Science has proven why your skin wrinkles. Here is what you need to know
New research explains why wrinkles develop with age
- Scientists at Binghamton University have experimentally shown that skin wrinkles as it ages due to a process where it stretches laterally and then contracts, forming creases.
- Associate Professor Guy German explained that the skin's mechanical properties degrade with age, causing increased lateral stretching driven by inherent forces within the skin.
- The research involved using a low-force tensometer on skin samples from individuals aged 16 to 91, providing experimental evidence for previously theoretical models of skin aging.
- This new finding complements existing knowledge that genetics, disease, sun exposure, and repeated muscle movements also contribute to the formation of wrinkles.
- Published in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, the study did not investigate methods to prevent these newly identified forces, though external factors like sun damage are acknowledged.