TLDR Age, smoking, and lower BMI increase facial wrinkles; men wrinkle more than women, except in old age; pale skin and certain hormonal factors can protect against wrinkles.
The study examined the factors contributing to facial wrinkling in 3,831 north-western Europeans aged 51-98 years, finding that age was the strongest determinant, with smoking and lower BMI also significantly linked to increased wrinkling. Men generally had more wrinkles than women, except in the oldest age group. Protective factors against wrinkles included pale skin color and, in women, female pattern hair loss (FPHL) and a higher free androgen index (FAI). Lifestyle factors like education level and alcohol consumption in women, and a tendency to sunburn in men, were also associated with wrinkling. The study highlighted sex differences in skin aging and suggested that strategies to reduce skin aging should consider these differences. It also indicated that other factors, including genetics, might play a role in facial wrinkling, as the determinants explained 22% of the variability in men and 37.2% in women. The study was limited by its cross-sectional design and the homogeneity of the study population.
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