Frown lines, or lines that run across your brow, are a source of frustration for anyone attempting to look younger. Nothing seems to make them go away, no matter what you do.
We wanted to know if there was anything we could do at home to smooth these wrinkles, so we contacted Dr. Glogau, one of the top experts on facial aging, for some answers. Dr. Glogau frequently lectures on the aesthetics of facial beauty and the aging face, as well as the use of fillers, botulinum toxin, and lasers. He has written four textbooks, 27 book chapters, and over 50 journal articles.
Dr. Glogau has been named one of America’s Best Doctors on an annual basis and has been widely quoted in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Time Magazine, and The Economist, as well as appearing on ABC’s 20/20. He works as a consultant and investigator for several companies in the cosmetic and medical device industries.
What exactly are frown lines?
Frown lines are lines in the skin caused by the movement of facial muscles, and are referred to as dynamic lines because they are created by motion as opposed to lines caused by photodamage (lifetime sun exposure).
When do people typically see early frown lines starting to form?
People who scowl repeatedly form frown lines between their brows. The elastic fibers in the skin eventually fracture as the skin ages, and the skin no longer recovers quickly from being folded. Even when the face is at rest, the lines become “etched in” and no longer disappear.
Some expressions, such as the frown between the brows, are acquired as language develops and are more common in cultures where facial expressions and verbal expressions go hand in hand. In contrast, frown lines between the brows appear much less frequently in cultures where language is not typically accompanied by facial expressions (for example, Japan).
Men often associate some frown lines with gravitas and wisdom, but when they are too deep, men dislike them just as much as women.
What are the biggest frown line instigators?
Aside from conversational stress, several factors can aggravate frown lines, including failure to wear sunglasses to avoid squinting, failure to wear reading glasses while working at a computer screen, watching TV, or even reading a book. And computational tasks such as balancing your checkbook, filing taxes, and filling out applications can all cause a frown to appear on your brow.
What can young people do today to prevent frown lines in the future?
Wear your sunglasses, if necessary, and practice not frowning when you talk by watching yourself in the mirror while talking on the phone, for example.
What in-office procedures are best at minimizing frown lines?
Botulinum toxin (Botox® CosmeticTM, Xeomin®, and Dysport®) can relax those muscles, making it impossible for you to make the expression. For patients who do not want botulinum toxin, a hyaluronic acid filler (Juvederm®, Restylane®, Belotero®) can soften the lines but does not provide the same complete effect as botulinum toxin.
Is there anything that we can use at home to soften frown lines?
A variety of patches and tapes are available on the market that can be worn at night while sleeping to reduce involuntary frowning. They are commonly referred to as “frowning,” and with continued use, they can modify the less severe lines. Topical anti-wrinkle creams, including prescription drugs such as Retin-A®, do not affect lines because the primary cause of lines is movement, not skin texture and quality.
Do you have any final tips?
Once you begin botulinum toxin treatment for these lines, you must keep the brows relaxed for several months for the skin to remodel completely and the lines to disappear. If you stretch the skin between the brows before treatment and still see some lines, they are “etched in” and will require no movement for several weeks for the skin to smooth out completely. So, while the botulinum toxin may “kick in” in as little as two days, the skin will not be completely smooth for quite some time.
