Facial wrinkles and imperfections: FILORGA's 2-in-1 solution

The appearance of the first wrinkles can be a difficult time for women. More and more of them are also bothered by imperfections such as blackheads or acne spots. Until now, these young women only had the choice between cosmetic treatments targeting either wrinkles or imperfections. Never both simultaneously. FILORGA Laboratories have provided an answer to this problem.

In this comprehensive guide, our experts provide you with all the information you need to fully understand the causes of wrinkles and imperfections. They draw a parallel between aesthetic medicine techniques, FILORGA's primary source of inspiration, and the treatments we offer to maintain youthful, clear skin.

Everything you need to know about facial wrinkles

How wrinkles form

From the age of 30, the first wrinkles and fine lines appear. They are the result of repeated movements of the facial muscles, which, over time, end up forming persistent wrinkles. Indeed, while young skin naturally tightens after each muscle contraction, aging skin does not return to its original state and remains wrinkled.

In detail, here's what happensat the heart of the skin's three layers :

• At the epidermis (the superficial layer), we observe a slowdown in skin tissue renewal. Keratinocytes, which represent approximately 80-90% of the cells in the epidermis, renew themselves more slowly. Their function is to assemble to form several layers, like a brick wall, to form a physical barrier against external aggressions. If their renewal slows, the brick wall eventually crumbles. At the same time, used bricks accumulate because they are less effectively removed. The protective epidermis therefore becomes thinner AND, at the same time, a thicker layer of dead cells forms.

• In the dermis (the middle layer), fibroblasts produce less and less hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin. The quality of these molecules also declines as they undergo glycation, which increases their rigidity and eventually breaks. As a result, the dermis becomes disorganized and dehydrated. It sags and loses its firmness and elasticity.

• In the hypodermis (the deepest layer), fat cells atrophy, causing the skin to sag again.

• We also observe a slowdown in blood circulation, which means that nutrients and oxygen are no longer distributed as well to the cells. Without nutrients and oxygen, cells function less well.

All these mechanisms are concomitant and coupled with multiple contractions of the facial muscles, which lead to sagging of the skin, breakage, and ultimately the formation of wrinkles.

The Different Types of Facial Wrinkles

On the face, we distinguish:

Expression lines

Also known asdynamic wrinkles, there are five expression lines, each linked to a specific facial muscle:

• Crow's feet lines,which are located around the eyes and are attached to the orbicularis oculi muscle.
• The frown line,Located between the eyebrows and linked to the pyramidalis muscle of the nose and the corrugators of the eyebrows.
• Forehead wrinkles, which are horizontal wrinkles associated with the frontalis muscle.
• Bitterness lines (or upper lip wrinkles), small vertical wrinkles linked to the orbicularis oris muscle.
• Marionette lines, or marionette lines, begin at the corner of the mouth and extend towards the chin. They are linked to the depressor muscle of the angle of the mouth.

Other wrinkles, such as:

• The upper eyelid crease, marked by the sagging of the eyelid.
• Under-eye wrinkles, caused mainly by the loss of volume of the skin around the eyes.
• Nasolabial folds,which result from sagging skin.
• Neck wrinkles.

Different skin imperfections and their causes

In addition to the appearance of wrinkles, more and more young adults are bothered by imperfections on their skin. In fact, it is estimated that more than one in two women between the ages of 20 and 40 have them.oily skin* and mild to severe acne. Studies have shown a 60% increase in acne over 10 years**. In young adults, acne is different from that developed during adolescence, as it is mainly located in the U-zone (chin and jaw) rather than on the cheeks or forehead.

Several factors are involved, such as poor diet, stress, pollution, and hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle. However, there are three clearly defined stages that lead to blemish-prone skin:

• An increase in sebum production. This is calledHyperseborrhea. Sebum production is essential for protecting the skin from external aggressions, but overproduction leads tothe appearance of shine and the appearance of oily skin.

• A buildup of cells in the pores,or hyperkeratosis. Dead cells clog the pores, leading to the formation of comedones such asblackheads. Pores also becomemore visible.

• Bacterial overgrowth and inflammation. The excess sebum and dead cells from stages 1 and 2 create a closed environment favorable to the proliferation of the bacteriaCutibacterium acnes which is part of our skin microbiota. This bacterial proliferation leads to inflammation. The bacteria use sebum as an energy source and break it down into irritating fatty acids. The more sebum there is, the more bacteria proliferate and the more irritating compounds they produce. An inflammatory reaction then sets in, leading to the appearance of pimples.

Discover our article on the microbiota

What aesthetic medicine techniques can be used to erase wrinkles and imperfections?

Since their creation in 1978, Laboratoires FILORGA have drawn their inspiration from aesthetic medicine, which is a set of medical techniques aimed at improving the appearance of the face or body, without surgery. Examples include injections that fill wrinkles, lip augmentation, and hair transplants. However, procedures such as facelifts and rhinoplasty are cosmetic surgery procedures.

Before showing you which products we recommend to our customers to simultaneously treat imperfections, wrinkles, and fine lines, let's look at which aesthetic medicine techniques are used in these situations.

Injections for wrinkles

To combat wrinkles, there are three main injection techniques:

• Hyaluronic acid injections to fill wrinkles and plump the skin deep down.This compound, naturally present in the skin, has the primary function of hydrating and filling the spaces between cells. With age,The amount of hyaluronic acid decreases, leading to skin dehydration, a loss of bounce, and the formation of deep wrinkles. Injections involve injecting hyaluronic acid in gel form into the facial creases. Once in the skin, it lifts the areas where wrinkles have deepened.

• Botulinum toxin injections, to relax expression lines. This technique involves injecting the toxin secreted by the bacterium Clostribium botulinum. Doctors use this compound in low doses to paralyze facial muscles and temporarily reduce expression lines.

• Collagen injections to restore skin firmness. collagen is a protein naturally present in the dermis. Its main function is to support the skin. With age, its production decreases and the skin sags, causing the appearance of wrinkles. Collagen injections fill sagging areas and erase wrinkles. These injections can be complemented by the placement of tensor threads. Using a needle, mesh threads are inserted under the skin to form a grid pattern that stimulates collagen and creates a mechanical tensor effect. They tighten the skin without adding volume. These tensor threads are bioresorbable.

Peels for imperfections

Peels are chemical ablations of the superficial layers of the skin. They facilitate the elimination of dead cells thanks to acids such as lactic acid, glycolic acid, azelaic acid, or salicylic acid.

Superficial peelsremove the surface layers of the epidermis by removing dead skin cells. This type of peel also stimulatesCellular renewal naturally regenerates the epidermis. After a superficial peel, the results are immediate: the complexion is more radiant and even, the skin is smoother, the skin texture and pores are refined, fine lines are reduced, and imperfections are faded.

Active ingredients acclaimed by dermatologists

In addition to injections and peels, dermatologists use:

• Zinc: it fights blemishes by regulating excess sebum.
• Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) : It has anti-inflammatory properties.
• Vitamin A (retinol) and its derivatives (retinoids) : These compounds are also used to remove dead cells and smooth the skin.
• Benzoyl peroxide : an agent that reduces sebum production and inhibits the virulence of the bacterium C. acnes.

data-mce-fragment="1">Finally, note that there are also creams containing antibiotics to combat inflammatory acne, available by prescription.

The AGE-PURIFY range: the anti-wrinkle and blemish solution from Laboratoires FILORGA

The return of imperfections at an age when they seemed like a thing of the past can become a real burden. In addition to altering skin quality, acne has a largely underestimated psychological impact. Researchers have shown that people suffering from acne are more likely to develop anxiety, low self-confidence, and depression. When the first signs of aging appear, the situation can become very difficult to cope with.

Targeting adult skin imperfections while providing effective treatment for fine lines and wrinkles is therefore essential for improving both the appearance of their skin and their mental well-being.

To this end, FILORGA offers a dual-correction range, targeting both wrinkles and skin imperfections. Formulated in collaboration with aesthetic doctors and dermatologists, the treatments in the AGE-PURIFY range incorporate DUAL-CORRECTING FACTORS. This innovative compound combines two exclusive complexes:

HYALURO-YOUTH CX:

The HYALURO-YOUTH COMPLEX contains 3 ingredients inspired by injections used in aesthetic medicine:

• AHigh molecular weight encapsulated hyaluronic acid with plumping power.
• A smoothing peptide that mimics the effect of botulinum toxin injections, relaxing muscles and limiting the appearance of wrinkles.
• A filling glycopeptide which will boost collagen synthesis.

DERMO-RESCUE CX:

The DERMO-RESCUE COMPLEX contains active ingredients inspired by those used in dermatology to target each stage of blemish formation:

• Sebum-regulating zinc to reduce sebum production.
• 5 resurfacing acids inspired by peels to remove dead skin cells, brighten the complexion, tighten pores, refine skin texture, and smooth imperfections.
• An extract of annatto, a tropical American plant that acts on the virulence of the bacterium C. acnes to limit bacterial proliferation, reduce inflammation, purify, and soothe the skin.

This complete range offers a solution for the treatment of wrinkles and skin imperfections, specially designed for combination to oily skin.

Discover AGE-PURIFY skincare

*International Dermal Institute 2019. **Analysis of Korean acne patients according to age groups based on two multicenter studies. Journal of Dermatology 2017, 44(2):186-188.