There’s no shortage of opinions on wrinkles — what causes them, what prevents them, and what gets rid of them. Some of it is solid science. A lot of it is marketing. As a physician-led practice, we believe you deserve the straight story.
Here’s what’s actually happening when wrinkles form — and why some of the things you’ve been told to worry about may not be the real culprits.
The Real Causes of Wrinkles
Collagen and elastin loss Your skin gets its firmness and bounce from two structural proteins: collagen and elastin. Starting in your mid-twenties, your body produces less of both — and the collagen you do have begins to break down faster than it’s replaced. The result is skin that gradually loses its ability to snap back, leading to fine lines, sagging, and deeper creases over time. This process is largely driven by genetics and age, but it’s significantly accelerated by external factors.
Sun exposure (UV damage) If there’s one thing that ages skin faster than anything else, it’s unprotected sun exposure. UV radiation breaks down collagen and elastin at an accelerated rate, triggers the formation of abnormal elastin fibers, and causes the kind of cumulative skin damage that shows up years later as deep lines, leathery texture, and uneven pigmentation. Dermatologists estimate that up to 90% of visible skin aging is caused by UV exposure — not chronological age.
Repetitive facial movement Every time you squint, smile, or furrow your brow, the underlying muscle contracts and folds the overlying skin. When skin is young and collagen-rich, it springs back easily. As collagen declines, those repeated folds eventually become permanent — which is exactly why Botox works so well. By relaxing the muscle, you eliminate the repetitive folding that deepens expression lines over time.
Smoking Smoking constricts blood vessels, reduces oxygen delivery to skin cells, and introduces a cascade of free radicals that accelerate collagen breakdown. Smokers consistently show more pronounced perioral lines, a duller complexion, and earlier onset of visible aging than non-smokers of the same age.
Sleep position and chronic dehydration Sleeping on your side or stomach night after night can create compression wrinkles — lines on the cheek, chin, and chest that result from skin being pushed against a pillow for hours at a time. Chronic dehydration, meanwhile, doesn’t cause wrinkles per se, but it makes them more visible by reducing skin’s plumpness and elasticity.
What Doesn’t Cause Wrinkles
Let’s clear a few things up.
Washing your face does not cause wrinkles — but harsh cleansers that strip your skin’s moisture barrier can contribute to dryness and irritation over time.
Eating sugar doesn’t directly wrinkle your skin, though a high-sugar diet can trigger glycation — a process that damages collagen fibers and makes them stiffer and more prone to breaking down. It’s a real phenomenon, but not the primary driver of aging for most people.
Drinking through a straw is often cited as a cause of perioral lines. The truth: for most people, the contribution is minimal. Smoking is a far more significant cause of lines around the mouth.
What You Can Actually Do About It
The good news is that many of the primary drivers of wrinkle formation are addressable — both preventively and after the fact. Daily broad-spectrum SPF is the single most impactful thing you can do to slow visible aging. Medical-grade skincare with proven actives like retinoids and peptides supports collagen production and skin renewal. And treatments like Botox, laser resurfacing, microneedling, and chemical peels address what’s already there.
The key is knowing what you’re actually dealing with — and working with a provider who can build a plan around your specific skin and goals.
Ready to have a real conversation about your skin? Call or text us at 325-238-5832, or DM us on Instagram.
