The slings and arrows of life can leave their mark as lines and wrinkles on our faces, according to a new study by plastic surgeons at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Traditionally, researchers have assumed that genes play the biggest role in visible signs of aging. If your mother or father looks youthful well into middle age, chances are you will, too. Not necessarily, according to an experiment led by plastic surgeon Bahaman Guyuron, MD. He and his colleagues obtained digital images of the faces of 186 pairs of identical twins, which were then reviewed by an independent panel, who recorded the perceived age differences between the two siblings. In some cases, the identical twins were perceived to be years apart in age.

Reviewing comprehensive questionnaires filled out by the twins, the researchers found that twins who had been divorced appeared nearly two years older than married or single identical twins. Antidepressants also took a toll, aging the faces of people who regularly used them. Weight made a difference, as well, but the direction depended on age. In twins under 40, being heavy made twins look older. After age 40, excess weight made them look younger.

It’s easy to understand how the trauma of divorce might age you. But antidepressants? Dr. Guyurson and his colleagues hypothesize that the drugs may cause facial muscles to relax, which could lead to sagging. As for body weight, extra body fat, especially as the signs of facial aging show up in middle age, may help pad out skin, making people look more youthful.

“A person’s heritage may initially dictate how they age,” said Dr. Guyuron. “But if you introduce certain factors into your life, you will certainly age faster. Likewise, if you avoid those factors you can slow down the hands of time.”

Avoiding divorce isn’t easy, of course. And no one says people with serious depression should skip antidepressants just because they may cause saggy jowls. Although the study’s findings are interesting, they don’t add anything new to the advice that dermatologists say really can hold back the hands of time: avoid sun exposure, don’t smoke (or quit if you currently smoke), get regular exercise, and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables (the antioxidants they contain could keep skin cells more youthful looking). Sound familiar?

© 2009 PDQhealth

Tags: aging, antidepressants, divorce, identical twins, lines, stress, wrinkles