen and elastin that occurs as we age, the skin also becomes drier and thinner. If that wasn’t bad enough, aging makes the skin less elastic and less able to protect and repair itself from damage.

2. UV Light

UV light from the sun or from tanning booths can accelerate the breakdown of the collagen and elastin that supports the skin. Activities like outdoor sports, sunbathing, even commuting by bus, train, or car can expose you to the harmful rays of the sun.

In conjunction with the breakdown of the collagen and elastin, UV light can cause the skin to become inflamed. And we’re not talking just about sunburn. Accelerated breakdown of the skin’s underlying structure—that not caused by normal aging, can trigger the body’s inflammatory response. This can lead to red, puffy, and tender skin that has nothing to do with sunburn.

3. Dehydration

The body is over 50% water and it needs regular intake of this liquid to function properly. When the body doesn’t get enough water, it can become dehydrated. Dehydration in its milder forms can manifest as fatigue, headache, irritability, shriveled skin, joint aches, and dizziness. More severe signs include low blood pressure, fever, vomiting, and delirium.

What’s more, keeping yourself in a chronic state of mild dehydration can lead to slow metabolism, increased hunger, slowed circulation, irregular body temperature, and increased blood sugar. None of these symptoms—whether mild or sever—is good for your body and, by extension, your skin.

4. Smoking

As bad as smoking is for your lungs, it may be just as bad for your skin. Like UV exposure, smoking accelerates the normal aging process and contributes to the breakdown of the collagen and elastin in the skin.

Smoking also reduces the blood supply to the skin which can cause impurities and pollutants to build up. If that wasn’t bad enough, smoking can stain your skin from the outside leading to discoloration, lines, and wrinkles.

5. Facial Expressions

Facial expressions like squinting, smiling, and frowning cause the skin to move from its original position. In addition, small lines form at the site of the movement. As we age, the skin loses its flexibility. Over time, the skin will no longer be able to return to its original position and the lines that form as a result of the movement will become permanent.

This isn’t to say that you should never smile or frown or squint. That would be no fun at all. What we are saying is that knowing what the causes of wrinkles are—like facial expressions—can help you design a plan to combat them. Let’s take a look at some prevention and repair strategies.

4 Ways to Avoid Wrinkles

The following practices can work to repair the wrinkles that have already formed and prevent new wrinkles before they form.

1. Stop Smoking

If you’re a smoker, the best thing you can do for your skin is to stop. In just 20 short minutes after you stop smoking, your body starts to mend. Soon after, your blood oxygen level increases to normal while the carbon monoxide level drops to normal. Eventually, damaged nerve endings begin to repair. All of these things can have a beneficial effect on the repair and rejuvenation of your skin.

2. Drink 8 Cups Of Water Each Day

Drinking at least 8 cups of water each day keeps your body and your skin hydrated. A study by the University of Missouri-Columbia showed that drinking about 2 cups of water increased blood flow to the skin. Increased blood flow then, helps to keep impurities and pollutants from damaging the skin.

In addition to the benefits of increased blood flow, hydrated skin is more elastic. Because of this, it can resist wrinkling caused by everyday movement and repair itself better when damage does occur.

3. Use Sunscreen every day

The best protection against the sun’s harmful rays is to cover up. You need some sun exposure in order to absorb vitamin D which is essential for bone strength. But too much does more damage than good.

Sunscreen is the best and easiest way to prevent damage to the skin of your décolleté. Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater to block 97-98% of the sun’s harmful rays. Be sure to apply sunscreen liberally to the skin of the décolleté before leaving the house in the morning. Then reapply every two hours after that.

4. Use Professional Repair & Rejuvenation Cosmetics

Professional repair and rejuvenation cosmetics like SiO Beauty’s 24-Hour System help to counteract the effects of aging on the delicate skin of the décolleté.

The décolleté cleansing discs lightly exfoliate the skin and clear pores to help restore your natural glow. The SiO SkinPad is worn overnight where it serves to repair wrinkled décolleté skin and prevent new wrinkles from forming. The décolleté serum continues the rejuvenation during your waking hours. It hydrates, moisturizes, and brightens wrinkled skin to restore its youthful appearance.

Putting It All Together

Good habits like drinking plenty of water, protecting your skin with sunscreen, and others can help to repair and prevent wrinkles at any age. Though you may not be able to change your genetics, the things you can change—like smoking and sun exposure—can have a profound effect on the way the skin of your décolleté looks and feel.