It is important to realise that there are two basic types of skin ageing:
BIOLOGICAL (chronological) AGEING and
PHOTOAGEING (premature ageing caused by ultraviolet light)
BIOLOGICAL AGEING As we age, skin changes and wrinkles appear due to the unavoidable biological ageing of the skin. Part of this ageing process involves the progressive reduction in the supporting collagen and elastin framework of the skin. The signs of Biological Ageing changes are usually much milder than those from Photoageing. They are best observed on areas protected from sun exposure eg. on the inner aspect of the upper arm or on the buttocks. Essentially, these changes are:
- thinning of the skin
- dryness of the skin
- wrinkling (usually fine)
- loss of skin elasticity ( resulting in sagging of the skin )
- loss of subcutaneous fat ( also resulting in sagging of the skin )
Biological ageing cannot be prevented.
PHOTOAGEING
This is what people commonly refer to as ageing but it really refers to premature and excessive skin ageing caused by the effects of ultraviolet light on the skin. It is characterised by:
- sallow complexion
- freckles and brown blotches
- mottled pigmentation
- broken capillaries
- a coarse, dry or "leathery" texture of the skin
- premature or excessive wrinkling
Photoageing is largely preventable through sun avoidance and effective UV protection when exposure is unavoidable.
WHAT CAUSES WRINKLES?
Wrinkles can develop for a variety of reasons:
- Biological (Chronological) Ageing processes.
- Sun Damage (Photodamage)
Ultraviolet light damages the skin by destroying the supporting collagen and elastin fibre framework. When these fibres are damaged wrinkling occurs.
- Facial Muscle Movements
Overuse of the facial expression muscles can over time produce wrinkles where the skin is being repetitively creased eg. around the eyes from smiling or squinting, between the eyebrows from frowning, and so on.
- Gravity
As the skin loses its collagen and elastin support, gravity allows the skin to sag creating brow droop and folds of loose skin around the eyes, lower face, cheeks and neck.
- Sleep Lines
During sleep people push their faces into their pillows creating 'sleep lines'. These lines run diagonally to the other facial lines.
- Rapid Weight Loss
Sudden or dramatic weight loss reduces the amount of supporting subcutaneous fat leading to sagging of the skin and deepening of wrinkles and furrows.
- Smoking
- Heredity
Genes play an important role as to when and how severely wrinkles will develop. This is one reason why some people age more readily than others. Generally, people with fine skin wrinkle more easily than do people with thicker skin.
This is a Vitamin A derivative available commercially as Retin A and Stieva-A. Apart from its use in acne and its ability to reverse some of the visible signs of solar damage, Tretinoin has also been shown to stimulate further collagen production in the skin with long-term use. More collagen means more support for your skin and a lesser tendency to future wrinkle formation. However, Tretinoin will not dramatically improve existing wrinkles.
Glycolic Acid
Glycolic acid is the most effective of all the alpha-hydroxy acids ("fruit acids") and in nature is found in sugar cane. Like Tretinoin it reverses the signs of solar damage and stimulates the formation of new collagen in the deeper layers of the skin. Its actions and effects are similar to Tretinoin but its main advantage over Tretinoin is that it is not likely to render the skin more sun-sensitive and produce redness on exposure.
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FILLING AGENTS
Even though most people know these products very well by name, current Australian Government regulations prevent us from mentioning their names. We are permitted, however, to forward you printed information on these treatments along with brand names if you contact us and personally request it.
Currently, there are a number of approved dermal fillers on the market designed to be injected into facial wrinkles in order to fill them out. Generally, they fall into two categories according to how long the resulting correction should last - Temporary and Long Term/Permanent.
In the Temporary category there are basically four products which, because of the latest Government regulations, we cannot mention by name, even though the products are TGA-approved. However, by virtue of their being widely advertised in earlier years they are already very well-known to the general public.
Currently, Dr Mayson recommends only three of the four fillers in this category as those three provide superior correction with a proven safety record.
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WARNING: 'Permanent' & 'Long Term' Fillers of various brand names are the latest products on the dermal filler market. Because of both anecdotal and documented reports of permanent complications with long-lasting fillers (latest report: American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery Vol. 23, No3, 2006) Dr Mayson has never advocated use of these fillers. Although tempting for some patients in terms of convenience, the promise of a single treatment and perceived long-term cost advantages, there have been sufficient reports of permanent adverse outcomes with these fillers for patients to exercise considerable caution in considering their use.
MUSCLE RELAXANT INJECTIONS
Even though most people know this product extremely well by name, current Australian Government regulations prevent us from now mentioning it by name, even though it was previously widely advertised and is TGA-approved. We are permitted, however, to forward you printed information along with brand name if you personally contact our Clinic and request it.
The product is already very well-known to the general public. It is a very popular and safe method of correcting expression lines that come about through repetitive creasing of the skin during facial expressions. The most commonly requested lines for treatment are the 'frown lines' between the eyebrows, the 'crows-feet' at the sides of the eyes, and the horizontal 'surprise' lines on the forehead.
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SKIN RESURFACING TREATMENTS
Chemical Peels
- Medium Peels are the most commonly performed peels. Although they are primarily used to remove freckles, brown blotches and sun-damaged skin, they can also improve or remove wrinkles but only if they are fine. However, no Peel can remove wrinkles that reach deeper than the depth of the Peel.
- Deep Peels can dramatically improve wrinkles but they have been largely replaced by Laser Skin Resurfacing.
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Dermabrasion (Surgical)
This entails the removal of the upper layers of the skin with a high-speed abrasive wheel. Dermabrasion reaches deeper than a Medium Peel but not as deep as a Deep Peel. However, owing to its delicate nature, the skin under the eyes is not suitable to Dermabrasion. Dermabrasion can remove superficial blemishes, skin roughness, scaly lesions and all but the deepest of wrinkles.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser Skin Resurfacing using a Carbon Dioxide or Erbium:YAG Laser is a more refined and controlled method of removing sun-damaged skin and facial wrinkles, especially around the mouth and under the eyes. The unique 'Composite Skin Resurfacing' technique developed by Dr Mayson combines at least two, and sometimes all three, resurfacing techniques into the one procedure in order to produce the best possible result in the safest possible manner.
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FACELIFT SURGERY
Although popular misconception believes that Facelift Surgery will remove wrinkles the truth of the matter is it will NOT. Facelift surgery will dramatically rejuvenate your appearance by correcting loose, sagging skin and the folds that result therefrom but it will NOT remove wrinkles. If you also have wrinkles, you will need one or more of the foregoing treatments in addition to the Facelift.
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