Forehead Wrinkles – Causes & How to Help Reduce Their Appearance

Wrinkles on the forehead are a common natural feature, and some people have more pronounced forehead wrinkles than others. They develop over time when we repeatedly use facial expressions like frowning, squinting or raising eyebrows.

As we get older, forehead wrinkles can become more prominent due to reduced elasticity from the natural aging process of the skin. While wrinkles are completely normal, they can be a source of self-consciousness and low self-esteem, particularly if they show up prematurely1. Here we will discuss what causes more pronounced forehead wrinkles and how to help reduce their appearance.

Forehead wrinkles are divided into two categories – static wrinkles and dynamic wrinkles2.

• Dynamic wrinkles appear when you’re making a facial expression or otherwise compressing the skin, and they disappear when you stop.
• Static wrinkles are wrinkles that stay on the skin even at rest.  Dynamic wrinkles can become static wrinkles over time.

• 11 Lines: Formally known as glabellar lines, 11 lines are forehead wrinkles that appear as two vertical lines between the eyebrows2. These lines show up when furrowing the brow, which also contributes to other nicknames for them such as ‘worry lines’ and ‘frown lines’.
• Horizontal forehead wrinkles: These forehead wrinkles appear across the forehead when raising one or both eyebrows.

There are several factors that can contribute to the development of deeper and more prominent forehead wrinkles. Sadly, not all of them remain in our control, However, some causes can be avoided and others can be managed to reduce their appearance.

• Age: As we get older our skin loses some of its elasticity due to a natural reduction in collagen production. Collagen helps to provide structure, elasticity, and strength to skin3, so reduced collagen combined with natural moisture loss due to age can cause wrinkles to look more pronounced4.
• Genetics: Some people are more prone to developing wrinkles than others due to their genetics5.
• Sun damage: Cumulative sun exposure over time can cause the skin to show signs of premature aging such as wrinkles in a process known as photoaging6.
• Facial expressions: Small muscle contractions like those used in facial expressions create wrinkles in the skin over time when combined with gravity7.
• Smoking: Smoking cigarettes has been shown to cause premature skin aging as it hinders collagen production in the skin and also has several other adverse effects on skin elasticity and overall skin health8.
• Environmental stressors: exposure to pollution in the air can contribute to premature aging of the skin and the development of fine lines and wrinkles7.

Learn more about fine lines and wrinkles here.

Wrinkles are a natural sign of aging, and dynamic forehead wrinkles are important to making different facial expressions. Unfortunately, there is no way to completely get rid of forehead wrinkles, but there are some ways that you can help reduce the appearance of static forehead wrinkles.

While it’s true that nothing can completely get rid of forehead wrinkles, you can help reduce their appearance and support visibly smoother, healthier-looking skin  with specially formulated skincare products like those found in Eucerin®’s Immersive Hydration and Q10 Revitalize product lines. Read on to learn how each of these product lines can help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Fine lines and wrinkles appear as the skin’s own production of Hyaluronic Acid decreases, reducing moisture in the skin and causing it to look older. Eucerin® Immersive Hydration clinically proven formulas provide deep hydration within surface layers of the skin to give skin a smoother appearance. Developed with a unique Multi-Weight Hyaluronic Acid-enriched formula*, these products use two sizes of hyaluronic acid molecules, and provide  comprehensive hydration.

*Excludes Cleansing Gel.

For intense hydration with the added benefit of sunscreen, try Eucerin® Immersive Hydration Daily Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30. Formulated for all skin types, even sensitive skin, this daily moisturizer with SPF helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while helping to defend against damaging free radicals for healthy-looking skin. For sun protection with daily lotion, use as directed.

To immediately smooth skin’s appearance and intensively hydrate, try Eucerin® Immersive Hydration Moisture Boost Serum. This hydrating serum visibly reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles and delivers 24-hour hydration with its ultralightweight, 3x concentrated* Multi-Weight Hyaluronic Acid-enriched formula.

*vs. Immersive Hydration Daily Lotion SPF 30

For hydration while you sleep, Eucerin® Immersive Hydration Night Cream restores skin’s moisture while you sleep to improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles. This lightweight, hydrating night cream enriched with Multi-Weight Hyaluronic Acid and Provitamin B5 helps condition the skin and support a visibly renewed appearance without clogging pores.

For a gel-cream in an ultralightweight formula that you can apply day or night, try Eucerin® Immersive Hydration Gel-Cream. This gel-cream enriched with Multi-Weight Hyaluronic Acid delivers 72-hour hydration and helps restore the skin’s moisture barrier, visibly reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles without clogging pores.

Eucerin® Q10 Revitalize is a twice-daily routine designed to moisturize to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for visibly smoother, healthier-looking skin. Enriched with Coenzyme Q10, Eucerin®’s Q10 Revitalize products feature gentle yet purposeful formulations that hydrate and help defend against free radicals for healthy-looking skin.

For daily hydration, apply Eucerin® Q10 Revitalize Daily Cream. This daytime moisturizer reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles in as little as 5 weeks (with twice-daily use). Enriched with Vitamin E, Beta-Carotene, and Coenzyme Q10, it moisturizes the skin for a softer, smoother appearance and is fragrance-free, dye-free, and non-comedogenic. Enriched with antioxidants, this daily face cream for sensitive skin can be used as a hydrating base alone or under makeup.

To help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while you sleep, apply Eucerin® Q10 Revitalize Night Cream. Formulated with Coenzyme Q10 and Pro-Retinol, this night cream reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles in as little as 5 weeks while sleeping (with twice-daily use). With a formula also enriched with Vitamin E and Macadamia Nut Oil, this moisturizing night cream is  formulated to be  gentle on skin and is appropriate for sensitive skin.

Here are some steps you can take to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the forehead:

Some wrinkles can appear more pronounced when skin gets dry7, so ensuring that your skin stays hydrated can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles caused by dehydration of the skin. Using moisturizing products like those found in Eucerin®’s Immersive Hydration line can help address the look of fine lines and wrinkles caused by dehydration of the skin.

Similarly to moisturizing, drinking enough water also helps to hydrate the skin from the inside out. Staying well hydrated helps to prevent temporary dehydration-induced wrinkles while also being good for your overall health.

While quitting smoking won’t instantly get rid of existing forehead wrinkles, it will help prevent further premature aging caused by smoking, and smoking-related factors like impaired collagen production may be restored after quitting9. So if you’re a smoker, quit if you can. Your skin and the rest of your body will thank you!

Sleep is the time when the body repairs itself and the quantity and quality of sleep can impact overall health, including your skin. Studies have shown that chronic poor sleep is associated with an increase in skin aging symptoms10.

When it comes to fine lines and wrinkles, prevention is key, and while you unfortunately can’t prevent yourself from aging, you can help prevent premature aging caused by sun exposure.

Cumulative and prolonged sun exposure can cause forehead wrinkles and other signs of premature aging known as photoaging11. The sun’s UV rays cause damage to the skin that can result in loss of elasticity, wrinkles, and dark spots. Wearing sunscreen every day as part of overall sun protection measures can help protect against photoaging, and Eucerin’s Sun Protection range can not only help defend against the sun’s harmful rays, but certain products can also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

For daily sunscreen for the face, try Eucerin Age Defense SPF 50 Face Sunscreen. This facial sunscreen has a Hyaluronic Acid-enriched formula that helps visibly reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles*. Non-greasy, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic, this face sunscreen is fragrance-free and leaves skin feeling smooth and hydrated, with an invisible finish.

*With continuous use after 1 week.

Forehead wrinkles are a natural sign of aging and can be a source of self-consciousness, but thankfully with Eucerin, you can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the forehead while also helping to moisturize skin and protect it from the sun.

The information provided herein is not intended to be medical advice. Nor is it intended to treat the underlying skin disease or condition. The information is provided solely to:

1. Moisturize, soften and smooth dry skin
2. Improve the appearance of the skin
3. Achieve healthier-looking skin