What Causes Forehead Wrinkles and How to Get Rid of Them

Wrinkles appear on the skin as you age, including forehead wrinkles and frown lines. Forehead lines are more apparent in some people than others due to lifestyle habits, genes, and age.

You can get rid of forehead lines with topical products and injections, as well as more permanent surgical methods, like brow lifts and fat transfer.

What Are Forehead Wrinkles And Frown Lines?

Forehead wrinkles are horizontal lines across the forehead that get deeper as you raise your eyebrows. Frown lines, also known as glabellar lines, are two vertical creases between the eyebrows that get more noticeable as you frown.

Both forehead wrinkles and frown lines are natural signs of ageing that typically first appear between the ages of 25 and 30. Some get them earlier or later depending on several factors, including genetics and lifestyle.

What Causes Wrinkle Lines On The Forehead And Frown Lines?

Genetics and ageing are the two main causes of forehead wrinkles and frown lines. Below is a breakdown of all the main causes of frown lines and forehead wrinkles.

Genetics: Your genes play a significant role in the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles. A genetic predisposition makes certain people more prone to wrinkles earlier than others.
Ageing: As people grow older, the production of elastin and collagen, proteins responsible for the skin’s elasticity, decreases. This means that the skin is less likely to regain smoothness and is more prone to sagging which causes creases.
Repetitive Facial Expressions: Movements such as raising your eyebrows, frowning, or brow furrowing make the skin fold. Over time, this can lead to permanent lines.
Sun Exposure: The sun radiates UV rays that damage the collagen and elastin fibres. This makes the skin lose its elasticity which leads to wrinkles.
Dehydration: The skin needs water to stay elastic. Without moisture, the skin becomes dry and wrinkles become more noticeable.
Smoking: Smoking causes blood vessels to tighten, denying the skin essential oxygen and nutrients. This decreases blood flow through narrow arteries and reduces collagen and elastin formation in the skin. As a result, a smoker’s skin ages prematurely, leaving lines and wrinkles.
Air Pollution: Air pollution and toxins can disrupt protein synthesis in the skin, reducing elasticity and leading to wrinkles.

How Can You Prevent Forehead Wrinkles And Frown Lines?

Your genes and ageing can’t be avoided. However, adopting some lifestyle habits can reduce the appearance of forehead wrinkles in the long run.

Lifestyle Changes

By avoiding smoking, staying properly hydrated, and following a healthy diet, you can reduce the chances of developing forehead wrinkles early. Getting enough quality sleep is another helpful tactic, as sleep helps the skin to regenerate and stay healthy.

Following a consistent skincare routine can also be helpful. It’s best to use products that are gentle and free from toxins. Using sunscreen and moisturising after washing your face will keep the skin flexible and smooth whilst protecting you from UV damage from the sun.

Sun Exposure

Using makeup with SPF and adding SPF to your skincare routine can prevent skin damage and minimise the appearance of wrinkles. If you are outdoors and the UV index is high, wearing a hat or using an umbrella can help to shield your skin from damage.

What Are The Best Surgical Treatments For Forehead Wrinkles And Frown Lines?

One of the best treatments for getting rid of forehead lines and frown lines permanently is cosmetic surgery. This includes facelifts, brow lifts, and fat transfers.

Brow lifts: Brow lifts involve removing excess skin that’s folding and causing wrinkles. There are various approaches to this procedure but the end result is to tighten the skin above the brows to help prevent the appearance of wrinkles.
Facelifts: Facelifts take 1-3 hours and you’re put under general anaesthesia. It involves small incisions behind the ears, tightening the skin and the muscles underneath (platysma) and getting rid of excess skin. Surgeons can move the soft tissues in your face and position facial muscles to help rejuvenate the appearance of your skin and reduce wrinkles. Facelifts for men are the best treatment for forehead wrinkles for males. The procedures differ slightly from female facelifts as a result of facial structure differences.
Fat transfers: Fat transfers involve extracting fat from one area of the body, processing it, and injecting it into the forehead wrinkles. It’s an effective way to restore the skin’s elasticity and reduce wrinkles.

The best treatment for getting rid of forehead lines will vary from person to person. Make sure to speak with one of our plastic surgeons who will guide you on the best course of action.

What Are The Best Non Surgical Treatments For Forehead Wrinkles And Frown Lines?

Injectables

Several types of injectables can help reduce the appearance of forehead wrinkles. They include:

Anti-Ageing Injectables: Using anti-ageing injectables is a popular, minimally invasive treatment that can help get rid of deep forehead lines. Forehead botox is a common example of anti-ageing injectables. Botox for forehead wrinkles temporarily relaxes the muscles that cause wrinkles, resulting in smoother skin.
Dermal Fillers: Dermal fillers are an effective treatment of early signs of ageing that restore the face fullness. They can also help get rid of static wrinkles present when the muscles are resting.

Chemical Peels

Medium to deep chemical peels will exfoliate the outer layers of the skin, revealing smoother skin underneath. They can also promote skin regeneration. However, they won’t completely reduce the appearance of wrinkles and you have to do it consistently for results.

Laser Therapy

Laser resurfacing treatments can improve skin tone, firmness, and texture, by stimulating collagen production. They can target specific areas of the brow and forehead, making them some of the most precise treatment options to get rid of forehead lines.

Microneedling

Microneedling involves creating micro-injuries in the skin using a device with fine needles. This stimulates the skin’s healing process, triggering the production of collagen. This method is popular for forehead wrinkles and frown lines, but it can be used anywhere on the body.

Topical Treatments

You can add over-the-counter or prescription topical treatments that contain antioxidants, peptides, and retinoids to your skincare routine for forehead wrinkle treatment. This might not only lessen forehead wrinkles but can help prevent the creation of new ones. However, topical treatments won’t get rid of wrinkles entirely.

Can Lifestyle Changes Get Rid Of Forehead Wrinkles And Frown Lines?

Lifestyle changes cannot completely diminish forehead wrinkles, especially once they’ve already appeared. However, they can help prevent more noticeable wrinkles from forming.

By adopting healthy lifestyle habits, you will not only improve your overall health but also the appearance of your face. Keep in mind, though, that this works best for younger people (under 30) whose skin hasn’t been overly damaged.

Why Are Non-Invasive Treatments Often the First Step to Get Rid Of Forehead Lines And Frown Lines?

Non-invasive treatments are a great first step when battling forehead wrinkles. Unlike topical treatments, they target the underlying cause of wrinkles, such as the lack of collagen, elasticity, and muscle contractions.

There are several reasons why some people prefer non-invasive treatments over surgical procedures.

For example, dermal fillers for forehead wrinkles require minimal recovery time and have a low risk of complications compared to more invasive treatments. The results tend to be more natural-looking and subtle. Not to mention the fairly low upfront costs.

However, it’s important to note that non-invasive treatments aren’t a permanent fix for forehead wrinkles. Most of them will need to be redone every 18 months, which can end up being costly.

Are Surgical Methods The Best Treatments To Get Rid Of Forehead Lines And Wrinkles?

Surgical treatments, such as facelifts, browlifts, and fat transfers, are the best treatments to permanently get rid of forehead lines.

These treatments can dramatically improve the appearance of forehead wrinkles by tightening sagging skin, smoothing out deep wrinkles, and adding youthfulness to your face. Despite the higher upfront cost, you can do these procedures once and not have to worry about it again.

Final Words

There are several ways to prevent and treat forehead wrinkles and frown lines, which include lifestyle changes, non-invasive methods, and surgical procedures.

Surgical treatments are best if you want fast and permanent results to completely get rid of forehead wrinkles. This is especially the case for people who are 40 years and over who have damaged their skin and can’t take advantage of the lifestyle habits to prevent or reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Non-invasive methods (forehead botox) are ideal for people in their late 20s to 40s. Their wrinkles may not be so deep yet which can make these treatments more effective.

It’s important to keep in mind that there isn’t an ideal age for a specific procedure for forehead crease removal. A younger person might still have ageing signs, due to genetics, and they could benefit more from surgical procedures. Likewise you may well continue to use injectable treatments well into your 60s and 70s and not require surgery

The best treatment comes down to a set of specific factors that are unique to you. We have a range of cosmetic facial surgeries that can help to get rid of wrinkles. Speak with our expert surgeons to feel more confident about the next best steps to take.

FAQs

What age do forehead wrinkles appear?

It varies depending on lifestyle and genetic factors, but most people start noticing wrinkles in their late 20s.

Can lifestyle changes reduce forehead wrinkles?

Lifestyle changes can slow down the acceleration of developing wrinkles. They can also help to prevent the onset of wrinkles from happening in your 20s. However, eating better, improving sleep quality, exercising, and avoiding cigarettes won’t get rid of forehead lines.

Are men or women more susceptible to forehead wrinkles?

Although there is some evidence that men are more likely to develop forehead wrinkles earlier than women, generally it is agreed that men and women are equally susceptible to forehead wrinkles and that skin type and other genetic and lifestyle factors are more likely to determine the development of wrinkles in any given individual than their gender

Is there a cure for forehead wrinkles?

Whilst there is technically no ‘cure’ for forehead wrinkles, surgical procedures, like browlifts, facelifts, and fat transfers are the fastest and most effective forehead crease treatment. They’re also a long lasting solution for deep forehead wrinkles.

What creams can help get rid of forehead lines?

Look for creams that contain hyaluronic acid and Retinoids. These ingredients stimulate collagen and help to hydrate the skin and give it a more rejuvenated look.

Treatments mentioned in this article

Face & Eyes

Face Lift (Rhytidectomy)

A facelift surgically lifts loose, sagging, and ageing skin for a more youthful appearance.

Injectables

Anti-Wrinkle Injections

Anti-ageing injectables relax the muscles in the face to lessen the appearance of wrinkles.

Fat Transfer

Fat Transfer to Face

Fat transfer for the face uses natural fat reserves to enhance your cheeks and facial features.

Surgery For Men

Face Lift for Men