American scientists have discovered why wrinkles form

Researchers from New York decided to investigate the true causes of wrinkles, questioning the conventional explanation associated exclusively with age.

Despite the beauty industry offering many solutions - from expensive creams to salon procedures - the question about the real nature of skin aging remains open. To find the answer, scientists conducted an experiment, the results of which were recently published in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials.

The authors of the study from Binghamton University (part of the State University of New York system) examined samples of human skin, trying to understand which mechanisms trigger the formation of wrinkles. One of the project participants, Guy K. German, shared what motivated him to undertake this research. According to him, he was tired of the abundance of advice and promises encountered in advertising, media, and the Internet, and decided to personally figure out how everything actually works.

As part of their work, the scientists used an unusual analogy - a sweatshirt and modeling clay. This model allowed them to demonstrate how skin loses elasticity and mobility over time. According to the specialists, wrinkles form not simply due to decreased collagen production or the influence of external factors. A much bigger role is played by the gradual "gluing together" of skin layers, which causes it to lose the ability to return to its original state after deformation. Over time, such "folds" become permanent.