Whether you call them worry lines, frown lines, glabellar lines, or “elevens,” forehead wrinkles share one common denominator: they can take away from the smooth and supple complexion so many of us crave.
Laughing, smiling, raising our eyebrows, gazing skywards, even crying—all seem to be profound facial expressions that are seen on our foreheads. In the absence of heavy bangs and a makeup primer in our pockets, deep wrinkles can also be tricky to conceal.
But there’s no need to frown over forehead wrinkles. Diminishing the appearance of worry lines—or dodging them altogether—starts with understanding how they form in the first place. Read on for what causes forehead wrinkles and the steps you can take to prevent them.
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#1 Diet
Taut, radiant skin isn’t just the result of high-quality skincare and stellar genes: It’s also a reflection of your lifestyle, including the foods you eat on a regular basis.
Advanced glycation end products—or AGEs, as they’re fittingly and commonly called—can speed up the process of aging skin and lead to fine lines and wrinkles on your forehead and beyond.
These age-promoting compounds develop when fat and protein encounter sugar in the bloodstream. And the biggest culprit behind them? The food you eat.
Some examples of foods containing AGEs include:
- Foods fried in oil at high temperatures, which can generate free radicals that may lead to premature aging.,
- Processed meat is high in sodium, which can dehydrate your skin and exacerbate the appearance of wrinkles. Meanwhile, the sulfites and saturated fats in processed meats can provoke inflammation, which may wreak havoc on your complexion.
- An excess of carbohydrates and fat, which may contribute to wrinkles and atrophy (or skin sagging), along with that “droopy” forehead look you’d rather associate with your pet pug.
Swap them with…
A whole-food diet brimming with antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. This can help neutralize free radicals and may be one of the golden tickets to a line-less forehead.
But you don’t need to conduct a complete overhaul of your eating regime to obtain a silkier, tighter forehead. Rather, be mindful of what you eat and select healthier bites when possible—lean, freshly-carved turkey over salami, for instance, or yogurt over a donut.
If you’re curious about more ways to know how to get rid of forehead wrinkles, make sure to check out PROVEN’s resource center so that you can ensure you’re doing everything you can to prevent future forehead wrinkles.
#2 Repetitive Facial Expressions
Squinting at your laptop for hours on end, raising your eyebrows in surprise, scrunching your nose when you laugh—over time, these movements, among others, can create “grooves” underneath the surface of your skin that may progress into deeply-entrenched facial lines.
This is because as we age, we produce less and less collagen and elastin, two proteins that give our skin strength and resilience. With reduced skin elasticity, these “dynamic,” temporary lines turn into “static” wrinkles, which become noticeable even when our faces are still.
Minimize the appearance of forehead lines with…
#3 Sun Exposure
There’s no denying the delight of feeling warm sunlight on your bare skin, especially after a particularly frigid winter. Alas, UV radiation is responsible for as much as 90% of skin aging.
As one of the larger parts of your face, your forehead may take the brunt of UV rays and sun exposure—and wrinkles can surface as a result of it.
Protect yourself with…
- Plan your day – Whether you’re heading to the beach or going for a walk, aim to do so before 10 am and/or after 4 pm to avoid the sun’s strongest UV rays.
- Wear a hat – A hat can keep your forehead and the rest of your skin shielded from the sun (and look chic to boot).
- Wear SPF religiously – The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or higher on a daily basis—yes, even on overcast days.
#4 Genetics
Sometimes preventative measures, like refraining from smoking or getting adequate sleep, aren’t enough to avoid some amount of forehead wrinkles.
And yet, some research demonstrates that as much as 66% of the signs of aging skin are due to something we can’t control: Our genes.
Work around what you inherited by…
- Eating nourishing foods
- Hydrating often—both your body and your skin
- Curbing your consumption of alcohol
- Exercising often
You may also want to give yourself one more reason to relax: Meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and simply chilling out can reduce how often you scowl and frown and may hasten the development of forehead wrinkles.
Amplify Your Skincare Routine with PROVEN
Forehead wrinkles might be symbolic of the joys and challenges we’ve experienced. But a mindful prevention plan, coupled with a few lifestyle tweaks and products that work hard on your behalf, can stop them in their (literal) tracks and soften their appearance.
Take your skin-revitalizing efforts to the next level with PROVEN Skincare. Complete a simple but thorough three-minute Skin Genome Quiz™ , and we’ll hand-select the ingredients that align with your lifestyle, skin concerns, and goals.
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