wrinkled

Wrinkled is an adjective used to describe a surface that is not smooth, characterized by a network of small folds, ridges, or creases. Wrinkles can occur in living tissue, such as skin, and in a wide range of inanimate materials, including fabric, paper, wood, metal, and plastics. The appearance results from bending, compressing, drying, aging, or sustained stress that exceeds the material’s capacity to remain flat.

In humans, skin wrinkling is commonly associated with aging and exposure to environmental factors. Intrinsic aging reduces collagen and elastin in the skin, while ultraviolet exposure (photoaging) accelerates wrinkle formation. Hydration, sun protection, and overall health influence the rate and pattern of wrinkles. Wrinkles may also reflect repetitive facial expressions or long-term mechanical stresses on a particular area of the body.

In textiles and other materials, wrinkling describes creases that appear after washing, drying, or storage. Some fabrics are engineered to be wrinkle-resistant or wrinkle-free through fiber choice or finishing processes. Care methods to remove wrinkles include ironing, steaming, or tumble drying with appropriate settings. In materials science, wrinkling can occur in thin films under compressive stress, sometimes producing regular patterns that are studied for applications in engineering and design.