Forehead wrinkles｜Doctors explain the causes, treatments, and home care for each type.
'The wrinkles on my forehead make me look tired and older than my age.'
I can't enjoy hairstyles with my bangs up because of the wrinkles on my forehead."
I want to know how to get rid of wrinkles on my forehead."
Do you have these questions or concerns about forehead wrinkles?
Hello. I am a doctor of cosmetic dermatology and Smart Skin Clinic.
In this article, we will explain the causes of forehead wrinkles, from self-care to makeup and treatment, in an easy-to-understand manner from an expert's perspective. If you want to know specific prevention and treatment methods, you can jump from the table of contents.
Structure related to forehead wrinkles
First, we will explain the basic structure of the forehead area, which is important to know and understand as background for wrinkles on the forehead.
The forehead is composed of several tissues, each of which is involved in causing wrinkles.
- Frontal bone: The bone covering the forehead. The shape of the bone affects the appearance of wrinkles.
- Frontalis muscles: muscles that move the eyebrows and forehead. Wrinkles are easily formed by the movement of raising the eyelids and eyebrows.
- Fat: The forehead area has less subcutaneous fat than the cheeks and face line, so sagging due to fat is less likely to occur as in other areas.
- Skin: Although the original sebum production is high, decreased sebum secretion and changes in the internal structure of the skin lead to wrinkles.
- Surrounding tissues: Sagging scalp and eyelids can affect forehead wrinkles
What causes wrinkles on the forehead?
Why do forehead wrinkles form? Let's look at the main causes.
facial expression
Habits of facial expression are said to be the number one cause of wrinkles on the forehead. Daily facial movements can deepen wrinkles. For example, do you have any of the following habits?
Expression Habit Checklist
- Raise and lower forehead and eyebrows
- Raises to eyebrows when opening eyes (not using eye muscles properly)
- Looking up during a conversation
- Only turn your eyes when looking at high places
- scowl
- expressionless
Others may have wrinkles on their foreheads while they sleep due to stress, or they may be creating wrinkles without even knowing it.
An expressionless face is another source of wrinkles
If daily expressions are the source of wrinkles, should we not use facial muscles?
No. Being expressionless can cause muscles to deteriorate. Muscles that are not used can atrophy and lead to sagging. In addition, stiff muscles reduce blood flow, which can lead to all kinds of skin problems such as dullness, sagging, and dryness.
adding to one's years
With age, the bones, muscles, fat, and skin that make up the face all undergo changes such as shrinking and loosening. In addition, wrinkles are carved in accordance with the movement of facial muscles. In women in particular, age-related changes become more noticeable when female hormone production declines around menopause.
Flow of "forehead wrinkles" caused by age-related changes in bone
- Frontal bone atrophies.
- The outer skin of the upper eyelid drops, obstructing the field of vision
- Unconsciously use your frontal muscles to open your eyes.
- Wrinkles begin to appear on the forehead
Note that when the frontalis muscle is unable to support a sagging forehead, it is pulled down by the muscles working downward, and wrinkles between the eyebrows and at the corners of the eyes become more noticeable.
The process of "forehead wrinkles" caused by aging changes in the skin
- Decrease in the function of "fibroblasts" that produce collagen and elastin in the dermis
- Collagen and elastin, the source of firmness and elasticity, decrease
- Skin becomes thinner and less elastic
- Fine wrinkles appear on the skin
ultra-violet rays
The forehead is the area of the face that is most exposed to ultraviolet rays because it is the highest part of the face and cannot be hidden even by a mask. UV rays reach the inside of the skin, destroying and denaturating collagen and elastin. This causes the skin to lose elasticity and wrinkles to appear, similar to the aging process.
People who say, "I only wear sunscreen in the summer," or "I don't wear anything indoors," are in danger! Ultraviolet rays fall all year round, in summer and winter, on cloudy days and snowy days. Wrinkles and sagging skin are not noticeable immediately after exposure, and if the sun's rays are not strong, you may not even be aware that you are exposed to UV rays. However, the effects of UV rays appear slowly over time, and even young people can develop wrinkles if they are exposed to a lot of UV rays.
dryness
The forehead produces more sebum than other parts of the body. Therefore, while we may be concerned about shine and stickiness caused by sebum, dryness may be a blind spot. Excessive removal of sebum to control shine causes dryness inside the skin. Inner dryness leads to a coarse texture and dry wrinkles.
Eye fatigue
When the eyes become tired, the eye-opening muscles become less active and unconsciously use the forehead muscles to open the eyes. Many people have forehead wrinkles as a normal result of using computers and smartphones for too long.
Loosening and stiffness of the scalp
A stiff scalp causes wrinkles to form on the forehead when the eyebrows are raised. Loss of elasticity of the scalp can also lead to sagging. Other possible causes of scalp stiffness include eye strain, stress, and poor blood flow due to cold.
Poor posture
Improper posture when using computers and smartphones causes wrinkles when looking down most of the time. The head is affected by gravity and poor blood circulation.
Sleeping posture is also important. Sleeping on your stomach or side may cause your forehead to wrinkle and become habitual. Although there is nothing you can do about it while you are sleeping, try to sleep facing up when you fall asleep.
Types of wrinkles on the forehead
Forehead wrinkles are divided into four main types depending on their condition, each with different causes and measures.
| type | fine wrinkles | fine lines and wrinkles | Deep wrinkles | fine wrinkles |
| feature | Fine, shallow creases | The expression on the face | ...I can see it in your expressionless face. | The appearance of sagging skin. |
| Main Causes | Drying | Expression habit | Aging Ultraviolet rays | Aging Skin laxity ・Frontal muscle weakness |
| home care | Moisturizing ・Review of skin care | Relaxing muscle tension | UV protection | Scalp Massage |
| treatment | Ion Implantation | Botulinum toxin injection | Gowrie injection Jubeluk Volume (Renishna) Injection PRP Therapy | Profibro Injection |
Anti-wrinkle and self-care tips for forehead
This section describes self-care for wrinkles on the forehead, which is easy to adopt in daily life. Let's continue to take proper care to prevent and improve wrinkles.
Review of skin care
Dryness and improper skin care can exacerbate wrinkles. Keep your skin well moisturized by following the tips below.
Gentle cleansing and face wash
If the cleanser or face wash is too strong, it will even strip the skin of its moisture. The key is to avoid scrubbing or using hot water to wash the face, and to wash gently with foam and rinse with lukewarm water.
Use of cosmetics containing moisturizing and wrinkle-improving ingredients
For fine lines and wrinkles caused by dryness, cosmetics containing "highly moisturizing ingredients" such as hyaluronic acid and ceramide should be used. These ingredients replenish moisture in the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Medicated cosmetics (quasi-drug cosmetics) that use "wrinkle-improving ingredients" approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare are also recommended.
For example, the following components are available
Moisturizing ingredients in cosmetics
- Sodium hyaluronate and water-soluble collagen: draws moisture into the stratum corneum
- Ceramide: Keeps moisture in place
- Olive oil, Vaseline, Squalane: Prevents evaporation of moisture inside the skin
Active ingredients for wrinkle improvement
- Retinol: A type of vitamin A. Particularly effective for dry and deep wrinkles.
- Niacinamide: Vitamin B3. effective for dry and deep wrinkles
- Neil One 🄬: can be used to treat dry and deep wrinkles
- Rice Power No.11⁺🄬: Acts on the epidermis, basement membrane, and dermis, and is expected to have an effect on dry wrinkles and deep wrinkles
Prevention of ultraviolet rays in daily life
The general UV protection is the application of "sunscreen," but the forehead tends to sweat easily and needs to be reapplied frequently. However, it is difficult to put sunscreen on top of makeup. Cosmetics with sunscreen effects are useful for reapplying makeup. We also recommend the use of parasols and hats to avoid direct exposure to ultraviolet rays.
Avoid eye fatigue
When the eyes get tired, we tend to use the frontalis muscle instead of the eyelid elevator muscle, which raises the eyelid upward. Be conscious of not allowing eye fatigue to build up and to rest your eyes when they are tired. For example, placing a hot towel over the eyes or using a product that warms the eyes with steam is recommended.
In addition, the degree of glasses or contact lenses may not be correct. The possibility of progression of presbyopia as well as myopia and astigmatism cannot be ignored.
Massage and Exercise
Massage and exercises to moderately relax muscles and improve blood flow can also help prevent wrinkles. However, incorrect methods or overdoing it may lead to new wrinkles. Please refer to the methods supervised by experts and perform them appropriately.
scalp massage
The face and head are connected by a single piece of skin. Massage the scalp from the forehead to the crown of the head and then to the back of the head, gently pulling up the scalp. Massaging the scalp relaxes the muscles around the forehead and helps prevent wrinkles.
Care for tired eyes
If you experience eye fatigue, use a hot towel or an eye mask to warm your eyes and relax them. For more information on eye fatigue and orbicularis oculus training, please also refer to the following columns.
Establish lifestyle habits such as eating, sleeping, etc.
Disruptions in lifestyle can disrupt the skin's renewal cycle (turnover). When turnover is disturbed, it causes dryness, dullness, and wrinkles. For example, let's spend some time paying attention to the following points.
- Strive to eat a well-balanced diet
- Consume pork, chicken breast, soy products, dairy products, and gelatin, which contain "amino acids" that stimulate collagen production, together with "vitamin C
- Drink 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day
- Adhere to moderate amounts of alcohol and caffeine, which can cause dryness due to their diuretic effects.
- Create a good sleeping environment and get a good night's sleep
- Avoid lying on your back, which tends to leave marks on the forehead.
- No Smoking
- Protect yourself from stress and have multiple means of stress relief
Techniques to hide forehead wrinkles
If you want to get rid of forehead wrinkles quickly, try camouflaging them with your hair and makeup.
How to cover forehead wrinkles with your hair
Bangs can be made to hide wrinkles. To avoid a heavy impression, we recommend a see-through bangs style that allows the bangs to float softly, or a diagonal side parting for a neat and clean look. Consult a hair salon for a bangs style that suits your face shape and image.
Makeup techniques to cover forehead wrinkles
Wrinkles on the forehead can also be face-flared with base makeup.
- Fill in wrinkles with a partial primer for pores.
- Adhere a thin layer of glossy foundation.
- Work one tone lighter concealer into the wrinkles.
Treatments for Forehead Wrinkles
Self-care may not show any effect at all for some types of wrinkles. If effectiveness and speed are important to you, you may want to have medical care on your side. The following table summarizes some examples of forehead wrinkle treatments.
| (data) item | Ion implantation | Jubeluk Volume (Renishna) Injection | GOURI Injection | PRPF injection | Vital Injector | botulinum toxin injection | profilo injection |
| Treatment Description | Introduce beauty ingredients into the skin | Injection of a formulation containing non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid and polylactic acid | PCL (polycaprolactone) liquefied formulation injected | Injection of PRP extracted from autologous blood plus growth factors | Injecting a formulation tailored to your concerns with 9 fine needles per shot | Botulinum toxin product injected into the muscle | Injection of a formulation containing high molecular weight and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid |
| Effect | moisturizer | Promotes collagen production and improves firmness and luster | Promotes collagen production | Promotes collagen and elastin production and improves skin thickness | Skin moisturizing ・Improvement of elasticity and luster, improvement of fine lines and wrinkles, improvement of open pores and blackheads, improvement of dullness, improvement of acne (marks), improvement of skin texture | Reduce muscle movement | Moisturizing, improved firmness and elasticity, natural volume increase |
| Time of onset of effect | immediate | 2 to 3 weeks later | Gradually after a few days | 2-4 weeks later, peak 3-6 months after | Depends on formulation | 1 to 2 weeks later | Days to weeks later, peak 1 month after |
| Duration of effect | A few days to a week | 1-2 years | 6 months to 1 year | 5 years | Depends on formulation | 3-6 months | 6 months to 1 year |
| Down time | almost none | 24 hours / Pain, redness, swelling, internal bleeding | 24 hours / Redness, bumps, internal bleeding | A few days / mild swelling, redness, internal bleeding | A few days / mild redness, swelling, internal bleeding | 24 hours / internal bleeding | 24 hours / swelling, redness, internal bleeding |
Ion implantation
This treatment uses the power of electricity to make beauty ingredients penetrate deeper into the skin than when applied by hand.
This treatment has no downtime, is fast-acting, and can be easily combined with other treatments. Effectiveness varies depending on the agent introduced.
Jubeluk Volume (Renishna) Injection
It is an injectable drug combining non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid and polylactic acid (PDLLA). Compared to JUVELUX, the particles are larger and work deeper into the skin to increase volume. It promotes the production of collagen and elastin, and is effective for deep wrinkles.
GOURI Injection
PCL is a liquefied injectable formulation containing PCL (polycaprolactone) that is effective for lifting and improving sagging skin. PCL is used as a medical thread and is gradually broken down in the body to promote collagen production over time, tightening sagging areas.
PRPremedy
PRP therapy is suitable for forehead wrinkle indentations.
This is a regenerative medicine that uses PRP (platelet-rich plasma) made from the patient's own blood and FGF (a growth factor for fibroblasts that produce collagen, etc.) added to the material. Long-term effects such as wrinkle improvement and skin rejuvenation can be expected.
Because it uses your own blood to promote autologous tissue regeneration, it is recommended for those who are not comfortable with injecting foreign substances or using a scalpel. We customize the concentration and injection volume for each patient.
botulinum toxin injection
Recommended for expression wrinkles. Botrynstoxin is a protein extracted from the bacterium botulinum. It inhibits the release of a chemical called acetylcholine, which transmits commands from nerve cells to other cells, blocks excessive muscle movement that causes wrinkles, and blocks the nerves in the sebaceous and sweat glands.
The term "Botox" usually refers to Botox Vista🄬, a type A botulinum toxin formulation by Allergan approved by the MHLW. However, botulinum toxin products from other companies are also commonly referred to as Botox.
Vital Injector
For fine lines and wrinkles, we recommend hydroxyapatite injections. This procedure improves skin texture by injecting drugs directly into the shallow layer of the skin (dermis). Depending on the type of drug, various effects can be expected, such as moisturizing, improving firmness, improving fine lines and pores, and improving skin tone. In addition, a suction function is provided to reduce pain during injection, and the same formulation is less expensive than a doctor's manual injection.
profilo injection
This injection is a highly concentrated combination of high molecular weight and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid. With the aim of rejuvenating the entire skin, a wide range of effects can be expected: for dry wrinkles due to its high moisturizing effect, and for deep wrinkles and sagging wrinkles due to its actions such as tissue repair support and regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation.
How to Avoid Failure in Forehead Wrinkle Treatment
Preparation before treatment is important to avoid mistakes in forehead wrinkle treatment.
When selecting a clinic, check the price and word-of-mouth. In addition to the effectiveness of the treatment, the key points to look for in reviews are whether or not there is a consultation by a doctor, whether or not the explanation of the treatment in advance is appropriate, and whether or not there is any solicitation.
The cost of counseling, needles, anesthesia, and aftercare varies from clinic to clinic. Since the effects of skin growth treatment are more easily felt the more often it is repeated, it is advisable to check the total cost after the second session or for one course of treatment.
Points for choosing a clinic that will not fail
- Check out our reviews
- Check our fee structure
- Receive counseling from a physician.
Insurance treatment at an ophthalmologist for a droopy eyelid that makes it difficult to open the eyes.
One case to be aware of is "ptosis/pseudoptosis.
This is a condition in which the eyelids droop due to abnormalities in the muscles and tendons of the upper eyelids.
Symptoms such as difficulty seeing, looking sleepy, stiff shoulders, headaches, and fatigue are observed, and as a result, wrinkles are more likely to form on the forehead. Some people are born with wrinkles, while others develop them in adulthood.
There is also "pseudoptosis," which is similar to ptosis, and each has a different treatment.
Some patients who suffer from forehead wrinkles may have associated symptoms of ptosis. Special attention should be paid when botulinum toxin injections are performed. If you have difficulty opening your eyes as well as forehead wrinkles, see an ophthalmologist first. Ptosis surgery is covered by insurance.
FAQ
- What causes wrinkles on the forehead?
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Causes of forehead wrinkles may include facial expression habits, aging, UV rays, dryness, eye fatigue, and poor posture.
- What can I do to improve wrinkles on my forehead?
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Fine wrinkles caused by dryness can be improved by moisturizing, but for deep wrinkles and expression lines, cosmetic medicine is recommended.
- Do creams for forehead wrinkles work?
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Although it depends on the individual, quasi-drugs that claim to improve wrinkles can be expected to be effective.
- What are some of the methods used to treat wrinkles on the forehead?
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Forehead wrinkle treatments include renisna injections, GOURI injections, PRP therapy, various types of water light injections, and botulinum toxin injections.
- What should I take care of to prevent forehead wrinkles?
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It is advisable to take measures against UV rays, moisturize thoroughly, and review facial expression habits and lifestyle habits.
- What causes forehead wrinkles in children, in their 20s, and in their 40s?
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In children, wrinkles may be the result of dryness due to allergies or droopy eyelids; in people in their 20s, it may be due to dryness, UV damage, or eye fatigue from eye pinchers, contact lenses, smartphones, etc. In people in their 40s, it may be due to dryness or UV damage, including the effects of aging and habitual facial muscles. In their 40s, the effects of aging and habitual facial expressions may cause damage due to dryness and ultraviolet rays.
However, self-judgment is not advised. We recommend that you see a specialist.
Forehead wrinkle treatment at Smart Skin Clinic
Have your questions and concerns about forehead wrinkles been answered? While some forehead wrinkles can be improved with self-care, cosmetic treatments are effective for deeper wrinkles and expression lines.
Smart Skin Clinic proposes treatments suited to each individual patient. We perform more than 7,000 cases of injections per year. We offer treatments that eliminate waste and focus on formulations and equipment at a reasonable price. We do not solicit patients by forcing them to undergo treatment.
If you are concerned about wrinkles on your forehead, please contact us first for a free consultation to discuss your concerns.