Why Do We Get Wrinkles as We Age?

Skin ageing involves both intrinsic factors (genetics, cellular processes) and extrinsic factors (UV radiation, pollution, smoking). Collagen, the protein that gives skin its structure, decreases by about 1% per year after age 20. Elastin fibres, which provide elasticity, fragment and lose function. The fat layer beneath the skin thins, and the skin produces fewer natural moisturising factors. Repeated facial muscle contractions (smiling, frowning, squinting) crease the skin in predictable patterns — when young, skin snaps back, but aged skin retains the creases permanently. UV radiation (photoageing) is the dominant external factor, responsible for up to 80% of visible facial ageing: UVA rays penetrate deep into the dermis and break down collagen through matrix metalloproteinase enzymes. Smoking accelerates ageing by reducing blood flow to the skin and generating free radicals. Sunscreen is the single most effective anti-ageing intervention.