Wrinkles Defined

A wrinkle is defined as a ridge or crease on a surface. It usually refers to folds on fabric or clothes, or on the skin of an organism; the folds are generally random and do not exhibit any repeating pattern.

Skin wrinkles typically appear as a result of aging processes such as glycation or, temporarily, as the result of prolonged (more than a few minutes) submersion in water.

As skin ages, it becomes thinner and more easily damaged. Intensifying this effect is the decreasing ability of skin to heal itself. Skin sagging is caused by the fall in elasticity and loss of collagen as we get older. Skin also receives less blood flow and lower gland activity. This can result in a double chin which is caused by a layer of subcutaneous fat around the neck that sags down and creates a wrinkle, making the owner appear to have a second chin. It is more visible when the bottom jaw is lowered. A double chin is also more visible on the elderly and the obese.

Skin is composed of the epidermis and the dermis. Below these layers lies the hypodermis (subcutaneous adipose layer), which is not usually classified as a layer of skin.

Skin can be divided into thick and thin types. Thick skin is present on the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands. It has a larger stratum corneum with a higher keratin content. Thick skin does not grow hair; its purpose is to help grip. Thin skin is present on the bulk of the body and has a smaller stratum corneum and fewer papillae ridges. It has hair and is softer and more elastic. The characteristics of the skin, including sensory nerve density and the type of hair, vary with location on the body.

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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