The skin owes its firmness to a natural protein known as collagen and its elasticity to another protein called elastin. During the aging process, these substances decrease in amount, resulting in loss of elasticity, firmness, and suppleness. Many environmental and personal factors also affect the youthfulness of the skin. These include exposure to toxic chemicals, certain foods, and personal habits. Wrinkles and sagging lines appear, making one look older and less vibrant.

There are several home remedies, however, to prevent premature aging and wrinkles.

Proper Diet to Get Rid of Wrinkles

1. Antioxidants

These are chemical compounds found in many foods and dietary supplements, which fight free radicals and prevent skin damage. There are many different types of naturally occurring antioxidants and they often found in combination in foods like fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Here are a few examples:

• Vitamin A (retinol and beta carotene) - found in asparagus, broccoli, carrots, green peppers, mangoes, nectarines, pumpkin, spinach, and tomatoes
• Vitamin C - found in berries, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, mangoes, oranges, papaya, sweet potato, and tomatoes
• Vitamin E - found in hard, mustard, mangoes, nuts, pumpkin, spinach, sunflower seeds and red peppers

Other foods that are also rich in antioxidants include apples, grapes, onions, eggs, and food products that are fortified with vitamins and minerals.

2. Dietary Fats

Healthy dietary fats help improve the skin by nourishing the cells and adding contour, thus preventing sagging and wrinkles. Consuming adequate amounts of healthy fats and oils in the diet in the form of omega-3 fatty acids can help rejuvenate the skin. These fats are found abundantly in oily fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines, eggs, milk and yogurt. Excellent vegetarian sources are spinach, kale, peanut butter, walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, and flaxseed oil.

3. Soy Foods

Studies show that soybeans and soy-based products contain amino acids (proteins) and isoflavones (antioxidants), which help increase collagen production. Some studies also show that soy foods prevent the formation of wrinkles, especially around the eyes. Soy foods include tofu, soymilk, miso or soybean paste, soy sauce, and tempeh (a kind of soy cake).

Facial Products to Get Rid of Wrinkles

1. Homemade Masks

Compared to products on the market, homemade masks are cheaper and without side effects because of its natural property. Eggs have long been used on the face for better tone, below is a great example of eggwhite mask for wrinkles:

2. Commercial Products

There are many commercial products to fight wrinkles, below are recommended best anti-aging skin care products:

3. Cosmetic Pharmaceutical Products

When choosing cosmetic pharmaceutical products, look for the following ingredients:

• Retinol, a vitamin A derivative that helps reduce wrinkles and enhances skin cell regeneration. It is also known as retinaldehyde or retinoic acid on labels.
• Peptides are amino acid chains that serve as building blocks used in the synthesis of proteins found in the skin.
• Hydroxy acids are naturally-occurring compounds found in most fruits and in lactic acid found in dairy products. These acids help in the shedding of dead skin cells, which enhances new cell growth.

Adequate Sleep to Get Rid of Wrinkles

The body secretes a hormone called human growth hormone or HGH during sleep. This important substance is necessary to promote growth of body tissues, including the skin. The lack of sleep not only decreases HGH production and release; it also triggers stress hormone release. This stress hormone, also called cortisol, slows down growth, thus reducing normal skin regeneration. The outer layer of the skin then becomes drier, more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infection, easily damaged by sunlight, and prone to wrinkles. For most adults, 7-9 hours of quality sleep is needed to maintain healthy skin and body.

Things to Avoid to Get Rid of Wrinkles

1. Being Overexposed to Sun

Many studies show that excessive sun exposure can damage skin and make it more prone to form wrinkles. In a study involving pairs of identical twins who had different levels of sun exposure, it was found that siblings who had less sun exposure had fewer wrinkles than their sun-loving twins.

2. Smoking

Research suggests that cigarette smoking ages skin by causing the release of an enzyme that causes the breakdown of collagen and elastin. This leads to thinner skin and increased wrinkle formation.

3. Squint

Squinting and any repetitive facial movement overworks the muscles, leading to the formation of grooves beneath the surface of the skin. These grooves eventually become wrinkle.

4. Taking too Much Coffee

Excessive coffee consumption has no beneficial effect to the body. A study however demonstrated that cocoa is a better alternative, because it contains high levels of flavanols called epicatechins and catechins. These compounds protect skin from sun damage, improve blood circulation in the skin, improve hydration, and make the skin smoother.

5. Over-washing Your Face

Tap water can strip the skin of natural oils that protect against wrinkles. When you wash the face too often, it can reduce this natural protection. Use soap that contains moisturizers or face cleansers to keep the skin smooth and clean without drying it.

These home remedies for wrinkles are just some ways you can improve your skin appearance and texture to have a youthful glow. However, it is best to seek a dermatologist’s advice for more advanced wrinkle formations, which may need additional treatment.