Although wrinkles can signify wisdom, most people nowadays would rather not have them. Skin wrinkles typically appear as a result of aging processes such as glycation or, temporarily, as the result of prolonged (more than a few minutes) immersion in water. Wrinkling in skin is caused by habitual facial expressions, aging, sun damage, smoking, poor hydration, and various other factors.

Many products and procedures promise to reduce wrinkles. Some do little or nothing (like the products that claim they reduce "the appearance of fine lines," which means that they don't reduce the lines themselves). Others can achieve a fair amount of success.

Be wise – moisturize. One cause of wrinkling is dry skin. Therefore, it makes sense to moisturize the skin. This can hide smaller wrinkles. Drinking plenty of water is also a good idea.

Stop smoking. We all know about the dangers of smoking but did you know that this bad habit can also contribute to wrinkles? Doctors say smoking causes premature wrinkles in the mouth due to constant puckering. It also interferes with the blood supply in that area that could aggravate wrinkling.

Stay away from straws. Sipping your favorite drink with a straw can make you look glamorous but it has the same effect as smoking and can cause wrinkles. To prevent this, drink directly from the bottle, can or glass. Don’t let the drink linger in your mouth. Drinking water afterwards can reduce your chances of tooth decay due to the acids found in colas, non-colas, and tea drinks.

“Sucking up your drinks through a straw makes you purse your lips over and over (as if smoking a cigarette) and can bring on wrinkles. It doesn’t help your teeth much either. Drinking sugary drinks through a straw may save decay on your front teeth but the back ones will be badly affected," said Bella Battle in the Sun Woman Online.

Sleep right. Burning the midnight candle can make you look old so it’s important to get enough sleep. However, the way you sleep can also affect your appearance. To avoid sleep wrinkles, sleep on your back and keep pillows away from your face. Pressing your face into a pillow whenever you sleep can give you wrinkles. If you can’t avoid this, use a softer pillow made of silk instead of one made of cotton.

“You know those facial creases you wake up with from sleeping on your side? They could be permanent. Regularly subjecting one side of your face to such pressure can lead to wrinkles that don’t budge. Sleep on your back with your face in the air to avoid puffy eyes and a lined face," Battle said.

Put on a happy face. While the link between stress and wrinkles is not clear, experience has shown us that the former can make us look older. Unhappiness, loneliness, anxiety, and depression are major stressors that can make or break you. Problems can’t be avoided but learn to live with them and you’ll feel much better. It will show on your face too.

Here are some things people can do to prevent getting many wrinkles at an early age:

# Don't go to the tanning salon. The UV light from tanning booths is just as damaging as the sun's - and sometimes worse.

# Don't smoke! Smoking robs your skin of precious moisture and causes premature (early) wrinkles. (Did you ever notice that most heavy smokers have wrinkles around their mouths?)