The mechanism that causes skin to wrinkle has long been a mystery.  Recently, research has found that the cause of wrinkling may be at the molecular level.

Comparison of smokers to non-smokers had shown that smokers’ faces show more wrinkling at an earlier age than those of non-smokers.  Researchers could only speculate on the underlying mechanism that interferes with the body’s ability to break down old skin and renew it.  One popular belief has been that the nicotine in smoke causes vaso-constriction, setting off a chain of events that subsequently decreases the blood supply to the skin.  New research has found that before the body can make new skin, it must break down the old skin with enzymes called MMPs.  These enzymes destroy the fibers that form collagen.  MMPs break down skin, its elastic fibers, and collagen, thereby making skin lose its resiliency.

Researches exposed human skin cells to smoke and found that these cells produced more MMPs and were 40 percent less efficient in new collagen production.  The combined rapid breakdown of collagen and the lack of new collagen formation is probably what causes premature aging in smokers. 

Treatments available now can actually improve the skin’s condition and reverse loss of collagen without requiring downtime. 

Ask about how PhotoRejuvenation IPL Treatments can help you!