A diagram of younger skin and older skin showing how decreased collagen can cause wrinkles.
Facial wrinkles are visible indicators of the normal aging process and can be seen on the skin’s surface as smooth lines, fine folds or deep furrows. On the forehead, they can appear in horizontal lines between the eyebrows and the hairline. Forehead wrinkles can also be seen as vertical lines between the eyebrows.
The main cause of wrinkles is the loss of elasticity of the skin as a person ages. As the body ages, skin cell division slows, the dermis layer begins to thin, and the fat cells beneath the dermis begin to wither. As a result of the sebaceous glands producing less water and lipid emulsions, the skin retains less moisture and becomes drier.
The lifestyle choices people make are often responsible for the development of forehead wrinkles.
Collagen fibers, which provide structural support to the skin layers, stretch and loosen. At the same time, the connective tissue protein elastin is damaged and the elastic capacity of the skin is affected. The skin can no longer repair itself and sagging and wrinkles appear.
In addition to normal aging, some people may have a genetic predisposition that causes forehead wrinkles at a younger age. Certain habitual expressions, such as frowning or raising the eyebrows, can also contribute to the formation of wrinkles. Muscle contractions that occur with normal facial expressions can, for a long time, cause wrinkles on the face.
There are genetic predispositions that cause forehead wrinkles at younger ages.
The lifestyle choices people make are also often responsible for the development of forehead wrinkles. Smoking and alcohol consumption can interfere with the skin’s regeneration process, and unhealthy diets, irregular routines and stress can further aggravate the situation. Drastic weight loss is another cause, as rapid weight loss equates to rapid loss of fat cells in the skin.
Forehead wrinkles often appear in horizontal lines between the eyebrows and the hairline.
Environmental factors such as overexposure to the sun and pollution also damage the skin and cause premature aging. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun damages collagen and elastin proteins, and ozone pollutants decrease the amount of antioxidant vitamin E in the skin. In response, the body produces metalloproteinase enzymes to repair damage to the skin. However, ongoing repairs of this type leave the skin vulnerable to forehead wrinkles.
Botox injections paralyze the muscles of the face, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, including those on the forehead.
Reducing exposure to the elements and wearing sunscreen can help to some extent. Skin-nourishing moisturizers and a healthy lifestyle regimen can also help prevent forehead wrinkles. Alternative procedures such as Botox® treatment and plastic surgery are also sometimes used to treat facial wrinkles.