What Causes Expresison Lines - and What Can You Do About Them?
A guide to forehead lines, frown lines and crow’s feet, why they develop and the treatment options available.
Forehead lines, frown lines and crow’s feet are some of the most common changes we notice as our skin ages. But not every line develops for the same reason — and understanding what's causing it is important when considering treatment.
Some lines mainly appear when we smile, frown or raise our eyebrows, while others remain visible even when the face is completely relaxed.
Here’s why that happens and what can be done about it.
Why do expression lines develop?
Every time you smile, squint, frown or raise your eyebrows, muscles underneath the skin contract and move the skin above them.
When we're younger, the skin tends to spring back once those muscles relax. Over time, repeated movement combined with gradual changes in collagen, elastin and skin quality can mean those creases become increasingly noticeable.
This is why some people first notice lines only while they're making an expression, before eventually seeing them while their face is at rest.
Dynamic vs static lines: what's the difference?
You may hear practitioners refer to dynamic and static lines.
Dynamic lines appear primarily when the muscles underneath the skin contract. Examples include forehead creases when raising your eyebrows or crow's feet when smiling.
Static lines remain visible when your face is relaxed.
A line can begin as a dynamic line and gradually become more established over time.
This distinction matters because different concerns may benefit from different approaches.
The most common areas
Forehead lines
Horizontal forehead lines usually become more noticeable when raising the eyebrows.
Everyone's forehead movement is different, which is why assessment of both the forehead and eyebrow position is important before considering treatment.
Frown lines
The vertical lines that can appear between the eyebrows are sometimes known as glabellar or “11” lines.
They're produced by a group of muscles that draw the eyebrows together and can become increasingly visible with repeated movement.
Crow's feet
These are the lines that appear around the outer corners of the eyes, particularly when smiling or squinting.
They are a completely normal consequence of facial expression but may become more prominent as skin elasticity changes.
What treatments are available for expression lines?
There isn't one treatment that's appropriate for every line.
Treatment depends on factors including:
- whether the line appears during movement or remains at rest
- the strength and pattern of your facial muscles
- skin quality
- volume and structural changes in the face
- your individual facial anatomy
- what you actually want to achieve
Options may include skincare, treatments intended to improve skin quality, resurfacing procedures and, following an appropriate clinical assessment, prescription treatment may be considered where suitable.
This is also why simply choosing a treatment because someone else had good results isn't always the best approach.
What about deeper lines that are there when I'm not moving?
This is an important distinction.
Reducing the muscular movement responsible for repeatedly folding the skin does not necessarily make an established static line disappear.
If a crease has become visible while your face is relaxed, factors such as skin quality and the depth of the existing line may also need to be considered.
Sometimes a combination of approaches is more appropriate than trying to address everything with one treatment.
Will treatment make my face look frozen?
One of the most common concerns people have about treatments for expression lines is losing their natural facial movement.
Treatment planning isn't simply about removing as much movement as possible.
Your anatomy, muscle strength, existing movement and the amount of movement you'd like to retain all form part of the assessment.
The appropriate approach can therefore be very different from one person to another.
How do I know which treatment I need?
You don't necessarily need to.
It's often more useful to start with the concern rather than deciding on a treatment yourself.
During a consultation we can look at your facial movement, skin and anatomy, discuss what is bothering you and explain the options that may be appropriate.
Considering treatment for lines and wrinkles?