Oh no!  What's that staring you back as you look into the mirror this morning?  It couldn't be yet another tiny crinkle in your forehead determined to push you into senility could it?!  Wrinkles... the one thing that nobody wants more of especially in our modern day culture.  But is there anything we can do about it?  Why don't we find out as we turn you into an expert on the topic of wrinkles and how to prevent them.

The Basic Framework Of Our Skin

Our skin is the largest organ in our body and consists of 3 basic layers - epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layer (fatty tissue).

1)  Epidermis - The epidermis is the outer most layer of our skin and is the body's main barrier of

     protection from the environment [1].

2)  Dermis - The dermis is the middle layer of our skin and contains a number of essential items such as

     blood vessels, sweat glands, hair follicles, etc.  It also contains three very important structural

     components known as collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans [1,2].

         -  Collagen is a protein that is responsible for providing support and strength for our skin.

         -  Elastin is a protein that allows our skin to resume its shape after being stretched or contracted

            much like a rubber band returns to its original form after being stretched out.

         -  Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are long chains of carbohydrates attached to a protein core.  Water

            loves to latch on to GAGs which is why they keep the skin plump, soft, and hydrated.

3)  Subcutaneous layer (hypodermis) - Underneath the dermis is a layer of fatty tissue called the

     hypodermis or subcutaneous layer.  It supplies our skin with blood vessels and nerves along with

     providing padding and insulation.

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