Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Wrinkles
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Skin wrinkles are grooves in the skin. Wrinkles can be on the surface of the skin or can be quite deep.
What is going on in the body?
Skin loses its strength and elasticity, or ability to stretch, as a person ages. This makes the skin less able to smooth out, which is thought to be part of the cause of wrinkles and skin sagging seen in the elderly. Sun exposure also contributes to the development of wrinkles.
What are the causes and risks of the symptom?
A number of factors can cause wrinkles, including the following:
People at highest risk for wrinkles include:
Symptoms & Signs
What other signs and symptoms are associated with this symptom?
Symptoms of wrinkles include deeply formed lines and fine, crinkling crosshatch marks. Skin that is wrinkled may also have a tough, leathery appearance if the person has had a lot of exposure to the sun.
Diagnosis & Tests
How is the symptom diagnosed?
Wrinkles are diagnosed by their characteristic appearance.
Prevention & Expectations
What can be done to prevent the symptom?
Wrinkles due to normal aging cannot be prevented. An individual can lower the risk of wrinkles by avoiding excess exposure to the sun.
What are the long-term effects of the symptom?
Wrinkles have no long-term effects.
What are the risks to others?
Wrinkles are not contagious and pose no risk to others.
Treatment & Monitoring
What are the treatments for the symptom?
Wrinkles do not need to be treated unless the person wishes to eliminate them for cosmetic reasons. For fine wrinkles, retinoic acid may be applied to the skin to fill in the crevices.
Wrinkles may also be treated by a number of procedures, such as the following:
What are the side effects of the treatments?
The more likely the treatment is to help wrinkling, the more likely it is to have side effects. Side effects can include:
Topical products can cause irritation that looks and feels like chapping. Injectable substances can cause allergic reactions.
What happens after treatment for the symptom?
Sometimes the treatment for wrinkles results in skin that looks markedly smoother and younger. Other times, improvement of the wrinkles can be minimal and temporary.
How is the symptom monitored?
Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider.
Attribution
Author:Lynn West, MD
Date Written:
Editor:Crist, Gayle P., MS, BA
Edit Date:02/28/01
Reviewer:Eileen McLaughlin, RN, BSN
Date Reviewed:07/27/01