Here’s What You Need to Know About Body Wrinkles

1. Body Wrinkles Basics

From causes to treatments, we love to talk about wrinkles on the face — but we know that our efforts can’t stop at the chin. Fine lines, wrinkles, and folds aren’t biased, which means they can appear on your body just as they do on your face. While body wrinkles aren’t as noticeable, they can still cause frustration — especially when swimsuit season rolls around. Body wrinkles can appear anywhere but are primarily found on the neck, chest, hands, and around the knees and elbows.

2. What Causes Body Wrinkles?

One of the leading causes of body wrinkles is ultraviolet radiation from excessive sun exposure or a tanning bed. With time, UV rays destroy the collagen and elastin fibers in the skin that give it elasticity, padding, and volume. While these fibers can heal, long-term UV exposure causes irreparable damage to the skin —   90% of aging is caused by damaging UVB rays. Those with fair skin are more susceptible to burning and damage. Wrinkles on your body are also caused by: 

• Intrinsic (Chronological) Aging: The natural (and unavoidable) aging process that occurs due to a loss of collagen and elasticity. 

• Extrinsic Aging: Aging skin that’s exacerbated by controllable lifestyle factors such as poor diet, lack of sleep, smoking, excessive alcohol, and too much unprotected sun exposure.

• Genetics: While body wrinkles are caused by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, research suggests genes also play a role. While some age-associated changes are predetermined, others are haphazard and, therefore, cannot be forecasted. 

• Certain Medications: Chronic steroid use (like prednisone, for example) makes the skin more susceptible to body wrinkles. 

• Gaining or Losing a Lot of Weight: Rapid weight changes can cause the skin to sag, making body wrinkles more apparent.

3. When You Should Start Seeing Wrinkles on Your Body

There’s no magic age when you start to see body wrinkles, though they may appear later in life than face wrinkles because the skin is less exposed. Some people begin to see wrinkles in their 20s, whereas others can escape crepey skin on the body until their 40s or beyond. It all depends on how much time one spends in the sun, lifestyle habits, and genetics.

4. How to Treat Body Wrinkles

Staying out of the sun, wearing a broad-spectrum SPF sunscreen daily, staying hydrated inside and out, limiting alcohol consumption, ditching cigarettes, and a following a nutritious diet can help prevent premature wrinkling of the body while lessening their inevitable appearance as you age. 

As with the skin on your face, the skin on your body needs attention, too. Ditch body cleansers with drying ingredients such as sodium laureth (or lauryl) sulfate (a common foaming agent), propylene glycol, triclosan (an antibacterial and antifungal agent), or DMDM hydantoin (antimicrobial.) Instead, opt for a creamy, hydrating, non-foaming body wash. Avoid taking scalding showers or baths as they can dry out the skin and exacerbate wrinkling. While your skin is still slightly damp, apply a body cream or lotion that contains retinol, a derivative of Vitamin A that also works wonders for aging skin on the face. With regular use, it can help soften existing body wrinkles while preventing new ones from popping up prematurely.

5. Treat Body Wrinkles While You Sleep

SiO’s skin-smoothing patches are the perfect remedy to hydrate, plump, and rejuvenate your skin . SiO patches are made of medical-grade silicone, so they comfortably hug the skin, gently compressing it to stay flat and smooth, which minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The best part? You’ll see results in just a few hours. Even better, they also work on a progressive level with regular use. 

For body wrinkles, we suggest the SiO ChestLift, NeckLift, Plunging Neckline Pack, and HandLift.

But why stop there? Put some attention towards the wrinkles on your face, too. Find your patch match! Take the SiO Quiz to find out which patches are right for you and get 20% off your personalized offer. You’ve got nothing to lose except a wrinkle or two.