Updated May, 2022
Everyday activities like smiling, laughing, and frowning can contribute to wrinkles on the forehead. Even if you’re a less expressive person, your facial expressions will still leave fine lines and wrinkles. It’s inevitable.
And as we age, our collagen reserves are depleted, making our skin less bouncy and elastic.
To prevent having corrective surgeries and procedures in your forties or late adulthood, it’s important to start taking care of your skin while you’re still young. Having a consistent, quality skincare regimen to offset the natural effects of skin aging is your best bet.
Updated May, 2022
Everyday activities like smiling, laughing, and frowning can contribute to wrinkles on the forehead. Even if you’re a less expressive person, your facial expressions will still leave fine lines and wrinkles. It’s inevitable.
And as we age, our collagen reserves are depleted, making our skin less bouncy and elastic.
To prevent having corrective surgeries and procedures in your forties or late adulthood, it’s important to start taking care of your skin while you’re still young. Having a consistent, quality skincare regimen to offset the natural effects of skin aging is your best bet.
Causes of Forehead Wrinkles
The cause of forehead wrinkles can vary from person to person. Everyone's body is different and the activities one person participates in will be different from the other. In general, there are four reasons the body develops wrinkles. Exposure to the sun, facial movements, aging, and free radicals.
Sun Exposure
Sun exposure speeds up skin drying out. The UV rays damage the skin cells and destroy collagen. People who spend lots of time in the sun experience premature signs of aging compared to people who don't. Tanning—whether in a salon or outside—means more wrinkles.
An alternative to sun bathing is to use a self-tanner. Staying out of the sun is the key to keeping the skin moisturized and smooth.
Facial Movements
If you want to know how someone’s feeling, their face usually tells it all—anger, joy, confusion, etc. Unfortunately, this is also how wrinkles develop. And because there is also no fat underneath the forehead, foreheads wrinkle faster.
As people age, their bodies lose collagen and elastin. These two properties are what helps the skin stay smooth and retain its original shape after a facial movement. As the body loses these properties, takes damage, and these repeated facial movements occur, more wrinkles appear.
Aging
Getting wrinkles as you age is a very natural process. As the body ages, proteins, collagen, and elastin are lost. With less of these proteins, the body does not bounce back as quickly as it used to. Collagen is what helps the skin stay firm, strong, and thick, while elastin is a protein component that helps the skin retain its elasticity.
The older a person is, the less of these proteins they’ll have. As these fibers are lost, other protein fibers are also affected, which advances the visible aging process.
Again, this is natural. But there are many things you can do to boost your collagen reserves and reverse signs of skin aging.
Free Radicals
Free radicals come from chemical reactions in the body and are a big contributor to the wrinkling process. A free radical is an unstable component in the body that’s naturally formed and can be used for good. They will attack viruses or bacteria that enter the body and help keep us healthy.
At the naturally forming rate, the body can handle a number of free radicals in the body and will not be hindered by their presence. When there are too many free radicals, disaster can strike. These free radicals can begin to attack cells and molecules the body needs. As they attack these cells, they damage them in the process.
Free radicals are created by a variety of means. Sunlight exposure, pollution, and even smoking can create excess amounts of free radicals in the body. When free radicals affect the skin, it will begin to age quickly. That means people will gain wrinkles at a younger age than normal.
The free radicals cause oxidation in the cells. This oxidation will further damage vital proteins like elastin and collagen, causing more wrinkles.
Wrinkle Types
There are four types of wrinkles that are usually found on the face. To understand how to treat wrinkles on the forehead, it’s important to know what type you’re dealing with.
Atrophic Wrinkles and Rhytids
These wrinkles are usually very slight in appearance. These faint lines on the skin are clustered together in parallel patterns. The face is not the only area of the body that experiences these wrinkles and they are a static wrinkle. Anyone that does not use sunscreen consistently or is exposed to the sunlight too often will also see static wrinkles begin to form.
An area of the body that has these wrinkles will appear smooth if stretched out. These wrinkles occur when the skin in the area has lost elasticity.
This elasticity is what deters the wrinkles from appearing.
Permanent Elastic Creases
These wrinkles may not be as prominent when they first appear. After they are established and the skin becomes weaker, more damaged, and a person loses vital proteins, they will become deeper and more visible. The wrinkles are found at the base of the neck, cheeks, and upper lip.
A person who smokes tends to have more of these wrinkles.
Gravitational Folds
Like the name suggests, these wrinkles are a result of gravity. As gravity pulls on weakened skin, then it will begin to sag. Gravitational folds are not as prominent in people who have a more hydrated face. If there is more fat storage in the face, they’re also often deterred.
It forms when thin areas of skin cannot fight against gravity. As people grow older, these wrinkles become more prominent and they are considered a static wrinkle.
Areas on the face that are more commonly thin are cheeks and skin on the brow bone.
READ HERE: Reasons You're Getting Facial Wrinkles
Dynamic Expression Lines
These wrinkles are caused by someone making repeated facial expressions and moving the face. There are multiple parts of the face that are affected by these wrinkles. The forehead, by the mouth, between the brows, and by the eye.
These wrinkles do act differently than the others on the list. They are both static and dynamic.
A static wrinkle is one that appears as the skin ages and loses proteins. They are natural and will show while a person's face is at rest.
A dynamic wrinkle will only appear when a person is moving their face in a certain way. Once the person returns to a resting point the wrinkle will become smooth. Dynamic wrinkles are common in areas where the skin is still healthy enough to spring back into shape. Once the skin becomes more damaged these dynamic wrinkles may be replaced by static wrinkles.
Medical Treatments
Botox
Cost
Botox costs vary. It depends on where the Botox will be injected and how experienced the doctor is injecting them. The main goal for anyone looking to get Botox is to find a doctor who’s very experienced. A botched Botox injection will not only look bad, but it can lead to complications. The standard cost of an injection starts at $400 and goes as high as $600.
- How It Works
Botox is Onabotulinum toxin A., which is the most lethal known toxin. However, it’s not lethal in small doses when administered correctly by a doctor. The injection is popular because it helps reduce deep wrinkles in the forehead.
The toxin, in small amounts, paralyzes the muscles. When a doctor injects it into a certain area, it helps stop those muscles from contracting until the injection wears off. This reduces the appearance of dynamic wrinkles, since those muscles can’t move.
- Treatment
The doctor will first numb the injection area. This is done with a local anesthetic, which is typically a cream. Once numb, the doctor will inject specific amounts of the Botox into key locations to stop those muscles from contracting.
After the injections, a person will see the results in a few days. It may take up to ten days to see the full effect of the treatment where the wrinkles will no longer be visible. There is a delay in this treatment because it takes time for the muscles to react to the toxin after it’s injected.
A Botox injection is good for anyone who sees many wrinkles or fine lines that are being caused by moving the face. Since Botox will stop the muscles from moving, these fine lines should disappear. This will also help deter new wrinkles or lines from appearing later as well.
- Duration
The toxin will continue to work for three to six months after the injection. When it’s obvious the toxin is wearing off, another round of injections will be needed. The only good aspect of Botox wearing off in less than six months is that it’s reversible. If a person does not like their appearance with Botox injections, it will return to normal eventually.
- Side Effects
When administered improperly, Botox can cause the brows and eyelids to droop. If there is too much Botox injected into the forehead, the muscles are not able to move at all. That means the eyebrow area will not be able to move or show emotion. In extreme cases, vision can become blurry.
With these side effects, it’s always best to choose an experienced professional who has handled Botox before. Not only does the right amount need to be administered, but the doctor must know the correct muscles to inject the toxin into. You can learn more about Botox risks here.
Dysport
- Cost
The cost of Dysport is less than Botox, even though they are similar treatments. The reason Dysport costs less is that the company wants to compete with Botox for patients. It will cost anywhere from $350 to $550 to get Dysport injections.
- How It Works
Dysport is created from botulinum toxin A and will be injected into the skin to paralyze muscles. Even though they are very similar products, some people are starting to choose Dysport over Botox. Dysport has smaller proteins that are able to react with the muscle quicker.
- Treatment
A Dysport is similar to getting a Botox injection. The face will be numbed and the doctor will inject the toxin into the muscles. With smaller proteins, the toxin travels further than Botox, so there are fewer injections needed to cover a wider area.
This also means that the effects of Dysport injections will be seen up to two days sooner than that of Botox. There are people that have seen longer duration times with Dysport as well.
The Dysport injection is dosed differently than Botox. The doctor needs to be aware of the differences between Botox and Dysport, since they cannot be used interchangeably. If a doctor injects Dysport like Botox, it will likely spread too far, leading to bad side effects.
- Duration
Dysport injections will need to be redone every three to six months. Some people have said they’re able to go a bit longer without needing Dysport injections versus getting Botox injections. The longer duration is not proven, but has been reported by medical professionals.
- Side Effects
With similar properties to Botox, there are similar side effects. When administered incorrectly, your face can droop, eyes can get blurry, and facial features may appear uneven. When talking with a doctor about injections for wrinkles, be sure to tell them if Dysport is preferred. Some offices do not carry the injection and others are not skilled in injecting the toxin.
There is the possibility of a doctor injecting Dysport incorrectly if they are used to injecting Botox. Since Dysport travels much further, the doctor must be acutely aware of where the injection is going.
Fillers
- Cost
The cost of fillers does vary depending on what the doctor is injecting and which filler is being used. Typically the range is $400 to $800, depending on how much filler is desired.
- How It Works
A filler could be compared to Botox or Dysport because it is still an injectable. However, fillers do not paralyze the face; instead, they fill areas that are empty. By filling in areas of the face, it will appear to be fuller and smoother. Some doctors like to combine fillers with a treatment of Botox.
- Treatment
There are a few different fillers to choose from. The common types of fillers are Prevelle, Belotero, Restylane, and Juvederm. The first two fillers are best to treat fine lines and the other two treat deeper wrinkles.
A common filler that is used are variations of Hyaluronic acid. This is actually a naturally occurring substance that can be found in everyone's skin. Many people choose an HA filler because it is natural, but it can still help refill areas that have begun to sag or are not as voluminous due to age.
For small wrinkles or fine lines, it’s best to go with Prevelle or Belotero. Prevelle is the thinnest treatment on the market and will last about three or four months. Many people dislike the short duration that Prevelle has, but it is great for someone who wants to try out fillers without a long-term dedication.
Belotero is thin, but it is thicker than Prevelle. This helps it last for around six months. Due to its greater longevity, many people prefer this filler. There are fewer complications because it’s easy to inject. Many patients report fewer lumps or side effects with Belotero injections.
For a longer lasting and more filling treatment, the Restylane injections are the next step. It is a thicker injection and it can last six to nine months. For an even thicker and longer lasting injection, the Juvederm does the trick. It works for nine to twelve months and many doctors prefer injecting Juvederm over Restylane.
- Duration
Duration of fills highly depends on the type of filler being used. Some fillers last as little as three months up to six months, while other fillers are able to go as long as nine to twelve months.
- Side Effects
Side effects from fillers are similar to that of Botox or Dysport. If a doctor that is unfamiliar with a filler injects it incorrectly, it’s possible for the filler to travel into the wrong portions of the face. This leads to faces appearing uneven and even lumps under the skin. In extreme cases, doctors have botched a filler injection and cause patients to go blind.
Dermabrasion
- Cost
A session of dermabrasion can cost $1500 to $2000 depending on the professional that is performing the treatment. Unfortunately, some people find they need a second treatment to get the results that they want.
- How It Works
A dermabrasion treatment is a medical procedure where doctors take a wire brush and remove layers of the skin. It’s an extreme version of exfoliation. It usually only causes slight discomfort after the treatment is finished.
The layer of skin that’s removed is the outermost layer. This is the layer that has the most damage like wrinkles, fine lines, light acne scarring, and more. With this layer removed the body will be able to regrow a new layer of skin that is not damaged.
- Treatment
The treatment often starts with a doctor applying a freezing spray to the treatment area. This spray is used to make the skin firm. Firmer skin is much easier to remove. The skin is also numbed. Once fully numb, the doctor will remove a layer of skin and apply ointment and dressing to the exposed skin. Within ten days, the new layer of skin will regrow.
- Duration
Dermabrasion encourages the body to regenerate skin so it does not wear off like a Botox injection will. Dermabrasion duration is more focused on how long it will take to see results. Many people are taken by surprise when they see their appearance after dermabrasion treatments.
READ: PMD vs RejuvadermMD - Which Handheld Microdermabrasion Machine Is Best?
There can be prolonged redness, and the healing process does take a while. Some people do not see the results for months after doing a dermabrasion treatment. There are many people that need multiple treatments before their desired results are seen.
- Side Effects
Most people tolerate dermabrasion treatments very well. After the treatment, there’s usually little pain or discomfort in the treatment area. The treatment area will most likely feel very tight, which can feel uncomfortable and some people prefer to get pain medication to deal with this sensation. The skin will be red and slightly irritated after the treatment, but this fades within a few days.
- At Home
There are microdermabrasion machines that can be purchased between $180 to $350. While the price is more expensive up front, it can be used several times once the machine is purchased. It’s well worth the investment if a person likes microdermabrasion treatments.
Of course, at Trophy Skin, we are reviewed as having the best home microdermabrasion machines on the market.
Lasers
- Cost
Each laser treatment will cost $4000 to $6000. There are some laser treatments that do cost less. These lasers are usually much less powerful and will require many treatments to have the same results as a single treatment with a high-powered laser.
- How It Works
Laser treatment is sometimes used with Botox treatments to really target those visible wrinkles in the face. While this is a great way to use lasers, it is certainly not the only way. This treatment can also help reduce blemishes, scars, and facial irregularities.
Many doctors use ablative lasers for this type of treatment. An ablative laser is able to remove the outermost layer of the skin. By removing this layer of skin, the less damaged skin underneath is revealed and fresh skin grows.
- Treatment
When receiving laser treatment, most doctors use a carbon dioxide laser or an erbium-based laser. Both of these lasers are able to be used in 100% resurfacing mode and fractional mode. When using the 100% resurfacing mode, the doctor is targeting wrinkles that are deeper.
This type of laser will treat a broad area of skin by burning the area. The fractional laser treatment will have a fractioned pattern that destroys certain parts of the skin and leaves the other portions intact. Fractional laser treatments will not take as long to heal compared to the 100% resurfacing treatments.
The CO2 laser is a continuous beam of light that will give the skin heat damage. The Erbium laser is more gentle on the skin and has less heat damage. The CO2 laser is more powerful than the Erbium laser and this will cause someone to have a longer recovery time — up to three weeks — versus a week recovery time with the more gentle laser.
- Duration
The duration of laser treatments is very similar to dermabrasion treatments. It will help the skin regrow and be healthier. It is not a treatment that will wear off, but it may need to be repeated, as more damage is done to the skin or if a new area needs to be treated.
- Side Effects
Laser treatment can have a prolonged healing time. Depending on the area that has been treated, there can be swelling, sensitivity, and redness. There can also be some scarring and skin bleaching. This occurs if the laser is too deep in the skin and damages the pigment of the area.
Chemical Peels
- Cost
A chemical peel's cost can vary greatly. This highly depends on the concentration of the chemical being used. The lower range for a professional chemical peel will start at $2000 and for a high concentration, it can go up to $5000.
- How It Works
A chemical peel uses a chemical to strip away the outer layers of skin. This is going to help the skin look smoother, feel healthier, and grow a new layer that’s fresh and damage-free.
There are different concentrations of chemical peels and each one has a different cost and intensity of treatment. For a more gentle chemical peel, Alpha hydroxy acid or Beta hydroxy acid will be used. A middle-of-the-road peel is Trichloroacetic acid. This is the most common acid used by doctors for a chemical peel.
For an extreme chemical peel, there is the Phenol peel. While it is strong, it is actually not widely liked. With its intensity, many people take much longer to recover from the treatment. If used too much or used incorrectly people can experience toxicity to the kidneys and even see their skin bleached.
- Treatment
A chemical peel treatment will always start with a fresh and clean face. Doctors will have patients clean their face with an alcohol wipe to help take away any residual oil that’s on the skin. This oil will interfere with the chemical peel process if left on the face.
Once the face is clean, the doctor will apply the chemical peel to the face. They will avoid putting the peel too close to the mouth or the eyes. The peel will stay in the treated area for a few minutes before the doctor will wash it with water. Once washed, a layer of Vaseline is applied to protect the face. It will take a few days, but eventually, the skin will begin to peel off and younger looking skin will be left.
- Duration
Chemical peels last as long as a person keeps their new layer of skin looking supple and healthy. Once the skin heals it is likely to become damaged again and need a new treatment. If the treatment has a much lower concentration, the time between peels may be much shorter than peels with a stronger concentration.
- Side Effects
The side effects will vary in severity, depending on if the treatment was with a lower concentration or a higher. For a lower concentration that focuses on the outer layer of the skin, there can be irritation, dryness, itching, redness, and some tightening. For a higher concentration, these effects can be felt much more intensely.
- At Home
Chemical peels can be done at home at a much lower cost. The only chemical peels that are not available to someone without medical training is the Phenol peel. There may be many treatments needed with an at-home chemical peel due to the concentration being much lower. This is reflected in the cost, since the more expensive at home chemical peels are only $50.
READ: Retinol versus Microdermabrasion: Which Anti-Aging Treatment Works Better?
Facial Surgery
- Cost
Depending on the type of surgery involved the cost can range from $5000 to $7000.
- How It Works
Surgery to correct a problem with appearance is common. It needs to be done by a skilled doctor or there could be major complications. Many people may use surgery as a last resort if other treatments have not worked for their particular problem area.
- Treatment
The most common surgeries done to the face are brow and forehead lifts. They are very similar in nature and it really just refers to the technique the surgeon is using to help lift the face for a younger look.
A forehead lift will start with a cut along the hairline. Typically this cut is used to help pull the skin that is between the hairline and the brows closer together. A brow lift will concentrate on lifting the brows higher to help reduce any sagging skin.
- Duration
Surgery is permanent unless the area begins to droop and sag again. A person can get another surgery to reverse any surgeries that they dislike, as well.
- Side Effects
When a person goes in for surgery they should always expect some complications to occur. After surgery, there may be further complications like swelling of the surgical area, bleeding, and tenderness. There can even be hair loss and areas can go numb due to nerve damage.
At-Home Treatments
Anti-Wrinkle Serums
An anti-wrinkle serum can help someone reduce wrinkles and fight off any wrinkles that occur. You may opt for hyaluronic acid serum, Vitamin C serum, niacinamide, or those with copper tri-peptide. They are a great product to use regularly and do not need to be very expensive to work.
Serums work well for wrinkles because their potent ingredients are in higher concentrations than that of skincare creams on the market. The main complaint with serums though is that it takes a while to see results. It can take up to three months for the serum to really start working.
But if you incorporate it in your daily skincare regimen, you may see improvement in your skin in the near future. Consistency is key!
Facial Exercises
Certain facial exercises can help someone strengthen muscles that are not normally targeted. This will help reduce the appearance of wrinkles that are caused by some muscles being overused while others aren’t used at all. With the addition of these exercises, the face will have better blood circulation, which will help the face become healthier.
Resources
American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (2022) Dermabrasion for Wrinkles
https://www.asds.net/skin-experts/skin-treatments/dermabrasion/dermabrasion-for-wrinkles
American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (2022) Wrinkles and Aging Skin
https://www.asds.net/skin-experts/skin-treatments/chemical-peels/chemical-peels-for-wrinkles
Ascension Seton (2022) Wrinkles and Aging Skin
Bouchez, C. (2021) What You Should Know About Wrinkle Fillers
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/174852
Brazier, Y. (2020) What to Know About Wrinkles
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/174852
Cleveland Clinic (2022) Laser Skin Resurfacing
Mayo Clinic (2022) Face-lift
Mayo Clinic (2022) Wrinkles
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2022) Dermal Filler Do’s and Don’ts for Wrinkles, Lips and More
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/dermal-filler-dos-and-donts-wrinkles-lips-and-more
Wisco, L. (2018) The Cosmetic Use of Botulinum Toxin