Folds or creases in the skin, known as wrinkles or rhytides, result from a loss of skin turgor and elasticity as your skin ages, explains Philip S. Chua, a cardiac surgeon at Cebu Cardiovascular Center. You cannot stop the natural aging process that leads to wrinkles. However, you can reduce some environmental factors that increase the rate at which your skin ages.

Many natural processes in your body allow wrinkles to form. The skin loses firmness as your body produces less collagen and elastin, according to the Health Leader, an online magazine provided by the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. Your body also produces less oil and secretions as you get older, causing your skin to dry out. Women have an increased chance of wrinkles after menopause due to drying skin from decreased estrogen production. Other major causes of skin aging and wrinkles include genetics, sun exposure and smoking, according to Medline Plus.

Help prevent the appearance of wrinkles by taking proper care of your skin. Begin by protecting your skin from the sun by wearing protective hats and clothing and by using sunscreen whenever sun exposure may occur, including in the winter. Many skin products and make-up contain a sunscreen. If you smoke, quitting will help improve your skin tone and texture, preventing the development of future wrinkles.

Aerobic exercise promotes blood flow to the skin, which helps increase the rate of new cell growth and the production of natural oils and moisture, according to the Health Services Department at Hendrix College in Conway, Arizona. In other words, regular aerobic exercise helps keep the skin flexible and supple, preventing wrinkle formation. However, repetitive facial exercises may actually cause your skin to develop fine lines and wrinkles, according to the Health Leader.

Wrinkle creams found in many stores and on the Internet may help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, depending on how long you use them and the active ingredients in them. Some of the most effective ingredients in anti-wrinkle creams include retinol, hydroxy acids, coenzyme Q10, copper peptides, kinetin and tea extracts.

The use of make-up, cosmetic creams and preventative measures may help reduce fine wrinkles, but deeper wrinkles often require cosmetic procedures such as Botox injections, Restylane injections, collagen injections, superficial chemical peels, laser resurfacing and photofacials, according to the Cosmetic Dermatology and Laser Center in the University of Michigan Health System.