The difference between fine lines and wrinkles

Lines on the face and around the eyes are common to almost everyone. But how do you know if these lines are temporary and the result of dry skin, or if they indicate the beginnings of wrinkles? Although wrinkles and dehydration lines may look similar, they have different causes and therefore require different care. In this blog, I will explain how you can recognize the difference and give you a handy test to discover if your lines are related to a moisture deficiency in the skin.

How do you recognize dry lines?

Dry lines are superficial, faint lines that can appear on your skin when it is dehydrated. They often occur around the lips, eyes and forehead. This happens as a reaction of your skin to external factors. There are three possible causes of dehydrated skin:

1. The barrier function, or the outer protective layer of your skin, does not function properly. This is often due to the (incorrect) use of skin care products and cosmetics. Ingredients such as alcohol dissolve the natural fats in the upper skin layer, while these fats are needed to prevent moisture from evaporating from your skin. Irritating substances, such as perfume, can also affect the barrier layer. In addition, the functioning of this outer layer can be reduced by an unhealthy lifestyle, stress, too much sunlight or the aging process.
2. In environments with low humidity, too much moisture evaporates from your skin. Especially in winter, when the humidity is low both indoors and outdoors, your skin quickly loses moisture to the dry air. Central heating and the harsh weather play a role in this.
3. Finally, the transport of moisture from the deeper layers of the skin to the surface may be too slow, which also contributes to dehydrated skin.

Lines caused by a lack of moisture are temporary and often disappear once your skin is properly hydrated again.

Try it yourself

A simple test can help you discover whether you suffer from dry lines. Although this test does not provide a definitive result, it does offer a useful way to better understand the condition of your skin:

• Gently pinch a small area of ​​skin, such as your cheek, décolleté or the back of your hand, and hold for a few seconds. Be careful not to squeeze too hard as this can damage the skin.
• If your skin bounces back quickly, chances are you're not dehydrated.
• If it takes a little longer for your skin to bounce back, your skin may be dehydrated.
• Feel free to repeat the test in other places for better results.

Dehydrated skin occurs when there is a lack of moisture in the skin. Dehydrated skin is often recognized by a dull appearance and can also show premature signs of aging, such as fine lines and reduced elasticity. It is important to know that dehydrated skin can affect anyone, regardless of your skin type. Even people with oily or combination skin can suffer from dehydration.

What helps with dehydrated skin? And what doesn’t…

To prevent dry lines, it is essential to strengthen your skin barrier and keep it healthy. This is the only way to ensure that too much moisture does not evaporate from your skin, while at the same time various processes in your skin can function optimally. A strong skin barrier also makes your skin more resilient and helps it to protect itself better against harmful bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Ingredients that support your skin barrier include Collagen, Vitamin C, Vitamin B3, Omega-3 fatty acids, Zinc and Vitamin A. Our Collagen Mix contains a highly absorbable form of Collagen in combination with Vitamin C, which will allow your skin to better maintain the moisture level in your skin.

What is a wrinkle?

Wrinkles, as you might have guessed, are caused by the aging process. This is a natural process that we cannot stop, but we can influence to some extent. The good news? In many cases, you have control over how many wrinkles you get and how deep they are. Wrinkles are often deeper in the skin than superficial dryness lines and usually appear first in areas that are more exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck and hands.

The development of wrinkles is a process that is influenced both from the inside and the outside. Your genetic predisposition plays a role in this, but external factors such as sunlight, air pollution, smoking and nutrition also contribute to skin aging. The choices you make in your lifestyle are therefore of great importance.

A recent study on the metabolism of sugar, fat and proteins in the skin shows the complexity of skin aging, but also shows that the biology of your skin can cause it to act younger than its actual age. This 'younger behavior' of the skin is something that scientists, and myself, are particularly interested in. The exact factors that influence this process still need to be further investigated. Fortunately, the study already mentioned a few things that we can start working on right away, such as the importance of a strong skin barrier and the fact that Collagen can promote cell renewal in the skin.