dry skin causes wrinkles

If you have dry skin, you get deeper wrinkles than your oily-skinned pals. That’s a fact.

But is it dry skin that causes wrinkles? Does the fact you’re born with it or have developed it at some point cursed you to age before your time?

Not really. Here’s why:

Why Dry Skin Does NOT Cause Wrinkles

Dry skin does NOT cause wrinkles.

So, what does? Sun exposure, for starters. I’ve nagged about the dangers of UV rays enough on this blog, so, this time I’ll let dermatologist Dr Natasha Cook do the talking:

Sun exposure accounts for 90 percent of wrinkles. The way the sun forms a wrinkle is it breaks down the support structures in the endoderm — it’s known as collagen or elastin. As these fibres break down we lose support and the skin becomes more easily creased.”

Add to that pollution, an unhealthy sugar-rich and veggie-poor diet, smoking, and even your genes. They all have a hand in creating wrinkles too.

Related: 5 Anti-Aging Superstars You Should Add To Your Skincare Routine


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Why Dry Skin Ages Faster

If it’s sun exposure that causes wrinkles, then why don’t oily-skinned women have the same deep wrinkles as dry-skinned women?

Because dry skin may not cause wrinkles, but it surely accentuates them.

It works like this: sebum is your skin’s natural moisturiser. When your skin has all the sebum it needs to stay hydrated, it looks plump and moist. This makes wrinkles look smaller.

Oily skin has way more sebum than it needs. The extra makes it prone to breakout, but it also makes every nook and line smoother and plumper.

Dry skin isn’t so lucky. Your skin barely produces any sebum at all. Without it, its protective barrier is damaged and the moisture needed to plump up skin evaporates into thin air. That makes wrinkles look deeper and overall worse than they really are.

Related: The Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin

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How Can You Treat Dry Skin And Wrinkles?

If you have dry skin and wrinkles, you need a double plan of action to deal with both. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Use antioxidant serums to prevent wrinkles: My fave includes the powerful combo of Vitamins C and E and ferulic acid. Layered under sunscreen, it boosts your sun protection. Check out my fave antioxidant serums here.
  2. Use a hyaluronic acid serum: It draws moisture (up to 1000 times its weight in water) from the environment into the skin and binds it there. All that extra moisture hydrates skin and plump wrinkles up, so they look smaller. Use it after your antioxidant serum. Click here for my fave hyaluronic acid serums.
  3. Exfoliate skin with glycolic acid: Removing dead skin cells smoothens out the appearance of wrinkles. Plus, glycolic acid hydrates skin, too. Alternate it at night with retinol. Click here for my fave products with GA.
  4. Use retinoids: Retinoids, like retinol and Tretinoin, are forms of Vitamin A that reduce the wrinkles you already have. But they’re harsh on the skin. Start with a small concentration a couple of nights a week and increase both frequency and dose from there. I like to alternate it with glycolic acid at night. I shared my fave in this post – check it out.
  5. Use rich, oil-based moisturizer to lock in moisture: Oils are rich in fatty acids, the building blocks of your skin. They strengthen your skin’s protective barrier, keeping moisture into your skin. You can check out my favourites here.
  6. Wear sunscreen EVERY day: UV rays can penetrate through clouds and glass and even get reflected on snow. You’re not safe just because it’s winter or you’re staying indoors.

Don’t know how to put this all together? Let me do the work for you. Click here to book your skincare consultation today.

Related: The Best Skincare Routine For Dry And Aging Skin

The Bottom Line

Dry skin doesn’t cause wrinkles but it accentuates them. To keep your skin looking young and flawless, make sure your skin’s protective barrier is always intact, wear sunscreen every single day, and add anti-aging products to your skincare routine. You’ll notice a difference soon!

Do you have both dry skin and wrinkles? Share your tips on how to deal with them.