Natural Remedies vs. Clinical Treatments: Which is Best for Face Wrinkles?

Ageing is inevitable. With all the technology, resources and knowledge in our hands, we are still not able to stop the signs of ageing from appearing on the skin. But luckily for us there are some best treatments for wrinkles on face that can delay and minimize the signs of ageing. These include both natural remedies vs clinical treatments. It is a natural process to develop wrinkles, fine lines, pigmentation on parts of body that are generally exposed to the sun and other environmental factors more such as face, neck, hands, forearms, chest etc.

What causes wrinkles?

As we touch the age of 40, the skin stats to lose its natural ability to maintain elasticity and becomes drier. It become harder to fight the damages done by pollution, lack of good diet, makeup, not applying enough moisturizer etc. And as time passes the skin starts to loose fat and facial wrinkles become more and more pronounced.

The biggest culprit in the increasing visibility of wrinkles is unprotected sun exposure. The harsh sun rays break down the collagen and elastin even in the deep layers of the skin. This is why wearing sunscreen everyday is absolutely necessary. Other factors that accelerate wrinkle formation include

• Repetitive facial movements such as frowning, squinting, smiling, crying can lead to wrinkles especially the lip lines, glabellar lines, laugh lines etc.
• Drinking less water
• Smoking and heavy drinking body dehydrate the skin and leading to pronounced wrinkles
• Lack of sleep
• Genetics
• Unbalanced diet

There are mainly two types of wrinkles

Static wrinkles which are formed because of loss of elasticity in the skin and gravity taking its effect. These are permanent wrinkles

Dynamic wrinkles are the ones that are formed because of repeated facial movements such as puckering or using a straw etc. Lip lines are one such example.

It is never too late to make healthier decisions for the health of your skin. If light or deep, the wrinkles are bothering you then help is at hand in both natural and clinical treatments.

Common natural treatments for wrinkles

• Coconut oil
• Olive oil
• Egg masks
• Banana face pack
• Aloe vera oil
• Carrot and honey masks
• Yogurt face packs
• Essential oils
• Bakuchiol
• Balanced diet
• Hydration
• Proper sleep

White the natural remedies are very popular, cost effective and have some potential benefits it is important to understand that there are some drawbacks of relying on the home remedies entirely. they may not always provide the same level of effectiveness as medical or professional treatments.

• Limited Scientific Evidence: Many natural remedies lack rigorous scientific studies to support their efficacy in treating wrinkles. While anecdotal evidence exists, clinical trials and studies are often limited, making it difficult to assess their true effectiveness.
• Varied Results: Natural remedies can yield varying results among individuals. What works for one person might not work the same way for another due to differences in skin type, genetics, and other factors.
• Slower Results: Natural remedies often require consistent and long-term use to see noticeable improvements. They might not offer quick or dramatic results or long lasting compared to medical treatments.
• Inconsistent Quality: Natural products can vary in quality, potency, and purity. This inconsistency can affect their efficacy and might lead to unpredictable outcomes.
• Limited Depth of Action: Natural remedies usually work on the surface layers of the skin and may not penetrate as deeply as medical treatments. Wrinkles that are deeper or caused by factors beneath the skin’s surface might not respond as effectively to natural remedies.
• Lack of Regulation: The natural skincare industry is less regulated compared to medical treatments. This can lead to variations in product quality and safety.
• Allergic Reactions: Natural ingredients can cause allergic reactions in some individuals, leading to skin irritation, redness, or worsening of existing skin conditions.
• Insufficient Concentrations: Some natural remedies might require high concentrations of active compounds to be effective. Achieving these concentrations through natural ingredients alone can be challenging.
• Severe Wrinkles: For individuals with more severe wrinkles, natural remedies might not provide the significant improvement they are looking for. Medical treatments like fillers, Botox, or laser therapies might be more appropriate.
• Potential Interactions: Some natural ingredients might interact with other skincare products or medications, leading to unforeseen consequences.

Often, a combination of treatments is more effective for treating wrinkles. Natural remedies might need to be used in conjunction with other treatments for optimal results. Individuals seeking rapid and significant improvements in their appearance might experience frustration or disappointment with the slower progress of natural remedies especially when seeking treatment for deep wrinkles on face. It’s important to approach natural remedies with realistic expectations. Consultation with a dermatologist or skincare professional can help you make informed decisions about the best treatment options for your specific needs. For more immediate and substantial results, medical treatments performed by qualified professionals might be a more suitable choice.

Clinical treatment options for Wrinkles

Top dermatologists have developed some excellent face wrinkle treatments with years of research and rigours testing. The amount of treatment or number of sessions of treatment of wrinkles on face that will suit you will depend on your skin type, ethnicity, depth and type of wrinkles and your age. After a physical consultation the dermatologist will suggest any or a combination of the following treatments

Topical Medications

• Retinoids: These are the gold standard of anti-ageing treatments. Retinoid is a derivative of vitamin A which when applied on the skin, helps in removing the dead skin cells, stimulating call turnover and increases collagen production in the process. therefore, apart from removing the wrinkles it also helps in reducing age spots, sun damage and improving skin texture. In few weeks of usage, you will see a marked improvement in your skin as it becomes fresher, younger and looks more rested.

How to use

Retinoids are available in prescription as well as OTC form. It is important that they are used correctly. Introduce retinoids to your skin slowly. Use them only two to three times a week and preferably in your night time routine. Slowly if the skin is responding well, you can start using it daily. Follow up the application with a good moisturizer. Since retinoids are harsh on skin, make sure you apply a good broad spectrum sunscreen  during daytime.

Results

Retinoids take about six months to one year to show a major difference in your skin. be patient and talk to your dermatologist about dosage and type.

• Vitamin C: This is another super hero that fights ageing very effectively. Vitamin c is a very forceful antioxidant that not only neutralizes the free radicals but also improves collagen production reducing wrinkle and fine lines. It also protects the skin from sun damage, acne scars, dullness, enlarged pores and hyperpigmentation.

How to use

The best form of use is in serums. Look for serums that have more than 15% of vitamin C content for it to be effective. Store it in dark and opaque bottle to prevent oxidation. Apply on the skin before you do your rest of skincare routine. Start slow with two or three days a week and then as the skin develops tolerance gradually increase to every day a week. Make sure you apply a good sunscreen post application always. It is best used in day time skin care routine.

Results

With regular and correct usage, you can expect to start seeing the results from up to three months of application.

• Niacinamide: This is a vitamin B3 derivative and is available in serums, masks, moisturizer and wrinkle creams commonly. It works greatly in soothing the skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles along with hyperpigmentation, red blotches and yellowness on the skin.

How to use

Apply it two times a day along with your normal routine. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen every day.

Results

You can see the results from four weeks of treatments. Sometimes it might take two months for you to see the reduction in wrinkles, softening of skin and reduced pigmentation spots.

• Tranexamic acid and Azelaic acid: This acid is a gentle amino acid that can be combined with your regular cream or use in the form of serums in your morning and night routines. Your dermatologist will recommend the best concentration for you.

You can also use the non-prescription wrinkle creams which contain active ingredients like retinol, antioxidants, peptides etc to give you mild improvement in wrinkles. However, their results are short lived. You must do a patch test before starting to use any cream on your face.

Wrinkle removal techniques  and surgical procedures

• Laser skin resurfacing: When talking about best treatment for wrinkles on face, laser skin resurfacing comes on the top of the list of the top dermatologists in the world. The light from laser turns into heat energy and gently ablates the layers of skin (epidermis and dermis). This makes micro and nano little wounds on the skin. As the skin heals the collagen fibres tighten the new skin is smoother and free of wrinkles and lines.

How is it done?

This procedure is done in an expert dermatologist office and is an outpatient procedure. The doctor will use a local anaesthetic to numb the area. depending on the intensity of the wrinkles the surgeon will either use a fractional laser or a non-ablative laser fractional resurfacing. The treatment is done in many sessions over a period of time.

Results

The results take time as the laser as best treatment for wrinkles on face take multiple sessions. The skin heals slowly. Once the results start showing, you can enjoy the silky smooth skin for three to five years to come. You might need some maintenance treatment here and there but mostly it will be hassle free experience.

• Microneedling: One of the oldest procedures for facial wrinkle treatments, microneedling is a collagen induction therapy. Small needles are used to prick the skin. it creates small injuries on the skin and the natural system gears in to heal by producing more collagen and improving cell turnover. This means the overall skin texture improves and the wrinkles are filled in. This treatment is also used for reducing acne scarring, roughness on skin and enlarged pores.

How is it done?

The process is done under topical anaesthetic. The small needles are moved over the skin to create the punctures. Your skin might bleed a bit but it is not a cause of worry. once the procedure is done the practitioner will clean the skin and apply a serum. The whole process will take about an hour to complete. Avoid trying microneedling at home as it runs a risk of damaging the skin and infections.

Results

It takes about 4-6 weeks for collage to build itself and this is the time for it takes to see the results of microneedling on wrinkles. the skin cells too take about a month to turn over entirely.

• Radiofrequency treatments: These take the help of lower energy radiation to heat the dermis. This signals the body to stimulate collagen and elastic production and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and even the sagging skin.

How is it done?

The procedure takes less than 30 minutes to complete. the doctor will move the device over the skin gently and that’s it. You might feel a little tingling or the skin might be little red but that is quite normal.

Results

The results can be seen in five days of the treatment and they last for 2-5 months. comfortably. You might need repeat treatments to maintain the results.

• Chemical peels: A special chemical solution is applied on the skin to exfoliate the outer layer of the skin. The skin starts to peels off and the new skin that appears is smoother, cleaner, softer and less wrinkled.

How is it done?

There are chemical peels of various strengths which target the top, middle and deep layer of the skin. The common chemicals used are glycolic acid, lactic acid, TCA, retinoic acid, kojic acid and salicylic acid. Peels are quite safe to use and are completely an outpatient procedure. As a part of treatment for deep wrinkles on face, the dermatologists use peels that target the deep layer of the skin. For fine lines and wrinkles peels targeting top layer of the skin are used.

Results

You can start to see the results in about 5-10 days post the treatment but some redness might persist. The results last for about four to six weeks comfortably.

• Dermabrasion and Microdermabrasion: This is a physical exfoliating treatment that removes the top layer of the skin. Just like chemical peels this treatment reduces the appearance of wrinkles and pigmentation on face.

How is it done?

This simple procedure is done on an outpatient basis. A series of treatment is done over the course of months to get the best results. A small diamond tip device is moved over the skin along with a suction machine to collect the skin debris. You will see redness and blotchiness on the skin for few days but it subsidizes quickly.

Results

The results are moderate and temporary and take about a week to show up. As the skin heals the results keep improving for up to three months post treatment.

• Botox: When it comes to talking about the best treatment for deep wrinkles on face, the Botox is the first line of treatment by most cosmetic surgeons. It is also the best preventive measure for wrinkles and fine lines.

How is it done?

It is injected in small does in the target area muscles. It blocks the nerve signals and hence keeps the muscles from contracting. This softens the creases on the skin including some wrinkles.

Results

Botox takes one to three days to show the results. It lasts for about few months. Repeat treatments are needed to maintain the wrinkle free look. the thing to keep in mind is that Botox does not work for all wrinkles. it is not suitable for static wrinkles.

• Soft tissue or dermal fillers: These are another popular face wrinkle treatment around the world. Soft tissue fillers such as fat, collagen, hyaluronic acid, Calcium hydroxylapatite,  Poly-L-Lactic Acid,  Polymethylmethacrylate etc are injected in the face to plump the skin and smooth the wrinkles. Dermal fillers can be used on static wrinkles too. hyaluronic acid fillers are the most popular ones.

How is it done?

The fillers are injected in the areas where there is volume loss in the skin. they fill in the space and give the skin a smooth look. the whole procedure takes about 30 minutes and there is no down time.

Results:

It will take about 3-5 days to notice the changes in your skin. they last for about 6 months to 1 year. A good thing about fillers is that they can be revered (hyaluronic acid filler) if you don’t like the look.

• Surgical face lift: This is an invasive procedure which involves the skin, muscle and tissue tightening to smoothen out the wrinkle and fine lines on the face and provide it with smooth and rested look.

How is it done?

The procedure is done under general or local anaesthesia. The plastic surgeon makes incisions on the sides of the face, gently lifts the skin and tightens the muscles and tissues underneath and place the skin back. Healing time is for several weeks.

Results

The results of this procedure as the best treatment for wrinkles on face are permanent. However, the skin can still age and you might need a face-lift several years later.

Keep in mind that skin ageing is a natural process and the results of the treatments for wrinkles on face vary depending on the skin condition and the location and depth of the wrinkles. nothing stops the ageing but with good skin care and repeated treatments you can delay the signs of ageing. most clinical treatments for wrinkle removal are not covered by insurance so you need to talk to the doctor about it.

When it comes fighting ageing, prevention is the key. Here are some tips for an anti-wrinkles skin care routine to help aid the results for the best treatment for face wrinkles using clinical methods:

• Its never to late to add sunscreen to your routine. Make sure you wear a sunscreen of SPF 30 and above. Rain or shine sunscreen application is a must.
• Chose products that have sunscreen in them. Use then every time you go outside and reapply every 2-3 hours.
• Use good quality moisturizers
• Don’t smoke