Frown Lines: How to minimize the appearance of frown lines
The appearance of the frown lines, also known as furrow lines or 11 lines (11s) can affect your self-esteem and overall view of yourself. These types of wrinkles can make you look angry, grumpy, or even sad which gives out the wrong impression.
Why do frown lines appear?
Frown lines are vertical lines that develop above your nose and between your eyebrows over time as a result of frowning and squinting. Frown lines are also a part of the natural aging process of the face, and while aging is the greatest contributor to skin wrinkling, poor lifestyle habits and choices can further worsen the wrinkling of your skin.
It is important to know what factors contribute to skin wrinkling and what you can start implementing in your daily life to prevent or reduce the appearance of frown lines.
Aging
Aging is the main cause of frown lines, as skin loses its elasticity over the years due to decreased amounts of collagen and elastin – the two important skin proteins which give your skin a youthful and healthy appearance. While older people are more susceptible to frown lines, they can start appearing as early as in their 20s.
Repetitive facial expressions
Lines between the eyebrows become deeper with the repetitive movement of the muscles associated with facial expressions. Constantly squinting, smiling, or furrowing the brow can cause the furrows to “deepen” over time as your skin loses the ability to revert back to its original state. People who tend to frown a lot as a habit or have very exaggerated facial expressions also tend to develop frown lines earlier.
Smoking
Cigarette smoking is in general associated with premature skin aging and wrinkling. Smoking inhibits the body’s natural repair process, damaging collagen and elastin fibers in the skin. Besides tobacco’s damaging effects on skin texture and elasticity, the repeated motion of smoking a cigarette causes repeated brow furrowing, causing frown lines.
Sun exposure
Excessive exposure to sunlight is responsible for up to 80% of the visible signs of facial aging, including facial wrinkles. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun damages the skin by breaking down collagen and elastin, causing your skin to lose elasticity and form facial wrinkles. Additionally, overexposing yourself to the sun’s damaging rays increases the chance of developing skin cancers, such as melanoma.
Stress
Stress is known to have adverse effects on both your mental health and physical appearance. Chronic stress elevates cortisol levels in your body, which causes inflammation and also damages collagen. Stress also causes facial tension, leading to repeated facial expressions which cause frown lines.
Poor diet
Scientists suggest that too much-processed sugar can cause collagen breakdown which leads to reduced skin elasticity. It is important to eat a healthy diet that includes enough water and a variety of fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants which help skin repair and maintain a youthful appearance.
How to prevent frown lines
Depending on your needs and your goals, the actions you can take to reduce the appearance of frown lines can vary from changing everyday habits and altering your diet, to more complex injectable clinical treatments such as botox or dermal fillers. What is certain is that you should start treating frown lines as early as possible, as they can start developing even in the early 20s.
Sleep enough
The importance of sleep is often overlooked when it comes to skincare advice. Getting enough bedtime (7-9 hours) every night allows your skin to recharge and produce enough collagen which helps prevent wrinkles. Having good sleep hygiene is one of the crucial factors when it comes to preventing the formation of frown lines. It is also recommended to sleep on your back as sleeping with your face on the pillow can cause it to stretch which can lead to wrinkling.
Implement a healthy diet
A healthy diet and consuming adequate amounts of water can prevent face wrinkles from developing. Also, pumping up the vitamin C proves to be beneficial for the skin as vitamin C from foods can help regenerate skin cells, reduce wrinkles and fight against ultraviolet damage to your skin when exposed to sunlight.
Protect yourself from the Sun
Using sunscreen is essential when going out as it blocks UVA and UVB rays and prevents your skin from burning and aging. UV rays from the sun are present on cloudy days and in winter too. Also, sunglasses are a great way of preventing furrow lines. Not only do they protect your skin around the eyes from direct exposure to the sun, but they also prevent you from squinting, which is one of the causes of 11s.
How to treat frown lines
Injectable treatments are an effective way to reduce frown lines. However, before undergoing such procedures it is important to consider the underlying environmental and lifestyle factors above which may be contributing to frown lines. Frown lines can also be treated with over-the-counter treatments such as facial moisturizers, masks, and serums.
Botox
Botox injections are one of the most popular and effective procedures when treating frown lines. Common benefits of the procedure include softer frown lines, reduced wrinkling, and improved appearance of the eyes and eyebrows.
The procedure lasts only 10-15 minutes and is considered pain-free, which is why it is a favorite among people who care about their looks. Botox works by numbing a certain muscle, preventing it from contractions, which prevents the wrinkles and lines from forming.
The cost depends on the clinic you choose and the number of Botox units needed, which is usually 10-12 units per side when it comes to treating frown lines. The stay in the hospital is ambulant and the aftercare includes minimized sun exposure, not laying down on your face, and not massage the area for at least two hours.
For more information about Botox treatment for frown lines and other types of wrinkles, visit our Wrinkle Treatments with Botox page and contact us to schedule an appointment!
Dermal fillers
Similar to Botox, dermal fillers are also a very fast, popular, and effective way of minimizing the appearance of frown lines, although there is a significant difference in these two procedures.
Both procedures are non-surgical, last shortly, and are done by administering injections, but the effects they cause are different. While Botox injections work by numbing the muscle and preventing its contractions, dermal fillers affect the body’s production of collagen. The secret lies in the base of the filler, usually the hyaluronic acid, which stimulates the body’s natural production of collagen. Since collagen is what makes skin look soft, fresh, and young, its production will give more volume to the injected area, reduce the frown lines and improve the skin condition in general.
Frown lines treatment with dermal fillers takes only 15 minutes and the results last for approximately 3-6 months. The more HA injections you receive, the longer the results last each time.
Although it is recommended you do it more than once, the cost of the frown lines treatment with dermal fillers is very affordable, especially here at My Esthetic Beauty Clinic. Contact us to discuss everything you need to know about our treatment!
FAQ
What are frown lines?
Frown lines (also known as furrow lines or 11 lines) are deep vertical lines that form between the eyebrows and around the eyes as a result of aging, repeated muscle contractions, and many other factors.
What is the best treatment for frown lines?
Depending on your age, your needs, and the severity of your facial wrinkles, the treatment can vary from changing your lifestyle habits (such as diet, sleep, etc.) to more complex clinical treatments such as Botox or dermal fillers.
Are frown lines the same as glabellar lines?
While these two terms are often used interchangeably, they do not mean exactly the same. Frown lines are the two vertical lines found between your eyebrows. Glabellar lines are the horizontal lines that are found on your forehead, above your eyebrows.
