Why do we really get wrinkles? Scientists finally explain it's not just age or sun exposure, it's physics
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Age isn't the only factor
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Scientists at Binghamton University in New York have discovered the exact reason why human skin forms wrinkles over time. Using real samples from people aged 16 to 91, they found that as we age, our skin stretches unevenly and contracts in ways that eventually lead to folds and creases.This process, they say, is similar to how Silly Putty behaves when stretched, pulling it one way makes it shrink in the opposite direction.Over time, this contraction grows stronger, and the skin can no longer hold its shape, causing it to buckle and wrinkle.Until now, the idea that skin wrinkles due to changes in elasticity or loss of collagen and elastin was mostly based on theory or computer models. But this new study offers direct experimental proof.Associate Professor Guy German and his team used a low-force tensometer, a machine that stretches materials, to pull strips of human skin and measure how it reacts.They discovered that skin doesn't stretch or shrink uniformly. Instead, it stretches more laterally (sideways) as we get older, while also being under constant internal stress, even at rest.These mechanical forces, always pulling the skin in different directions, increase the likelihood of wrinkling, especially when the skin's structure weakens with age.The middle layer of the skin (the dermis) is home to proteins like collagen and elastin. These provide strength and flexibility. As we age, this layer changes. The skin becomes thinner and loses its ability to bounce back.Over time, the uneven pulling forces lead to buckling, the folds and lines we see as wrinkles.Wrinkles commonly start appearing after age 25, but age isn't the only culprit. Sun exposure plays a big role too. Long hours outdoors can cause 'photoaging,' which has the same wrinkling effects as natural aging.'If you spend your life working outside, you're more likely to have more aged and wrinkled skin than those who are office workers,' said Professor German. Sun damage weakens the skin and speeds up the wrinkling process.This is the first time researchers have tested these theories on real human skin rather than relying on models or assumptions. For Professor German, understanding skin aging wasn't just academic, it was personal.'There's so much conflicting advice on skin health out there,' he said. 'I wanted to find out what's really true.'The findings could help shape future treatments and skincare products. Instead of simply adding moisture or boosting collagen, future solutions might target the way skin responds to tension and stress.Wrinkles form because aging skin stretches unevenly and contracts more over time. This leads to internal stress and visible lines. While genetics and sun exposure still play a role, this study confirms that physics and skin mechanics are the main forces behind wrinkle formation.
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