Dry skin leading cause of microwrinkles, finds anti-ageing study

Scientists have discovered that dry skin plays a bigger role in the development of laughter lines, crow’s feet and fine lines than previously thought.

A research team, led by Dr Georges Limbert at the University of Southampton, looked at how the upper layers of skin fold to form wrinkles, focusing on blood fats and microwrinkles, which over time turn into deeper lines.

They discovered that when the stratum corneum becomes dryer due to environmental conditions such as a heated room or long-haul flight, it becomes stiffer. “When this happens, micro-wrinkles at the surface of the skin, induced by facial muscle actions like smiling, become much deeper, larger and more visible”, said Dr Limbert.

Using synthetic images to represent the typical microrelief of the skin’s surface, the team hope they can start designing longer-term treatments that help maintain the skin’s moisture, delaying the effects of ageing.