Medically reviewed by Minimalist Health Specialist - Written by Rithi Choudhary (Journalist) on 04th Dec 2020

How to Deal with Wrinkles on the Forehead

When you enter the third decade of your life, you welcome new developments on your face and body, such as laugh lines and furrows on the forehead. While we are all for embracing aging gracefully, not everyone is comfortable with these signs of aging, mainly if one develops these signs prematurely.

This is why we have curated a list of solutions to help minimize the appearance or, in some cases, completely fade the horizontal lines, that is, wrinkles on your forehead.

Forehead Wrinkles 101

The skin on our body and face is not the same. The facial skin is much more delicate than the skin on the body. Within the face, skin thickness is different in the areas around the eyes, lips, and the skin on the forehead. The skin on the forehead is thinner and, therefore, vulnerable than the cheeks' skin. Thus one is more likely to develop wrinkles (dynamic or static) in these areas of the face first compared to the rest of the face where the skin is thicker.

How Do Lines And Wrinkles Develop On The Forehead

As a child and young adult, our skin is plump and firm. As we age, the skin becomes loose. Therefore losing its firmness and becomes saggy. Ever thought why that happens so? It is because of the degradation of collagen and elastin in the skin. Collagen and elastin are protein fibers that are hugely responsible for the skin's structure, volume, and elasticity. While the body abundantly produces them in one's youth, their production in terms of quantity and quality naturally depletes after a certain age. Thus, skin starts losing its youthfulness.

But aging is not the only reason for the degradation of collagen.

Collagen can start degrading even prematurely due to the following factors:

UV exposure: UV rays are the number one enemy of collagen. Even a few minutes of unprotected UV exposure can breakdown collagen and lead to photoaging.
Oxidative Stress: Oxidative stress is the imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body. An excess of free radicals in your body leads to cellular damage and collagen fibers' breakdown, which leads to premature signs of aging like wrinkles, dryness, and saggy skin.
Diet High In Sugar & Refined Carbs: A diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates like white bread, cake, cookies, etc., is bad for the skin as an excess of sugar causes cross-linking of collagen, resulting in stiffening and loss of elasticity of our skin.

Did You Know:

Carbohydrates break down into glucose (sugar) in our body. Therefore watch out for hidden sugars in the food that you consume.

Smoking: Cigarette smoking leads to collagen and elastin damage and restricts blood flow by narrowing the blood vessels.
Caffeine: Caffeine can be useful for your soul but not for your skin. Too much caffeine intake is not suitable for skin health, and studies have also shown that caffeine reduces the synthesis of collagen in the skin. Also, note here that just coffee is not the only caffeine that you consume. The coke, Pepsi, and other aerated drinks are also caffeinated and not to mention loaded with sugar.

How To Treat Forehead Wrinkles

Control Your Facial Expression: Our face is meant to express emotions. Collagen ensures our features to go back to normal after a frown or a squint or a smile. But as we age, the quality & quantity of collagen decreases, and therefore our features tend to freeze in a place for much longer. With continuous stretching, pulling, and tugging, the lines become more prominent. Therefore do not frown unnecessarily, rub the eyes vigorously or pull or tug the skin during your skincare routine. Dab on the product gently.
Retinoids: It is an umbrella term for the derivatives of Vitamin A. They are incredibly useful and have been clinically proven to help diminish lines and wrinkles. But not all retinoids are the same. More potent retinoids like tretinoin are categorized into prescription retinoids, and they cannot be purchased over the counter without a prescription. Retinoids like adapalene, which are much milder than tretinoin, are called over-the-counter or OTC retinoids as a person do not need/require a prescription to buy/purchase them

If you are using retinoids for the first time, go for an OTC retinoid, but since they are not very potent, they will be less effective in diminishing the lines and wrinkles. Therefore we strongly recommend consulting a dermatologist for prescribing the correct retinoid for you in the right concentration.

Also, apply retinoids over a moisturizer layer to minimize the dryness and peeling that retinoids pay cause during the initial days. Retinoids are also used for acne treatment, and purging is a common side effect of retinoids. But after the initial purging, the skin starts clearing for the better.

Note:

If you are pregnant, never use retinoids.

Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants scavenge free radicals and repair the damage they cause up to a certain extent. Therefore Vitamin C helps in keeping fine lines and wrinkles at bay. It deserves a bonus point for its ability to boost collagen production. But Vitamin C is a tricky ingredient to use. It is prone to oxidation and should be stored in the bottle in a dark, calm environment. Do not layer it with retinoids.

Note:

Vitamin C decreases melanin production by inhibiting tyrosinase activity, an enzyme responsible for activating melanin. Therefore do not skip the sunscreen to prevent sun damage.

Hyaluronic Acid: Like collagen, Hyaluronic Acid is naturally produced by the body. But with age, its production starts depleting. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, and therefore, it acts as a moisture magnet. It can hold water several times more than its molecular weight. It helps keep the skin looking plump by drawing in moisture.

Note:

Hyaluronic Acid serum is best suited for a humid environment. If you live in a dry climate, then always layer your serum with a coat of moisturizer. Otherwise, the Hyaluronic Acid molecules will start drawing water from the hypodermis, that is, the skin's innermost layer instead.

Ceramides and Peptides: Ceramides are lipids (fats) that protect the skin barrier. Peptides are amino acid chains that are primarily used in skincare for its anti-aging benefits. The skin barrier needs to be strong & healthy for optimum skin health. A compromised skin barrier leads to several skin woes like lines, wrinkles, and inflammation. Ceramides are what protect the skin barrier. But with age, they deplete. Thankfully science has brought ceramides in the form of creams/lotions to replenish the skin barrier. Look for moisturizers with ceramides and peptides to protect the skin and also replenish and rejuvenate.
Niacinamide: Niacinamide is a derivative of Vit. B3 (niacin) and has been winning hearts for being an all-rounder. It helps treat fine lines and wrinkles, helps control sebum, helps treat hyperpigmentation, and soothes inflamed skin. The best part about niacinamide is that even those with sensitive skin can use it as it is a much, much gentler alternative to retinoids.

Start with a 2-5% concentration if you are new to niacinamide; otherwise, for maximum effectiveness, go for a concentration of 10%.

Try: Minimalist Niacinamide 5% + Hyaluronic Acid 1%
Minimalist Niacinamide 10% + Zinc

Panthenol: When choosing a moisturizer, go for one with panthenol or pro-Vitamin B5 as an ingredient. Panthenol, also known as dexpanthenol, is an excellent ingredient for smoothing the skin and diminishing fine lines. It is both an emollient, which means that it seals in moisture, and also a humectant, that is, it attracts moisture to the skin. Keep in mind that when treating fine lines and wrinkles, you want your skin to be hydrated all the time. Dry skin is more prone to wrinkles.

Try: Minimalist Hyaluronic Acid 2% + Vitamin B5
Try: Minimalist Sepicalm 3% + Oat Moisturizer

Did You Know:

Panthenol is moisturizing alcohol derived from Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid).

Lactic Acid: Exfoliating the skin with the incredible AHA, that is, Lactic Acid will not only get rid of dead skin cells to reveal new cells but also boost collagen production, promote cellular turnover, and hydrate at the same time. No wonder Cleopatra used to take milk baths before meeting her suitors!

Try: Minimalist Lactic Acid 10% + Hyaluronic Acid 1%

Sunscreen: We have been repeating this like a mantra in almost every article - come rain or sunshine, wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen of minimum SPF 30. UV rays are unforgiving, and the damage they do is irreversible. Therefore prevent UV damage in the first place to keep signs of skin aging at bay. Do not forget to reuse your sunscreen every two hours.

Bottom Line

Aging is a natural process, and you should own each of those laugh lines! Don't fuss over it because you are beautiful at any age. But take good care of your skin with the right ingredients, adopt a healthy lifestyle, and give up on unhealthy habits like smoking and processed diets. You'll see the difference!