How to Get Rid of Frown Lines
Men and women of all ages are eventually impacted by the deep lines that form between the eyebrows with age and repetitive motion. These wrinkles are known as furrowed brow lines, frown lines, and medically as glabellar lines. While you’re still young, they may only appear after making a face or showing emotion. Eventually, however, the expressions of anger, stress, and squinting will create permanent lines that stay on your face regardless of whether or not your facial muscles are contracted.
These forehead facial lines between the eyebrows can make even a happy person look angry or grumpy. (Nobody wants a resting witch face!) Thankfully, with a little prevention and knowledge of effective treatments, you can reduce the appearance of these pesky wrinkles and reclaim your happy, youthful countenance. Find out how to get rid of frown lines between your eyebrows naturally or with dermatological intervention below!
Contents:
What Are Frown Lines and What Causes Them?
Frown lines are the vertical lines that appear between the nose and eyebrows as the result of tissue bunching into a fold. As we mentioned above, frown lines on the forehead are caused by the repetition of facial motion over the course of many years. As you age, not only does the appearance of muscular contraction become etched into your face, but your skin also stops producing as much collagen and elastin — the substances that help your skin bounce back from facial lines.
Age is not the only contributor to worsening forehead frown lines, though. Some other common contributors to furrowed brow lines are listed below. These are among the other things that cause the furrows between the brows to deepen and become more visible with time:
- Sun exposure, resulting in the loss of collagen and skin elasticity
- Stress and the faces you make when you get stressed
- Bad lifestyle habits, such as inadequate nutrition to nourish the skin or lack of quality sleep
- Smoking, resulting in free radicals that damage the DNA of the skin and accelerated aging
Can You Get Rid of Frown Lines?
Unless you turn to a dermatologist for injections or cosmetic surgery, there is no instant fix for frown lines. You can, however, diminish their appearance with consistently good habits and potentially even delay their onset with preventative treatments. Below, we’ll discuss some natural ways as well as in-office solutions that will help if you’ve already developed deep brow furrows.
How to Get Rid of Frown Lines on the Forehead Naturally
If you are the type that isn’t comfortable with cosmetic injections, there are several natural routes you can take to smoother, younger-looking skin. Keep in mind that it takes time to see results, so be consistent about these habits and you might see your skin glow a little brighter!
Diet and Water
The quality of your diet and your water intake are directly connected to the appearance of your skin. Research has affirmed that water plays a crucial role in maintaining the physiological balance of your skin, and other essential nutrients for skin health are usually ingested. If you aren’t eating nutrient-dense food or drinking enough water each day, your skin will show it.
Sleep
According to a study, people who are sleep deprived show increased signs of uneven skin pigmentation, loss of elasticity, fine lines, and overall accelerated skin aging. They also have slower recovery from skin barrier disruption and are dissatisfied with how they look. Make sure you get at least seven hours of sleep at night so your skin has time to recover from environmental stressors.
Moisturizer
The skin tends to become more dry with age, which creates the perfect conditions for wrinkles. Using a moisturizer helps the skin retain water so that the fine lines and wrinkles in the skin are less noticeable. If you’re looking for a natural way to moisturize your skin, turn to egg whites, coconut oil, or avocado, all of which contain essential nutrients that plump the skin barrier and contribute to hydrated, youthful skin.
Exfoliation
Exfoliation, or the act of gently rubbing away dead skin cells from the face, is a great way to polish the surface of your face and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. For a natural exfoliant, turn to coffee grounds, baking soda, or granulated sugar mixed with milk, honey, or olive oil. These will polish away dullness without drying out your skin. You can also add a few drops of essential oil for a pleasant scent.
Facial Exercise
Certain facial exercises can help to soften brow lines. If you’ve been frowning or squinting in the sun recently, use your fingers to apply gentle pressure between the brows and softly sweep outward toward your temples. Focus on relaxing the muscles and repeat this motion at least 10 times or as many times as you need to get these muscles to loosen up.
Other Treatments for Frown Lines
When natural remedies don’t do the trick, here are some other treatments you can try over the counter or with the help of a qualified dermatology professional.
Stick-On Pads
Stick-on pads are medical-grade silicone pads that hydrate and fill in wrinkles while preventing you from contracting the muscles that deepen your wrinkles. They are available in drug stores and online retailers. The efficacy of facial wrinkle patches is not yet proven by science, but it never hurts to try products that contain nourishing ingredients and have plenty of positive customer reviews.
Retinoids
Retinoids, like vitamin A, have been shown by science to slow the aging process. They strengthen the skin barrier, prevent moisture loss, and protect collagen. Make these substances a part of your daily skin care regimen to improve the condition of your frown lines.
Microneedling
Microneedling is a minor cosmetic procedure that involves creating tiny puncture wounds that stimulate elastin and collagen production in your face. When done between the eyebrows, this procedure can minimize the look of furrow lines. Consult a certified medical spa to see if you are a good candidate for microneedling.
Injectables
Neuromodulator injections are known by the brand names of Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau. A small amount is injected into problem areas of the face to temporarily relax the muscles causing lines to appear or deepen. Hyaluronic acid and other dermal fillers temporarily rejuvenate skin and reduce the appearance of frown lines.
Facial Massage
Facial massages stimulate the flow of blood to the problem areas of the face and improve circulation. The flow of oxygenated blood ensures that skin tissue gets the nutrients it needs to stay looking young. Massages also increase the production of collagen to keep wrinkles from getting deeper or forming in the first place.
Peptides
Peptides are kind of like the building blocks of the skin. When applied topically, they send signals to your skin cells to make collagen. You can find peptides in many moisturizers and serums. Use these regularly to experience youthful, firm skin that may even be more resistant to breakouts.
Topical Estrogen
Estrogen is needed for basic skin functions and to maintain elasticity, thickness, and hydration. Topical estrogens may help revive estrogen-deficient skin that often takes hold in menopause. [Menopause and the Skin: Old Favorites and New Innovations in Cosmeceuticals for Estrogen-Deficient Skin - PubMed (nih.gov)]
Niacinamide
Niacinamide, or vitamin B3, is known to soften wrinkles and fine lines by improving the skin barrier and lessening the damaging effects of environmental stressors. It also enables the skin to repair itself more effectively so you’re left with fresh, radiant-looking skin. Look for this ingredient in your skin care products.
Defensins
In 2014, researchers discovered that defensins possess impressive anti-aging properties. They trigger stem cells to create new skin cells, helping the body use stem cells more efficiently. The result is decreased pore size, better skin texture, and overall higher skin quality. Defensins are the claim to fame of the DefenAge skin care line, as this ingredient has proven effective in several clinical trials and is present in each of the brand’s products.
How to Prevent Frown Lines From Forming
As you probably know, it’s easier to prevent frown lines from forming than it is to get rid of them. The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) offers these simple tips for preventing forehead furrows:
- Avoid smoking
- Get a full night’s sleep to reduce stress
- Eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water
- Wear sunglasses or a hat outside to prevent squinting
- Consider placing a small piece of cellophane tape on your forehead to remind yourself not to squint
- Follow a skin care routine; use moisturizer, sunscreen, and other products aimed at rejuvenating aging skin to prevent and lessen the appearance of glabellar lines
More Tips on How to Stop Frowning
Everyone will eventually end up with frown lines, but you can take action today to prevent them from becoming deeper. With healthy lifestyle habits and the right skin care ingredients, you can have vibrant and beautiful skin for longer. If you’re looking for more tips on how to get rid of lines on the face, visit the DefenAge blog where our industry experts post professional advice and solutions you can use starting today.