Oct 30 / Star Khechara

Understanding Rhytides: A Nutritional Insight into Wrinkle Formation

For skincare professionals, understanding the mechanisms behind rhytides, commonly known as wrinkles, is key to addressing the deeper story of skin ageing. While clients often perceive fine lines as superficial concerns, practitioners recognise them as the visible manifestation of complex biological and biochemical changes within every skin layer.

What Are Rhytides?

A rhytide is a fold, ridge or crease in the skin formed as structural integrity declines across the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis. This process results from decreased collagen and elastin synthesis, reduced hyaluronic acid production, slower cell turnover and diminished lipid output. The outcome is a loss of firmness, hydration and elasticity that gives rise to visible lines and creases.

The Multifactorial Nature of Skin Ageing

Skin ageing is both intrinsic and extrinsic in nature. Intrinsic ageing reflects physiological changes influenced by genetics and time, leading to thin, dry skin and fine wrinkles. Extrinsic ageing, in contrast, arises from lifestyle and environmental factors such as UV exposure, pollution, smoking and poor nutrition, creating coarse wrinkles and loss of elasticity. Both types operate together, intensifying the visible signs of ageing when protective or restorative measures are absent.

The Biochemical Drivers of Wrinkle Formation

The development of rhytides is underpinned by several biochemical processes: dehydration, reduced skin thickness and protein cross-linking.

  • Dehydration in the stratum corneum and reduced hyaluronic acid levels impair the skin’s capacity to retain moisture.
  • Collagen and elastin degradation weaken the dermal structure, leading to sagging and fine lines.
  • Cross-linking of collagen fibres through glycation and oxidation results in stiffness and impaired nutrient exchange, further deepening wrinkles.

These interconnected pathways collectively shape the physical appearance of rhytides and reflect the biological age of the skin.

Diet, Lifestyle and Functional Age

Functional or biological age refers to the cumulative impact of diet and lifestyle on cellular function. A Western-style diet, high in refined sugars, fats and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), accelerates extrinsic ageing. In contrast, diets rich in magnesium, vitamin C and antioxidants support hyaluronic acid synthesis, collagen production and overall dermal health. For skincare professionals, incorporating nutritional assessment and guidance alongside topical interventions offers a more comprehensive strategy for maintaining skin vitality.

A Preventative and Restorative Approach

Managing rhytides effectively requires both preventative and restorative strategies.

  • Preventative measures aim to minimise oxidative stress, inflammation and glycation through balanced nutrition, hydration and lifestyle adjustments.
  • Restorative practices focus on replenishing hydration, providing nutrients and stimulating collagen synthesis to rebuild the skin’s structural resilience.

Wrinkles should not be seen merely as cosmetic flaws but as biological indicators of the skin’s internal processes. Through an integrative nutridermatology approach, professionals can guide clients towards strategies that slow cellular ageing and restore dermal strength for healthier, younger-looking skin.

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Article by Star Khechara

Professional agehacker, author, speaker, founder of skin nutrition institute
About me
Ex-skincare formulator and beauty author turned skin-nutrition educator: Star distilled her 20+ years of skin-health knowledge into the world’s first international accredited skin-nutrition school to teach skin therapists, facialists, face yoga practitioners and estheticians how to help their clients feed the skin from within for cellular-level rejuvenation and vibrant beauty. 
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