Wrinkles, known medically as rhytids, are a natural part of aging. You can’t control your genetics or stop aging. However, certain lifestyle factors, such as smoking and too much sun exposure, can encourage early and more pronounced wrinkling.

You can take steps to minimize the appearance of wrinkles and help prevent excessive wrinkling. Washing your face and applying sunscreen every day is just the beginning.

1. Wear Sunscreen Daily

Sun damage can happen any day and time of the year, not just on a sunny summer day at the beach. Chronic sun exposure promotes skin aging (photoaging) and the appearance of wrinkles. Daily use of broad-spectrum sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 can help protect against sun damage.

2. Limit Sugar

A diet high in sugar can contribute to a process called glycation, which leads to compounds called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). These compounds can affect skin elasticity and the breakdown of collagen (a structural protein in the skin), which can age your skin.

3. Wash Your Face Regularly

Wash your skin twice a day to remove sweat, makeup, and pollution. Look for a gentle cleaner free of dyes, fragrances, and other harsh ingredients. Harsh soaps can strip the skin of its outer layer, and facial scrubs with small particles can lead to dryness, skin rash, or irregular pigmentation.

Moisturizing after washing your face won’t prevent or eliminate wrinkles or stop the aging process. However, using a moisturizer after washing can ease dry skin and help smooth out wrinkles so they’re less noticeable.

4. Boost Your Antioxidants

You can do your skin a favor with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidants such as phytochemicals, phenolic acids, and polyphenols that fight AGE-related free radical stress. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules produced by normal cell metabolism that can damage the cells. Antioxidants neutralize them.

Examples of fruits and veggies that promote skin health include:

• Berries
• Cherries
• Pomegranates
• Figs
• Watermelon
• Tomatoes
• Carrots
• Avocados
• Kale
• Peppers

In addition, some topical antioxidant creams and lotions can help protect against wrinkles and sun damage. Look for those that contain vitamin A (retinol and retinoids), which help repair skin damage, fine lines, and rough skin. You can also choose sunscreen, anti-wrinkle creams, and other skin care products that contain antioxidants.

5. Consider Your Beta Carotene

Beta carotene is an antioxidant that converts into vitamin A. Beta carotene from the diet or supplements can help prevent photoaging in the skin.

Foods rich in beta carotene are yellow, orange, and green leafy fruits and vegetables such as:

• Carrots
• Spinach
• Sweet potatoes
• Broccoli
• Cantaloupe
• Winter squash
• Lettuce

6. Try Coconut Oil

Virgin coconut oil has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties that nourish, moisturize, and protect the skin. Coconut oil is edible, but you can also use coconut oil serums on your skin. Many cosmetics, soaps, moisturizers, and massage oils contain some coconut oil.

But it’s not for everyone. You might not want to use coconut oil on your face if you have oily skin. It tends to clog pores, making acne worse for some people.

7. Avoid Ultraviolet Light

Ultraviolet (UV) light plays a role in premature skin aging. Though the sun is an obvious culprit, tanning beds also emit dangerous UV rays that are harmful to the skin.

When you must be in the sun:

• Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with a SPF of 30 or higher on all exposed skin
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face
• Wear large sunglasses to protect the delicate skin around your eyes

8. Stay Hydrated

Drinking water alone won’t eliminate wrinkles, but staying hydrated is good for your skin. Among other symptoms, dehydration can make your skin lose elasticity and cause dryness that accentuates fine lines and wrinkles. Some research suggests that staying hydrated by drinking water may be as effective as applying topical moisturizer.

9. Quit Smoking

Smoking affects the skin’s elastic fiber network and is a risk factor for premature coarse and fine wrinkles. Other long-term effects of smoking include dry skin, baggy eyes, sagging jawline, deeper wrinkles, and changes in pigmentation.

The effects of heavy smoking mean that a smoker in their 40s may have as many wrinkles as a 60-year-old nonsmoker. Quitting smoking has many health benefits. If you’re having trouble quitting, ask a healthcare provider about quitting aids and smoking cessation programs.

10. Drink Lemon Balm Leaf Tea

Evidence suggests that drinking lemon balm leaf tea helps to correct glycation-associated tissue damage to the skin and improve elasticity. More research is necessary to understand the potential benefits of lemon balm leaf tea.

11. Explore a New Sleep Position

It’s possible that your sleep position is contributing to the lines on your face. Scrunching your face into the pillow every night might be your position of choice, but constant compression can weaken the skin and encourage lines to form. Consider switching to a face-up position if you’re a stomach or side sleeper.

12. Consider Medical Treatments

Medical treatments that can improve the appearance of wrinkles include:

• Botox (botulinum toxin injection) paralyzes surrounding muscles to smooth wrinkles. The full effect of it takes 10 to 14 days and typically lasts about three months.
• Chemical peels work by damaging the top layer of skin to promote smoother skin. They may take weeks or months to work and last months to years.
• CO2 laser resurfacing uses focused beams of coherent light to penetrate the skin’s surface and promote collagen production. It can take one to six months and last several years.
• Hyaluronic acid fillers replace natural hyaluronic acid in the skin to add volume. The results are visible right away.
• Microdermabrasion gently removes the top layer of skin for a smoother, brighter look. It takes multiple treatments, and the results are temporary.
• Microneedling creates tiny skin punctures that stimulate the production of collagen to soften the look of wrinkles. It may take months to show results and require multiple treatments. It may last three to five months.

A dermatologist (a physician specializing in skin conditions), facial plastic surgeon, or plastic surgeon can help you choose the best treatment for your skin.

Tips to Prevent Wrinkles

You can’t completely prevent wrinkles from forming, but you can do some things to prevent premature skin aging:

• Use sunscreen.
• Avoid tanning beds.
• Wear sunglasses when outside.
• Don’t smoke.
• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet.
• Drink alcohol only in moderation.
• Exercise regularly.
• Gently clean your skin twice a day.
• Apply moisturizer daily.

See a dermatologist if you have concerns about wrinkles or premature aging.

Summary

Fine lines and wrinkles are a normal part of aging. Smoking, sun exposure, and poor diet can lead to premature and deeper wrinkling. But there are some things you can do to prevent early wrinkling and smooth out existing wrinkles.

Keeping your face clean, moisturized, and protected from the sun’s UV rays goes a long way. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, staying hydrated, and avoiding sugary foods promote skin health. Topical antioxidant creams and lotions can also help.

A variety of medical treatments can improve the appearance of wrinkles. If you have questions about skin care, consider seeing a dermatologist, facial plastic surgeon, or plastic surgeon.