If you’ve ever looked in the mirror only to frown over fine lines on your forehead, know that you’re not alone. According to board-certified dermatologist and founder of Entière Dermatology, Dr. Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, forehead wrinkles are one of the top skincare concerns among patients 25 and up. 

If you’re becoming increasingly concerned about your wrinkles, you might want to set up an appointment with your dermatologist. In the meantime, we'll cover what causes forehead wrinkles in the first place, whether or not you can really get rid of them, and a series of tips to make them look less visible. Plus, as always, we have product picks for you. In other words, hold the phone and keep reading.

Common Causes of Forehead Wrinkles

As with many skincare concerns, age plays a role in the development of forehead wrinkles. That said, just because the passing of time causes a reduction in collagen and elastin production, doesn’t mean there aren’t also other factors that come into play. Think:

Excessive sun exposure (which, according to Levin, “progressively slows the body’s natural production of collagen and elastin—thus contributing to laxity”)

Facial muscle strength

Repetitive forehead facial expressions (which board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michele Green says are caused by the activity of the frontalis muscles that allow you to raise your eyebrows)

• Staring into screens
• Stress
• Gravity
• Pollution
• Behavioral habits

Genetics (which Levin says influence when a person starts to develop static wrinkles in the first place)

Noticed the term “static wrinkles?” While some people start to fret over forehead wrinkles the moment they see a picture of themselves smiling accompanied by a couple "11" lines, the truth is, wrinkles don’t become permanent (read: static), until they’re there when you’re not making a face at all. NYC-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman refers to this concept as dynamic vs. static wrinkles. Where dynamic wrinkles are a fleeting part of normal everyday expression, static wrinkles are those that leave their tracks while your face is at rest. 

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