Facial wrinkles in anyone are an unwelcome sight – the reality of aging begins to set in at this point in one’s life. While there are facial treatments available, it’s a hard reality to escape.
But a new study published in the November/December issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal (ASJ) suggests differences in the prevalence of facial wrinkles between the sexes. Research by plastic surgeons in the Netherlands shows women have more and deeper skin wrinkling in the perioral skin, or skin surrounding the mouth.
Replicas of the skin surface in the upper lip region of 10 male and 10 female cadavers (ages 75-93) were used to define the amount and depth of perioral wrinkling. Cadaver is another word for corpse, or a dead human body.
From these samples, researchers were able to determine the reasons why women are more prone to facial wrinkles.
- Women have fewer sweat and sebaceous glands to influence the natural filling of the dermis, or skin.
- Skin in the perioral region in women has fewer blood vessels, meaning it’s less vascularized than men which can accelerate the development of wrinkles.
- Closer attachment of muscular fibers surrounding the orifice of the mouth may cause an inward traction, thereby creating deeper wrinkles.
Treatment of perioral wrinkles remains a challenge even with treatment options like laser skin treatments, Botox injections, wrinkle fillers, dermabrasion and chemical peels.
Lead researcher Emma C. Paes, M.D., comments “If we understood the reasons for differences in wrinkling between women and men, then we might be able to develop better strategies for the treatment of perioral wrinkles.”