Biofeedback Another preventive measure in the fight against wrinkles is biofeedback. This process teaches conscious awareness of previously unconscious actions, thus enabling behavior change. Biofeedback is particularly useful for preventing wrinkles caused by muscle pull and sleep creases.
Watch yourself in a mirror while talking on the phone or eating, You will be able to see those muscle pull lines which are acceptable and those which are not. Scowl, frown, and grimace lines are esthetically less acceptable than smile and laugh lines. By watching which expressions cause which lines, you can train yourself to stop using unattractive expressions.
For example, 36 year old Gail, found the lines around her mouth to be very distressing. Her denriatologist informed her that upper lip wrinkles can be treated medically, but that they tend to recur because of muscle pull. Sheunderwent a mild chemical peel and was given a regime of alpha hydroxy acid and tretinoin to apply to her face daily In addition, she began to use biofeedback to recognize the kinds of behavior which caused wrinkles to form along her lip. She realized that several habits were contributing to these lines, such as her habit of pursing her lips while chewing and jogging. She stopped chewing gum and worked to change her chewing pattern during meals. She also put on a little grin to Stretch out the upper lip while she jogged.
Biofeedback can also prevent compression creases on the face. These are characterized by vertical lines which do not follow normal facial contours. They are usually caused when people sleep with their face into the pillow at night. As time passes the lines do not fade away with the morning light. To avoid these creases, observe the way you sleep. if your head faces into the pillow, train yourself to sleep in a position where your face is away from the pillow We "deep sleep" only a few hours each night. With training, some degree of conscious control can be exerted over the remaining hours, but it takes discipline.
What might help? A tennis ball in a sock pinned to your pyjamas can help in training nightly body positions. Where you pin the ball will depend on the position in which you sleep. For example, if you sleep on your stomach, pin the ball to the front of your pyJamas. A shaped pillow that its into the nape of the neck also helps to encourage sleeping on the back.
In addition, the application of adhesive tape to wrinkled areas, such as crow's feet and the lowerehead, may help to limit facial movements while dreaming.
No matter what is written, you should never do facial exercises, because they may involve muscle pull which can actually cause wrinkles.
Alcohol
Limit the consumption of alcohol, as regular, excessive drinking may permanently affect the skin. Alcohol causes blood vessels to dilate. This constant stretching of the vessels can cause the walls to weaken and break, resulting in a blotchy redness to the skin and superficial spider like veins.
Alcohol is very dehydrating. This is why numerous glasses of juice are necessary "the morning after". in an effort to combat the dehydrating effect of alcohol and to keep the vital organs well supplied with necessary fluids, the blood will borrow water from other tissue cells including those in the skin. This depletion of moisture in the skin emphasizes facial wrinkles.
Smoking Smoking contributes to the aging process in two ways. By constantly pursing the lips to inhale the smoke, small wrinkles form around the mouth due to habitual muscle pull. Exposing the face to smoke on a regular basis also causes constriction of the skin's superficial blood vessels. This inhibits circulation, which is important to the nourishment and cleansing of the skin. It is for this reason, as well, that smokers are poor healers.
Oral ingestion of vitamins A, C and E may protect against aging and the damaging effects of smoke. Vitamin A affects cell maturation and vitamin E and C act as antioxidants which reduce damaging by products produced in aging cells. These vitamins may also be useful therapeutic agents for smokers and for those of us exposed to smog and other forms of pollution. The use of these supplements is controversial, although studies are now being conducted. Your best bet, in any event, is to stop smoking.
Stress :
Stress is a complex phenomena which, like the sun, can be a double edged sword. It may be protective and productive, but, left unchecked, may be destructive. To a certain extent, stress is the driving force behind creativity and accomplishment. "if you want something done, give it to a busy person." Too much stress, however, can result in counterproductive behavior such as insomnia, overeating, smoking, and drug abuse, including that of coffee and alcohol.
In response to stress, mediators such as adrenalin and hormones are released into the body In the past, these stress mediators were dissipated through physical activity so emotion and mind worked together. Sedentary jobs and lifestyles have changed this to such an extent that these chemical mediators are no longer burned off and, as a result, become destructive to the body.
The combination of counterproductive behavior and negative stress takes its toll. Weight gain, wrinkles due to muscle pull, a pallid skin hue, postural changes, chronic fatigue, and negative personality traits are some of the symptoms of chronic stress. You look and feel older.
Rather than giving in to negative behavior which will only accentuate the problem, seek to make a positive change. Exercise is an excellent means of dissipating stress and should be one of the first steps taken.
Develop a program of internal harmony. This may have many facets including emotional, spiritual and intellectual. The end result will be that you and those around you will feel better. An added benefit is that medical studies have confirmed that positive harmonious thoughts enhance your immune system, which ties into every aspect of our health.
Seek professional help if need be.
Xanthines
Avoid excess amounts xanthines (caffeine and the obromine) which are found in coffee, tea, colas, and chocolate. Xanthines dilate blood vessels and may accentuate a ruddy appearance.
