Study Finds Women Have More Wrinkles than Men

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 9:42 AM

In a recent study, it was found that women generally have more wrinkles than men, especially around the mouth.

Women have long lamented the fact that aging is more difficult for women then for men. Recently, studies have proven this to be fact, at least when it comes to perioral wrinkles, or those around the lips. According to a study in the November/December issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, published by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), women are more prone to wrinkles in this area than men are.

This study, pioneered by Dr. Emma C. Paes of the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery at the University Medical Center in Utrecht Netherlands, was intended “to obtain new insight into the perception that women wrinkle earlier and more severely then men” in order to understand “the reasons for differences in wrinkling between women and women.”

The study identified a number of these reasons, all pointing to the fact that women experience more and deeper wrinkles than their male counterparts. Contributing factors included the fact that women’s skin contains fewer sebaceous and sweat glands, and fewer blood vessels.

The sebaceous glands secrete sebum, which is a waxy and oily substance. This substance may play a role in the filling of the skin, and when less of it is produced, more wrinkles may occur. The smaller number of blood vessels is also important, as it results in less vascularized skin that allows wrinkles to develop more quickly. Finally, the muscle fibers surrounding the mouth are attached more closely in women than men, and thus an inward traction may occur that makes wrinkles appear more deeply in women.

Paes hopes that the findings may help “develop better strategies for the treatment of perioral wrinkles.” These wrinkles are currently treated with botulinum toxin injections - Botox or Dysport, lasers, injectable wrinkle fillers, dermabrasion and chemical peels. Unfortunately, while many of these treatments are moderately effective, there is still along way to go in successful wrinkle treatment.

Paes believes that “sometimes one has to go back to the basics” in order to determine “the reasons why a particular treatment may or may not be effective.” It is the hope of Paes, and likely of women everywhere, that studies like these will help “speed up the process of finding the right solution.”

The study was conducted using skin surface replicas of 10 male and 10 female cadavers between the ages of 75 and 93. An additional 15 male and female cadavers provided full thickness lip resections to add further data to the study. The skin samples were examined in a blinded fashion.

Related Topics: ASAPS | Wrinkles | Dr. Emma Paes | Botox | Dysport | Fractional Resurfacing | Facial Fillers | Dermabrasion | Chemical Peel

Related Articles:

• Beauty and the Business, Segment Five: The Zone of Client Opportunity - Getting the right patients to your door is an important facet of running a successful aesthetic practice.
• Necessary Technologies for Opening a Medical Spa - In a competitive market, it's important to offer the tried and true technologies that patients are looking for.
• Beauty and the Business, Segment Four: Customer Service - Enjoying your patients and the work you do is the best way to ensure you provide good customer service and run a successful aesthetics practice.
• Rejuvenate Your Skin With HydraFacial - Vitamin infused water moisturizes and refreshes the skin.
• Beauty and the Business, Segment Three: Before You Start - Dr. Gregory Buford offers advice from his book on opening an aesthetic practice and what you need to know before you dive in.
• Beauty and the Business, Segment Two: Branding - Creating a brand to separate yourself from the crowd is critical to the success of your aesthetic medical practice.
• Psioriasis Laser Treatment Featured on "The Doctors" - A revolutionary way to treat psoriasis is now available.
• For the Physicians: Aesthetic Practice Management - Managing an aesthetic practice takes a different kind of manager who is familiar with the nuances of running a cosmetic medical office.
• Medical Spa Treatments to Help Maintain Your Facelift Results - These simple procedures can prolong previous facial surgery results - done quickly, with no downtime!
• Relax and Refresh with These Medical Spa Treatments - Keep looking young with these rejuvenating spa treatments.
• Congratulations to the New President of the Medical Spa Society - Announced earlier this week, Francis Acunzo, CEO of Acara, an aesthetic medical practice management & marketing company, was voted president of the Medical Spa Society
• "What Recession? 12 of Our Clients Doubled Last Year!" Says Acara Medical Spa Consultants - Opening and managing an aesthetic practice or medical spa can be a daunting task. Acara Medical Spa Consultants assists these practices from the ground up to build a successful business.
• Lumixyl Brightens Skin Without Harmful Toxic Side Effects - Hydroquinone has fallen out of favor and is now banned in Europe because of its cytotoxic effects. Luckily, consumers can now turn to Lumixyl, a safe and effective alternative.
• Oscar Prep Part 2: Counting Down the Days - When stars have a big event, they begin prep well in advance, but what are they doing in the days just before?
• Extreme Facials Use Extreme Ingredients - Four facial options are explored that have items like sperm and snail excretion on their labels.

People researching Medical Spa also researched:

BOTOX  |   Dysport  |   Fractional Resurfacing  |   Facial Fillers  |   Dermabrasion  |   Chemical Peel  |  

• Latest Headlines
• Top Procedures
• Most Read