If we are going to rank the different things people don’t want to see while facing the mirror, forehead wrinkles are likely high on the list. These wrinkles are the fine lines you see on your forehead.
Incidentally, these wrinkles do not discriminate. They can affect both men and women. They can also appear on the foreheads of people who are still in their early 20s.
Interestingly, they also tell you something about your health. But the crux of the matter is this: what causes forehead wrinkles? What are the key factors that contribute to their appearance? Is there anything you can do about them? We invite you to continue reading below as we try to address these concerns and more.
What Causes Forehead Wrinkles? The Age Factor
What causes forehead wrinkles? There are many possible answers to this question. However, let’s start with something inevitable: aging.
Age plays a crucial role in the development of wrinkles. As you age, your body’s production of elastin and collagen decreases. Collagen comprises about 75% to 80% of your skin.
As for elastin, it is the protein that gives structure to your skin. The two are also responsible for your facial muscle strength. They also cover your repetitive facial expressions.
These two skin proteins are your primary defense against wrinkles and fine lines. Take these two away and your face will sag all over the place. However, many other factors can affect the production of elastin and collagen.
Exposure to the Sun
Too much sun exposure is one of the major causes of forehead wrinkles. This is because the harmful UV rays of the sun also slow down your body’s collagen and elastin production.
Overexposure to the sun is also one of the main culprits behind forehead wrinkles among people still in their 20s. Thus, you need to equip your skin with ample protection whenever you go out of the house. We’ll discuss more skin protection against the sun later on.
The Frontalis Conundrum
It is also important to understand the muscles responsible for your facial expressions. These are the frontalis muscles. They allow you to perform facial expressions and gestures, naturally or otherwise.
Thus, the frontalis also allows you to raise your eyebrows, which causes forehead wrinkles to appear. However, two types of wrinkles may come about from this movement. There are dynamic wrinkles and static wrinkles.
Dynamic wrinkles appear as a result of muscle motion. Some of the perfect instances include habitual movements and expressing your emotions. Interestingly, the majority of these static wrinkles appear on the forehead.
On the flip side, static wrinkles happen once the skin loses its elasticity. When collagen, elastin, and fats decrease, gravity will pull down your skin. In turn, static wrinkles begin to appear. This happens even if you’re not moving your facial muscles. Eventually, your dynamic wrinkles will turn static. That is if you fail to arrest the concern early on.
Reducing Those Wrinkles Starts with Stress Management
So now we come to this: how do we stop forehead wrinkles from developing? The straight-up answer is we cannot stop those wrinkles for good. Sooner or later, everyone will have to go through them.
But why experience them sooner if there are ways to delay their development? Thus, you need to improve your lifestyle and tweak some of your daily practices.
Start by managing your stress levels. There are many ways of reducing your stress. For starters, you can practice daily meditation. Go to a quiet room and sit on the floor. Close your eyes for about 10 to 15 minutes and clear your mind of any thoughts.
If you wish to take it to the next level, try doing some yoga. Also, you need to get enough sleep. Try to get 8 hours of good, quality sleep every night. And as you wake up in the morning, do some light exercises. Start by doing 10 to 15 minutes of brisk walking. Also, be mindful of how your wrinkles look. Studies reveal that deep forehead wrinkles can be a sign of possible health risks.
Keep the Sun at Bay
As we mentioned earlier, the sun is not a friend of your skin especially if you want to avoid those forehead wrinkles. Thus, you need to level up in your sun protection game.
Never go out of the house without applying sunscreen. Ideally, you want to use a sunscreen that is SPF 15 or higher. This will help reduce your skin’s photoaging rate that leads to wrinkles.
Balanced Diet and Hydration
Apart from protecting your skin externally, you also need to do some work inside your body. Revisit the types of food that you eat and work on developing a healthy diet.
Increase your intake of foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin C. Also, cut down on carbs and fats. These two can increase the risk of developing skin atrophy and wrinkles.
Cut the Cigarettes
Are you a smoker? If you’re a chain smoker or someone who smokes occasionally, better end your habit if you want to keep those forehead wrinkles at bay.
Cigarettes contain hundreds of harmful chemicals that affect the production of collagen. When your collagen levels go down, your skin elasticity suffers, leading to wrinkles.
A Visit to a Trusted Dermatologist
Many people ask when should they visit a dermatologist to help address the situation? You will find a lot of OTC products that aim to reduce those forehead wrinkles. However, these wrinkles can be quite stubborn for some people.
If those OTC products don’t seem to work, then it may be a good time to visit a trusted dermatologist. When you consult with one, expect them to take a thorough examination of your face. They will also introduce you to different treatments depending on what suits you best.
Experience Topnotch Skin Care, Today!
Now that you know what causes forehead wrinkles, you can take the necessary precautions and adjust your lifestyle for the better. But if your wrinkles don’t seem to go away, allow us to take a look at your skin.
We offer top-notch skin care treatments that will help get rid of those nagging wrinkles. Talk to us today and schedule an appointment.