7 Ways to Iron Out Forehead Wrinkles
Forehead wrinkles tend to be the first wrinkles that we experience as we age. These are the most common type of wrinkles because as human beings, we express ourselves and communicate by using body language. We smile when we’re happy, frown when we’re upset, scrunch our noses when something stinks.
We use the muscles in our forehead with almost every facial expression, so that region of our skin is the first place wrinkles tend to develop as we grow older. It is much like folding a piece of paper; wrinkles form in our skin over time due to repetitive movement. There are as many ways to treat your wrinkles as there are way to wrinkle the skin in the first place.
So many choices can be confusing, if not downright paralyzing. So we have done the hard work for you, and curated the list of 7 best ways to treat forehead wrinkles. But first, what exactly are we dealing with here?
In this article:
Types of Forehead Wrinkles
Type 1: The Forehead Row
If the wrinkle stretches horizontally across your face, then it’s called a “forehead row.” These rows stack up above eyebrows and they are normal in people who “raise their eyebrows” frequently, which creases and folds the skin on the forehead. Next time you raise one or both eyebrows run a finger over your forehead; you can feel the skin being creased, folded, and wrinkled.
Type 2: The Glabellar Line
If the wrinkle is set vertically at the top of your nose, between your eyebrows, then it is called a “glabellar line.” These lines are normal in people who frown and “scrunch up their eyebrows” frequently, which creases and folds the skin between the eyebrows. Next time you “furrow your brow” at someone, touch the patch of skin between your eyebrows; feel the skin bunching up?
So, You’ve Got Wrinkles
We all do, or likely will at some point in our lives. And while that’s totally and completely natural, some of us would prefer to be without. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look younger and reduce the look of forehead wrinkles. Whether horizontal or glabellar, fine or deep, if you’re looking to get rid of those lines then you’re not alone. So what are the best ways to treat them?
Treatment 1: Facial Yoga
An interesting and increasingly-popular method for treating wrinkles is facial yoga, an exercise regimen which focuses on expanding and toning the muscles under the skin. By developing and toning the muscles, facial yoga can reduce the visibility of wrinkles, at least to some degree.
Since the skin itself is responsible for wrinkles, not muscle degradation, this can also be used as a preventative before wrinkles even develop.
There are easy-to-follow tutorials all over the internet, from beginner to expert. There are two main types of poses for facial yoga. The first are poses that “wake up” our “sleeping” muscles to lift the face.
The other are poses that do the opposite. They relax overworked muscles to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Most “sleeping” muscles are around the lower eyelids and cheeks.
Conversely, overworked muscles are in the areas where we tend to see most wrinkles, like the forehead, between the eyebrows, and alongside the mouth.
Treatment 2: Facial Toning Tools
If facial yoga has your wrinkles saying “Nama-stay right here,” then maybe it is time to bust out a personal trainer, of sorts. Facial toning tools are as close as you can get without hiring someone to follow you around and move your face for you.
They too can run upwards of $100, but considering the practically unlimited use you can get out of a good one, that price point isn’t terrible.
Most devices are packaged with a cooling gel to protect against the low-level electrical currents emitted. Those currents, coupled with the massage action of the device, smooth and tighten the face almost immediately. It takes only a few minutes, and lasts for hours.
For retained upkeep, you have to continue using the device five times weekly. It will help improve circulation in your face, and give a healthy glow.
Treatment 3: Lasers
At-home laser treatments are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to dermatologist-administered lasers. The tools can be a little pricey, in the range of a few hundred dollars, but compared to an office visit for dermatological laser treatment, it is quite affordable.
Not to mention the definite increase in ease of use. No need to go to the dermatologist multiple times in one week.
There are more than a handful of these gadgets on the market, but the best ones use diode lasers to boost collagen and elastin. This softens the skin and smoothes the appearance of fine lines. Users report that it is not the most comfy experience. One customer mentioned it felt like “hot pinpricks”, though the pain was tolerable. Normally, the skin will be red and potentially sunburnt, though it will quickly subside within an hour or two. After five treatments a week for three months, the same user exclaimed about her “luminous” results.
However, when doing laser treatments, the skin becomes irritated and inflamed for a little while, in order to trigger that healing response which does the work of smoothing out the wrinkles. This is normal, but remember that you should not use any retinoid or other potentially abrasive product on the same days as laser therapy.
Also, be sure to wear tons of sunscreen, more than you already do, because these lasers will definitely increase your risk of sun damage.
Treatment 4: LED Light Therapy
There are some at-home LED devices as well as in-office treatments available, but whatever the method of choice, these new contraptions are doing so much more than just fighting wrinkles. They combat sagging skin, acne, inflammation, and more.
The in-office version features a seriously futuristic-looking mask straight from the year 2909, while at home devices are generally smaller and focus on only a portion of the face at a time.
Either way, the mask or device sends light waves into the skin, triggering natural reactions at the cellular level. Different lights make the skin react differently, and thus are used to treat a variety of symptoms.
Amber light stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, while red light encourages better circulation. Blue light kills acne-causing bacteria; white light dives deep into the dermis and works to reduce inflammation and tighten skin at the core.
Treatment 5: Facial Peels
These are one of the most popular, tried and true methods of wrinkle reduction. At-home remedies tend to be gentler, but far less dramatically effective. Jarred versions of stronger chemical-based peels can have more efficacy, but without the benefit of a dermatologist there to guide you through the process of a peel.
And it definitely is a process, at least the first time.
While not surgical, a chemical peel administered by a dermatological practitioner is no small thing. Chemical peels remove the top layer or layers of epidermis, creating a controlled wound or injury to the surface of the skin. This forces the body to grow new skin to protect itself, and that new skin will not have the same depth of wrinkles that the previous one did.
However, chemical peels usually include several acids, a burning sensation, and redness. Some patients even need pain medication for the inflammation and tenderness during the days following.
Also, it does carry the risk of permanent skin damage in the long run.
Treatment 6: Creams and Serums
There are entire companies founded on the backs of anti-aging and wrinkle-fighting creams. And even more companies add them to their repertoire as part of a skin care line necessity since the issue of wrinkles is such a common one. Creams and serums and lotions are all products which vary in their manufacturing, usually discerned from one another by viscosity or simply labeling choices.
What makes a cream a cream and not a lotion?
Creams are thicker, usually, but there is no requirement stating one way or the other. The important thing is what these products do. They are manufactured blends of compounds meant to be applied topically to the skin, and work from the outside in.
Whether it’s a silky cream or velvety serum, the important thing to note in this treatment option is variety. There are stronger and milder creams, all with a vast range of ingredients, many of which necessitate a chemistry degree to understand.
It can be a bit intimidating.
And then there are the snake oil products out there just looking to make a buck, with little to no benefit or worse, harmful side effects. With anything you apply to your skin, it is important to do your research first.
Find a cream that has the best anti-wrinkle ingredients, at an affordable price point, from a trusted source. Clinical trials are usually a good sign, as are positive customer reviews from people like yourself.
Our recommendation is Complexion MD, the standout among the hundreds of products we have tested and reviewed. For more information about Complexion MD, click here to read our review of it and see why we chose it as our best pick.
Treatment 7: Surgery
Botox, also known as botulinum toxin, is the most common method of wrinkle treatment on the market today. While Botox may be the most common method for treating forehead wrinkles, the process is costly and, ultimately, temporary – the benefits of Botox treatments tend to fade in the first four months.
There are other wrinkle treatment surgeries on the market too: some surgeons offer cosmetic surgeries like “brow lifts,” which are extremely invasive and highly risky methods for treating wrinkles.
Now there are out-patient surgeries like mini-lifts, also called “lunch lifts”, because they take less than an hour before you’re back in the boardroom for your afternoon meeting. If all goes well.
All surgery comes with risk and high cost, but it is often the fastest way to some sort of visible result. However, even surgeries are not impervious to time. Age will catch up, and in a few years, that lift might not be so high.
Then there’s a need for a tuck, and a nip, and a snip. It’s a slippery slope down the cosmetic surgery hill, and with the most expensive price tag of the bunch, it’s understandable why this is generally the last option people consider.
How to Prevent Forehead Wrinkles
Wouldn’t it just be easier then to prevent wrinkles from happening altogether, instead of going through all of these time-consuming, expensive processes to correct them? Well, for some of us, that is not an option any longer.
But for the rest, it is all but impossible to completely prevent wrinkles from forming. It’s not just in our actions either; it’s in our genes.
But even if you have the best family history with the softest, smoothest skin from birth until death, the only 100% certain way to prevent wrinkling of the skin is to never move your facial muscles again.
Since most people use body language to communicate with others, the idea that we should try to minimize our facial movements is ludicrous.
If you don’t want to spend your time worrying about your smile turning into crows’ feet, then try some of these simple steps to control your wrinkles, like these:
Hydrate!
And we’re not talking about just your face this time, either. Yes, a good moisturizer is key for keeping your skin soft and supple, and you should definitely have one. But drinking plenty of water will help not just your skin, but your entire body.
Get a reusable water bottle and make it your personal mission to empty it by the end of the day. It’s not that hard once you commit to it and actively try to keep up with it. There are plenty of flavorings out there too if plain jane water just isn’t your think.
Whatever it takes to get yourself in the habit, drink a bottle of water every day, at least. Your skin and every other organ will thank you!
Cleanse!
Showers are important, but your face needs its own cleaning ritual outside of daily (or every-other daily) shower time. Lukewarm (the cooler, the better, really) water and mild soap are your skin’s best friends in refreshing it every morning and night before a usual skincare regimen.
It helps prevent acne breakouts and gets rid of any dead skin cells lingering on the surface. There are many products on the market specializing in cleansing your skin, and finding one gentle enough to do no harm, but strong enough to wash away the dirt and grime can be challenging.
Even if it’s the only thing you do to your facial skin, cleansing is an important every day step.
Sunblock!
Okay, we know we said cleansing was the most important, but listen, a huge ball of fire sends its super powerful rays at your skin all day, every day, every second you are not indoors.
So maybe sunblock is actually the most important. Really, it’s both. Do both.
Apply at least a moderate strength SPF before your daily skin care routine, but after your cleansing. It reduces your risk of skin cancer, hydrates, and helps retain youthful, wrinkle-free skin. There’s no reason not to slather on that sunblock.
Apply at least a moderate strength SPF before your daily skin care routine, but after your cleansing. It reduces your risk of skin cancer, hydrates, and helps retain youthful, wrinkle-free skin. There’s no reason not to slather on that sunblock.
Ironing Out Wrinkles
Whether aiming to reduce the look of wrinkles already earned or to prevent them from happening, there are no end to the options out there. These tips and tricks are just the beginning of the iceberg. For more information, check out our other articles on beauty and skin care.
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