A number of factors result in the wrinkling of skin that may occur as you grow older. Some people are more likely to develop wrinkles than others because of heredity. In addition, external influences can aggravate the inherent tendency to wrinkling and greatly accelerate the process, even in those individuals who might otherwise be resistant to skin wrinkling.
The most powerful factor in skin wrinkling appears to be exposure to the sun. Exposed parts of the body (face, neck, hands) develop wrinkles more rapidly than do protected surfaces. In geographic areas where people expose much of their body to the sun for long periods of time, wrinkling can be seen on the torso as well as on the face, neck, and arms.
Another recently recognized cause of skin wrinkling is cigarette smoking. It has become evident that facial wrinkles and an aged appearance are more common in smokers than in nonsmokers, and some experts believe that it is possible to distinguish the two groups by examining the pattern of facial wrinkles. A combination of sun exposures and cigarette smoking will greatly accelerate the skin’s aging process and result in obvious wrinkling.
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