More than ever before, technology has dominated our daily lives, particularly in the wake of the rising popularity of smartphones, tablets, and all sorts of other devices that put the power of the Internet right in our palms. The smartphone technology has made our lives much easier, but it has brought with it some signs of aging that we have not seen very often before.

Technology and aging

Is it possible that modern technology is accelerating the aging process? Although there is no scientific study on the subject, it is possible that technology accelerates the aging process to some extent. The most important mechanism here is the wrinkles created by the new expressions that our face constantly takes while looking at the tiny screens of smartphones throughout the day. Particularly caused by squinting at smartphone screens, fixed wrinkles lead to increased wrinkles around the eyes and between the eyebrows.

Minimizing damage

There are many ways you can minimize additional damage from smartphone use. One trick is to adjust the phone settings to make the font sizes more visible. Taking frequent breaks and switching to the computer for more complex tasks are also important ways to rest your facial muscles. If you are going to read long texts, you should choose a device with a large screen size that does not require you to squint your eyes. In addition, high screen brightness and the surrounding light reflecting from the screen can be listed among the other factors that reduce reading comfort and contribute to the wrinkles around the eyes. If you regularly read e-books and haven’t heard of it yet, “Kindle” may be the right choice for you.

Role of the plastic surgeon

Botulinum toxin injections offer the simplest option in the treatment of mimic wrinkles caused by excessive and repetitive activity of the muscles around the eyes.  Botulinum toxin weakens the muscles in this area and slows down changes due to muscle hyperactivity. In some cases, the wrinkles may be so permanent that no benefit is reaped from Botox treatment. A blepharoplasty surgery that structurally corrects the eyelid may be beneficial in cases where there is accompanying excess skin, droopy eyelid, and muscle relaxation of the eyelid. Blepharoplasty can also be combined with resurfacing, non-surgical treatments such as laser, peeling and dermabrasion to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles caused by eyelid twitching or contraction (blepharospasm).

Through the right combination of prevention and care, you can minimize the signs of aging caused by smartphones and slow down the development of negative signs that the use of technology may create on your face.