Nurx offers prescription hydroquinone to treat melasma for $30 per month.
Wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of age are a part of getting older. But that doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to looking older before your time. There are plenty of treatments that can help slow and soften the signs of aging, so you keep your youthful glow as long as possible.
And the best part is, you don’t even have to leave your house. The following at-home anti-aging treatments, when used regularly, can be an effective alternative (or addition) to more expensive in-person procedures.
What Causes Wrinkles?
There are a lot of contributing factors that can cause wrinkles, but one of the primary ones is a loss of collagen and elastin. These are two types of proteins that provide skin with its elasticity. As you get older, your body stops producing as much, meaning your skin doesn’t have the same bounce it used to. It might begin to sag or loosen, leading to tell-tale furrows and lines in specific zones.
Another issue is skin dryness. Your skin starts to lose hyaluronic acid, a molecule that binds to water and helps your skin stay hydrated. Without it, your skin won’t be as moisturized, so it’ll look more wrinkled.
In addition to these age-related issues, things like UV exposure, smoking, and living in a polluted area can also exacerbate the formation of wrinkles. You may also notice that wrinkles are most common in the areas where you contract your facial muscles, such as between your eyebrows or around your mouth.
Types of Wrinkles
There are two main types of wrinkles: dynamic and static. Knowing which type you have can help you tailor your treatment so it’s more effective.
Dynamic Wrinkles
Dynamic wrinkles form as a result of repeated facial movements. For example, if you drink from a straw or smoke, you might develop lip lines. You’ll likely start seeing them earlier than static wrinkles, perhaps in your 30s. They might also only be visible when you’re making certain movements, like smiling, squinting, or laughing.
Static Wrinkles
Static wrinkles form when your skin starts to lose its elasticity. Without enough collagen to keep the structure of the skin firm, it can begin to sag under the weight of gravity. Static wrinkles usually don’t appear until your 40s or 50s. However, once they do appear, they’ll likely always be present without cosmetic intervention, no matter the facial expression you’re making.
Preventative Steps to Delay the Signs of Aging
While it is not possible to stop aging completely, there are several preventative steps you can take at home to help reduce the visible signs of aging and promote overall health and well-being.
- Protect your skin from the sun: Exposure to UV rays can damage the skin and lead to the development of fine lines and wrinkles. To protect your skin, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day, even on cloudy days. You should also wear protective clothing, such as a hat and sunglasses, and seek shade when the sun is at its strongest.
- Follow a healthy diet: A healthy diet can help keep your skin looking healthy and radiant, which may help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Choose a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and avoid processed foods and sugary drinks.
- Get enough sleep: Adequate sleep is essential for maintaining good health and a youthful appearance. When you sleep, your body has a chance to repair and regenerate cells, including skin cells. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night to help keep your skin looking healthy and refreshed.
- Practice stress management techniques: Chronic stress can take a toll on your skin, leading to wrinkles, acne, and other skin problems. To help reduce the visible signs of stress on your skin, try incorporating stress management techniques into your daily routine. This can include activities like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises.
- Quit smoking: Smoking is one of the leading causes of premature aging, as it damages the skin and underlying connective tissue. If you smoke, quitting is one of the most effective things you can do to prevent premature aging and improve your overall health.
Over-the-Counter and Prescription Treatments
Preventative steps are helpful for maintaining a youthful appearance as long as possible, but once you start to notice fine lines and wrinkles, you may want to move on to more active treatment. Luckily, medical treatments are highly effective, especially when a licensed provider prescribes them specifically for your needs.
Over-the-counter retinoids are a good choice for most patients. Retinoids are a vitamin A-based compound that has powerful effects on the skin. First, retinoids can help reduce free radicals in the skin. They’re also great at boosting collagen and hyaluronic acid production, improving blood flow by stimulating the production of new blood vessels, and improving skin cell turnover. All of this put together can result in fresh, glowing skin that still has plenty of elasticity.
There are a few different types of retinoids your dermatologist or medical provider might recommend. Many people start with retinyl palmitate or retinol since they’re some of the least potent retinoids. They’re also a good choice if you have dry or sensitive skin that might be irritated by stronger formulations.
If you’re not seeing results from these lower-potency products, your provider might suggest you move up to adapalene. It’s available over-the-counter at its 0.1% formulation — meaning you don’t need a prescription unless you move up to the 0.3% version — but it’s a little stronger than OTC retinyl palmitate or retinol. Adapalene comes in gel form, so you’ll apply it directly to your face, usually before bed. It’s best to cleanse the face, use adapalene in the areas where you’re worried about wrinkles, and then finish with a moisturizer.
Tretinoin is a step up from over-the-counter options, and one of the most effective when it comes to treating and slowing the signs of aging. Because of its potency, you’ll need a prescription to get it. However, it does come in different strengths depending on your needs.
Despite being a prescription medication you don’t need to physically visit a dermatologist to try out tretinoin. Telehealth options like Nurx let you complete a questionnaire that is reviewed by a medical professional to learn more about your concerns and see what products you’ve already tried. They can provide a recommendation and a prescription if necessary, then your treatment is sent straight to your door — no doctors’ offices or pharmacy visits required.
No matter which retinoid treatment you decide on, it will take a while to see results. Your body needs time to build up more collagen and new cells, so most patients don’t see any changes before three months of use.
Don’t Let Aging Get You Down
If you’re looking to slow down the signs of aging, it’s time to do something about it. Help reduce your fine lines and wrinkles, and lighten your sun and age spots with anti-aging treatment from Nurx. Our medical professionals will tailor a treatment just for your skin so you can see the results you’ve been dreaming about.