What Causes Face Lines? 7 Treatments & Preventive Tips

The skin can be fickle when it comes to revealing your age with the appearance of fine lines on your face. They're almost never welcome, and avoiding them is difficult as daily life exposes the skin to the aging process, gravity, and the effects of UV rays from the sun.

Over time, fine lines turn into face wrinkles because the skin loses its elasticity, making their appearance harder to overcome. Face wrinkles and fine lines can also be a sign of skin damage, so for some people, they may show up prematurely.

Face lines might be distressing as you see them start to form where there was once a smooth complexion. However, there’s nothing to be concerned about healthwise.

The good news is, if you want to get rid of them and maintain your youthful appearance, there are preventative measures you can take to minimize them without undergoing a facelift.

We’ve put together this guide to help you prevent them as best as you can, help you understand what causes wrinkles, and learn how to improve your complexion. Keep reading, or use the links below to get started.

• What Are Face Lines?
• What Causes Face Lines?
• How Do You Get Rid of Face Lines?
• How Do You Prevent Face Lines & Wrinkles?

What Are Face Lines?

Face lines are fine lines that form in the upper layers of your skin and can eventually turn into wrinkles. Although, that’s not always the case.

They can show up around your eyes, mouth, forehead, and just about anywhere on the face. These lines are usually the result of repeated facial movements and expressions or sun exposure that causes damage. We’ll go into the causes of face lines more in-depth in just a moment.

Face Lines vs. Wrinkles

Face lines and wrinkles are very similar. However, wrinkles are more deeply set into the skin than fine lines. They tend to form in areas of high mobility on the face as the creases deepen over time.

This is generally the result of skin losing its underlying collagen and elastin and gravity taking its toll. Ongoing sun damage also plays a critical role in the development of wrinkles.

What Causes Face Lines?

There are a variety of factors that contribute to the development of facial lines and wrinkles. For example, too much exposure to the sun without the protection of sunscreen damages the cellular structure of your skin.

Other factors that contribute to wrinkles and fine lines include age and genetics, and even the expressions you make on a regular basis.

Let’s take a closer look at the most common culprits that cause face wrinkles:

Repetitive Movements

Repetitive movements refer to the facial expressions you make all day, every day. The muscles that help you make these expressions lose their ability to return to a smooth state with use and age. Sometimes these wrinkles are called laugh lines because you engage these facial muscles when you laugh.

Smoking

The act of smoking a cigarette releases chemicals and toxins that damage elastin and collagen, two vital building blocks of your skin's structure. Smoking accelerates breakdown, causing premature aging.

In general, it's often a good idea to quit smoking to preserve the condition of your skin.

Drinking

A drink now and again won't cause permanent damage to your skin, but it does cause dehydration that leads to fine wrinkles in the short term. Continued alcohol consumption, especially in large quantities, can result in a state of constant dehydration and make your skin look dry. Over time, this dryness can lead to the premature formation of wrinkles.

Aging

All of the above issues cause wrinkles on their own, but the aging process can make them worse. Skin loses its elasticity and fat stores that help keep facial skin tight and smooth, leading to the formation of wrinkles even if you take great care of your skin throughout your life.

How Do You Get Rid of Face Lines?

For many, the appearance of fine lines is never welcome, but you don't have to live with them to their full extent, either. It's true that the only permanent solution to wrinkles is a facelift, but even then, gravity and aging can undo the work of the facelift. It's far less painful to use anti-aging skin treatments, chemical peels, microneedling, and dermal fillers to achieve a youthful appearance while eliminating facial lines and wrinkles.

Never heard of some of these options? We’ve provided a short overview of each solution to help you determine how you want to go about getting rid of unwanted face lines.

1. Anti-Aging Skin Treatments

Anti-aging skin treatments have come a long way in terms of reducing fine lines and wrinkles on the face and neck. They're also much more affordable when compared to the cost of dermal fillers and Botox and avoid the discomfort of microneedling and chemical peels.

Skincare with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and peptides can help prevent and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles without the need to go to a spa or dermatologist. For example, our face and neck treatment can help boost collagen production and smooth your complexion.

You can also seek out serums and skin care treatments that are designed to target certain areas where you have the worst lines, like an eye cream.

2. Chemical Peels

Chemical peels can minimize the appearance of fine lines and also refresh your complexion.

A peel works by removing old skin cells from the first couple of dermal layers and exposes fresh new skin cells. The mildly damaging effects of the peel also stimulate your body to deliver more elastin and collagen to your skin. When this happens, fine lines are less visible.

3. Microneedling

Microneedling involves the use of a tool that features a roller with fine needles on its surface. The tool is pressed against your skin and gently rolled over the areas that need treatment. It's a treatment that you can do on your own, or you can have an esthetician do it for you. However, for the best results and skin safety, it’s usually recommended to visit a professional for this treatment.

The needles create tiny punctures in your skin that stimulate the production of collagen and elastin at the site of treatment. This results in the plumping of face wrinkles and lines, ultimately minimizing their appearance.

4. Injectables

Injectables include fillers and Botox. Fillers are used to plump and restore lost volume under the skin. They are commonly used to address lines and wrinkles.

Dermal fillers are a gel-like material that uses hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, your own body fat, and other materials that last anywhere from six months to 3 years. Some materials are absorbed by the body and passed through without harm, while others are used for a specific purpose, such as loss of volume from aging.

Botox, while an injectable, is not the same as a dermal filler. Botox is derived from the botulism bacterium and essentially freezes the muscle that's been treated. Botox is used to eliminate wrinkles on the forehead, around the eyes, and between the eyebrows by freezing movement in the targeted area.

How Do You Prevent Face Lines & Wrinkles?

Preventing the formation of wrinkles and lines on your face isn't always possible since genetics play a role, but you can minimize their development when you take the following preventive measures.

1. Sunscreen 

Sunscreen is essential for protecting your skin from UV damage that contributes to fine lines and wrinkles. Depending on which type of sunscreen you use, chemical or mineral, it either absorbs the UV rays or reflects them away from the skin. In either case, it protects your skin from damage.

Using sunscreen prevents your skin from more than just wrinkles. It also helps slow the development of age spots and sagging skin and lowers the risk of skin cancer.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends wearing sunscreen every day to protect yourself from UV rays. Put it on before you head out for the day, and make sure to reapply at least every two hours to keep yourself protected. This is especially important when the sun’s at its peak. The sun is at its strongest between the hours of 12 pm to 4 pm.

2. Stop Smoking & Drinking

As previously mentioned, smoking is bad for your skin. You may want to consider quitting smoking to preserve the condition of your skin, avoid premature aging, and maintain a youthful appearance.

The same goes for drinking alcohol, as it leads to dehydration, which can also make fine lines and wrinkles permanent. A drink now and again won't cause permanent damage to your skin, but you may want to limit your intake.

3. Keep Skin Hydrated

Drinking enough water every day helps keep your skin hydrated, but it's something that's easily overlooked. Make it a point to drink water throughout the day, as it has benefits beyond keeping your skin looking healthy.

Moisturizers and hydrating treatments are also readily absorbed by your skin, so it can stay supple and soft. Consider adding one to your skincare routine.

Help Your Skin Stay Looking Youthful Longer

If you want to reduce or prevent the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, it’s imperative that you make skincare and sun protection priorities. While you can't stop the aging process, you can take steps to avoid premature aging and reduce the severity of your facial lines.

Colorescience offers a lineup of anti-aging skin care products and mineral sunscreens that provide protection from the sun. These products make it easy for you to care for your skin and feel more confident about your complexion. There's no time like the present to get started with reducing the appearance of face lines and preventing UV damage to your skin's structure.

Try Colorescience today to find must-have treatments for healthy, youthful-looking skin.