A pursuit of beauty is a lifelong endeavor for every woman, and wrinkles are often seen as a sign of skin aging. Many people worry that wrinkles will affect their appearance and rob them of their youth. However, wrinkles can also reveal some underlying health problems. The American website *Prevention* recently summarized five potential health risks that can be seen through wrinkles. Let me tell you about them.
I. Risk of Osteoporosis. Researchers at Yale University in the United States have found that skin is a window into bone health. After surveying more than 100 women in menopause, the researchers found that women with the most and deepest wrinkles also had the lowest bone density. The study's lead researcher stated that collagen is an important component of bones and skin, and its quantity decreases with age. Therefore, if you see wrinkles like these, you should definitely get them checked out.
II. Early Signs of Heart Disease. Diagonal creases on the earlobe may be an early warning sign of heart problems. A study at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles found that people with this type of crease on their earlobes are more likely to be diagnosed with heart disease. Experts believe that these creases are caused by the collapse of tiny blood vessels flowing towards the earlobe, reflecting changes in the blood vessels surrounding the heart.
3. High blood pressure. Researchers at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands found that women who looked younger than their actual age and had fewer wrinkles had lower blood pressure. The study also showed that participants from long-lived families were less likely to have wrinkles on their upper arms compared to their peers.
Fourth, excessive stress. Anxiety and worry can cause wrinkles. Janet Prestovsky, a dermatologist in New York City, states that when people are under stress, they frown, and over time, permanent wrinkles easily form on the forehead. Wrinkles in other areas of the face are also related to the release of large amounts of stress hormones caused by persistent anxiety, which degrade collagen in the skin.
5. Eating too many sweets. Consuming sweets causes sugar to bind with proteins, easily forming "advanced glycation end products" (AGEs) in the body. These products break down collagen and elastin, leading to more fine lines and wrinkles on the skin. Researchers suggest replacing sweets with fruit, as most fruits have anti-glycation properties and can reverse skin damage.
