What Are Wrinkles?
Wrinkles are lines or creases that form on the skin due to aging, ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, genes, and repetitive facial expressions such as squinting. They mainly appear on the parts of the body that get the most sun exposure, including the face, neck, backs of the hands, and tops of the forearms.
What is the difference between wrinkles and fine lines?
The difference between wrinkles and fine lines lies in how deep and noticeable they are.
“Generally, fine lines are less than 1 millimeter deep and are the first to occur,” says Maral Kibarian Skelsey, MD, FAAD, director of the Dermatologic Surgery Center of Washington.
You’ll first see fine lines in the corners of your eyes when you squint, along the sides of your mouth when you smile, and between your brows.
The loss of skin-firming proteins, such as collagen and elastin, along with gravity, makes fine lines gradually turn into wrinkles, which are deeper and more noticeable lines or creases. These are caused by sun damage, age, smoking, genes, and other factors.
“Over time, the skin loses its firmness and flexibility, causing wrinkles to be permanent,” says Skelsey, who is also a clinical professor in the Georgetown University School of Medicine Department of Dermatology.
If fine lines and wrinkles bother you or if you’re wondering how to prevent wrinkles, there are some things that can help.
What Causes Wrinkles?
With age, your skin cells divide more slowly, and the skin’s inner layer, called the dermis, begins to thin. The skin loses elasticity and structure.
Aging skin is also less able to hold on to moisture. It makes less oil and is slower to heal. This adds to the wrinkling process.
Other things that cause wrinkles are:
- Smoking. It slows down your skin’s production of collagen, which is a key part of the skin’s structure. The drop in collagen paves the way for wrinkles. Preventing wrinkles is a good reason to quit smoking or never start.
- Skin type. People with light-colored skin and blue eyes are more prone to sun damage than those with darker skin.
- Heredity. Some families wrinkle more than others because of shared genes.
- Sun exposure. UV rays from the sun break down connective tissue in the skin, which speeds up the aging process and creates looser skin.
- Repeated facial expressions. Frowning, squinting, and smiling all create tiny furrows in your skin. As you get older, your skin becomes less elastic, and it can’t spring back into place as easily. For example, frowning often is what causes forehead wrinkles. Frequent squinting can cause wrinkles around your eyes.
Though you can’t control all of these causes of skin wrinkles, you can do these two things: Minimize your sun exposure and don’t smoke.
Where Can Wrinkles Appear?
Your face is one of the most common places for wrinkles to appear. You’ll see face wrinkles in places such as:
- Your forehead
- Between your eyebrows (frown lines)
- In the corners of your eyes (crow’s feet)
- Along the sides of your mouth (laugh lines or smile lines)
Wrinkles can also show up on other parts of your body, such as your hands, arms, and legs. You might also see neck wrinkles, which are caused not only by sun damage and smoking but also by bending your head over your phone, computer, or tablet (called tech neck).
How to Get Rid of Wrinkles
While you can’t completely erase wrinkles, the following treatments may help reduce their appearance and prevent them from getting deeper:
Retinoids(Altreno, Atralin, Avage, Avita, Renova, Retin-A, tazarotene, Tazorac, Refissa, tretinoin). Among medical treatments, this is by far the most proven and effective way to improve signs of aging, such as uneven pigmentation, roughness, and wrinkling. Retinoids work by boosting collagen production in the skin and fading age spots. At first, this wrinkle-removing treatment may cause redness and peeling. Although this side effect can be unpleasant, you can see improvement when the peeling stops.
Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). These “fruit acids” include glycolic and lactic acid. AHAs exfoliate the outer layer of your skin, helping shed dead skin cells and promoting the growth of new ones. Preparations with AHAs are safe and cause no more than mild and temporary irritation. But the results they give are relatively subtle.
Antioxidants. Vitamins A, C, and E, as well as carotenoids, shield the skin from environmental damage that speeds up aging. Products that contain antioxidants may provide some sun protection (though you should still wear sunscreen) and mildly improve wrinkles.
Moisturizers. These may temporarily make wrinkles look less noticeable. Ads for moisturizers often say that they “reduce the appearance of fine lines.” But they don’t make those lines go away permanently.
Glycolic acid peels. These superficial peels can make a very slight difference in the intensity of fine wrinkles.
Deeper peels. These peels use ingredients such as phenol and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to reach deeper into the skin. Deeper peels do a better job of smoothing fine lines than superficial ones. But in general, the deeper the peel, the greater the chance of side effects, such as scarring and changes in skin color. Deeper peels can be uncomfortable, so ask ahead of time what to expect.
Dermabrasion. This procedure uses a motorized rotating device to “sand” off the top layer of skin. Choose an experienced professional to do this procedure, which can make a big difference in your skin’s appearance. Possible side effects include scarring and permanent changes in skin color.
Laser resurfacing. This wrinkle treatment uses intense beams of light to remove the outer layer of skin, which boosts collagen production. There are different types of laser resurfacing methods, including carbon dioxide (CO2), erbium, and fractional. Ask your doctor how many treatments you’ll need, how much “down time” your skin will need to heal, and what risks are involved.
Plastic surgery. Facelifts, brow lifts, and other cosmetic surgeries are more invasive treatments. They can produce dramatic results compared to minor procedures, but they also come with more serious risks, such as infection, bleeding, scarring, and nerve damage.
Ultrasound therapy. A technique called Ultherapy uses ultrasound to boost your body’s collagen production. Ultrasound therapy lifts and tightens skin on the face, neck, and chin. It can also be used on wrinkles on the chest area.
Injections. Botulinum toxin (Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin), daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm (Daxxify), and prabotulinumtoxinA-xvfs (Jeuveau) relax the muscles that create “frown lines” on the forehead, fine lines around the eyes, and other wrinkles. Improvement lasts several months, but you must repeat the treatments to keep seeing the benefits.
Wrinkle fillerslike hyaluronic acid (Juvederm, Restylane), poly-L-lactic acid (Sculptra), and calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse) are injected into skin folds, especially around the mouth, to improve the appearance of wrinkles. Injections fill in the hollows in cheeks and temples and lift sagging skin, especially around the mouth and on the neck. Some fillers actually boost collagen production, which improves skin tone and texture.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT). This wrinkle treatment uses a light-sensitizing drug activated by a light source to treat fine lines and other signs of sun damage.
Microdermabrasion. Like dermabrasion, this procedure removes the outermost layer of skin, but it’s less invasive. The dermatologist releases tiny crystals onto your skin or uses a diamond-tipped wand to sand off damaged skin, which promotes the growth of new skin cells and collagen.
If you plan to get a cosmetic procedure, talk to an experienced doctor. Share your goals and ask about the risks, benefits, and costs.
Keep in mind that there is no one best solution for wrinkles. Everyone’s skin is different. It might take some trial and error to find the facial wrinkle remover that works best for you.
Home Remedies for Wrinkles
Many over-the-counter (OTC) products promote themselves as wrinkle-removing treatments. They contain ingredients like peptides, green tea extract, and grape seed extract. Because the FDA classifies these products as cosmetics, they don’t regulate them as closely as medical products. Also, OTC wrinkle remedies don’t go through strict testing to show whether they’re safe and effective.
It’s always a good idea to check with your dermatologist before you try these or any other natural wrinkle remedies.
Essential oils
These highly concentrated plant extracts have a variety of uses. Practitioners use essential oils in aromatherapy and as natural remedies to lower inflammation, kill bacteria, relieve anxiety, ease pain, and improve sleep. But there’s not a lot of scientific evidence on how effective they are.
It’s also hard to say whether they help reduce wrinkles. “While some essential oils may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, there’s limited scientific evidence to support their effectiveness in treating wrinkles,” says Robyn Gmyrek, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York City.
These are some of the essential oils that people have used to try and treat wrinkles:
- Argan oil
- Almond oil
- Coconut oil
- Frankincense
- Neroli
- Geranium
- Sandalwood
- Carrot seed
- Ylang-ylang
- Rosemary
- Lavender
- Clary sage
Before you use an essential oil on your skin, dilute it with a carrier oil, such as coconut or jojoba oil. Try it out on a small area of skin first to check for any allergic reactions, Gmyrek says.
OTC face masks
“Face masks help skin by allowing concentrated ingredients to penetrate deeper and for longer periods, potentially leading to more intense benefits of ingredients,” Gmyrek says. These masks come in two varieties: sheet or cream masks and light-emitting diode (LED) masks.
Sheet or cream masks are made from a thin fabric infused with moisturizing cream or other ingredients. Some cream-infused masks are designed to hydrate skin. Others target acne, dark spots, or fine lines.
While a sheet or cream face mask won’t result in dramatic improvements, it may temporarily smooth fine lines by hydrating the skin. Some masks contain ingredients such as vitamin C, vitamin E, lactic acid, and glycolic acid.
LED face masks emit low wavelengths of red light, which may stimulate collagen production and improve the look of fine lines with repeated use. How well these face masks work is hard to say. They’ve shown promise in some studies, but we need more research. Home face masks don’t work as well as the stronger versions available at dermatologist offices, but they’re relatively safe to use. If you’re going to try this treatment at home, carefully follow the manufacturer’s directions.
Face exercises for wrinkles
Exercise is undoubtedly good for toning your body, but can it tone your skin too? It’s hard to say for sure, due to limited research. In one small study, middle-aged women who followed a 30-minute facial exercise program every day or every other day looked almost two years younger at the end of the 20-week program. Plus, they were “highly satisfied” with the appearance of their faces.
The program, which the researchers called “happy face yoga,” included exercises like these:
- The Cheek Lifter. Open your mouth into an “O” shape while folding your upper lip over your teeth. Smile to raise your cheek muscles. Place your fingers on the top part of your cheeks, then lower your cheeks. Repeat 10 times.
- The Eyebrow Lifter. Place three fingertips under each eyebrow to hold your eyes open. Smile while you try to push your eyebrows down against your fingers. Close your eyes, roll your eyeballs upward, and hold the position for 20 seconds.
- Happy Cheeks Sculpting. Smile without showing your teeth. Purse your lips as if you were whistling, and then smile to push your cheek muscles upward. Put your fingers on the corners of your mouth and then slide them to the top of your cheeks. Hold for 20 seconds.
Massages
Along with feeling relaxed, a facial massage may provide a lifting effect and correct sagging in the cheeks. Does it work? A very small study that used 3D CT to look inside the face showed some lifting and tightening after a massage.
Facial massage may also have an antiaging effect by increasing blood flow to the face. You can either do a facial massage yourself or see a massage therapist for the treatment.
How to Prevent Wrinkles
While you can’t stop the clock on aging, here are a few things you can do to reduce the effects of time on your skin:
Shield your skin from the sun. Limit your time in direct sunlight, especially in the middle of the day. Wear protective clothing, such as hats, long sleeves, and sunglasses, when you’re outside. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30, and reapply at least every two hours and right after swimming or toweling off. When choosing makeup, lotion, or other everyday beauty products, look for those with SPF built in, so you know you’re getting daily protection even when you don’t apply sunscreen.
Moisturize daily. Hydrated skin is plump skin. Dry skin causes your skin cells to shrink and promotes fine lines and creases.
Don’t smoke. If you smoke, find a method to help you quit. Skin tone and texture will improve once you’ve kicked the habit.
Eat healthy food. When you get a good mix of vitamins and minerals, your whole body, including your skin, benefits.
Takeaways
Wrinkles are part of the natural aging process. They’re a result of sun damage, repeated facial expressions, genes, smoking, and other environmental factors. A dermatologist can recommend products such as creams, fillers, and injectables to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. More invasive procedures, such as dermabrasion and laser resurfacing, can offer more dramatic results. To prevent wrinkles, stay out of the sun, wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 when you’re outside, don’t smoke, and moisturize your skin daily.
Wrinkles FAQs
How to remove forehead wrinkles
To reduce forehead wrinkles, you might start with a topical or prescription-strength wrinkle cream. Botulinum toxin A (Botox, Dysport) relaxes wrinkles in the forehead. Surgery, such as a brow lift or facelift, is the most invasive way to remove forehead wrinkles.
How to get rid of under-eye wrinkles
Aging and facial expressions, such as squinting, leave the skin under the eyes loose and saggy. Treatments such as chemical peels, fillers, and laser resurfacing can make the skin under the eyes look younger and tighter.
How to get rid of neck wrinkles
The same skincare products that treat facial wrinkles also work on the neck, including retinoids and hyaluronic acid. A neck lift is a surgery that tightens the skin of the neck.
Does smiling cause wrinkles?
Smiling doesn’t cause wrinkles, but smiling, frowning, or squinting can make these lines more noticeable.
