4 Surprising Causes of Expression Wrinkles

When we think of treatments for facial wrinkles, a go-to option for reducing them is often considered to be dermal fillers. Madison, WI’s Radiance Skin Therapy & Laser Center team points out that while many people consider fillers as a way of treating static wrinkles—which are linked to a loss of collagen, elastin, and fat from the skin and work by filling in the specific areas when they’re injected into the skin—there are now advanced types of fillers that can minimize dynamic wrinkles as well. The RHA® collection—which includes RHA® 2, RHA® 3, RHA® 4, and Redensity—is the first line of injectable fillers designed to treat wrinkles and folds associated with facial motion.

Dynamic wrinkles are lines that primarily develop in the upper third of the face, but are often seen around the mouth area as well. Examples include smoker’s lines, crow’s feet, and frown lines.

The gentle manufacturing process for the RHA® collection helps to preserve the structure of the hyaluronic acid so that it’s very similar to the naturally occurring sugar found in your skin. These fillers blend in seamlessly into the most dynamic, high-movement areas of the face without appearing to be stiff or unnatural, as opposed to traditional hyaluronic acid fillers, which can look unnatural on dynamic areas.

Although we think of wrinkles as being associated with aging, dynamic wrinkles are mainly caused by the movements of muscles in our face whenever we smile, frown, squint, chew, raise our eyebrows, or make other facial expression. These movements often only last a few seconds, but our repetitive facial expressions can eventually lead to the formation of wrinkles that last much, much longer—especially for those who have very naturally expressive faces.

Skin is continually being tugged, squeezed, and pulled in various directions when these expressions are made, and it eventually can no longer bounce back into its smooth resting position. Just like a folded sheet of paper develops creases, wrinkles eventually become etched into the skin.

See below for some of the most common causes of dynamic wrinkles, some of which may be surprising.

1. Excessive Squinting

If you’re squinting because you urgently need a new prescription for eyeglasses, the constant muscle contractions around the eyes can cause wrinkles to develop and the skin to become less elastic. Get your eyes checked regularly, avoid squinting at your phone, and wear sunglasses when you go outside. Squinting in bright sunlight because you forgot your shades can lead to the worsening of crow’s feet as well as “elevens” between the brows. Remember that sunlight bounces off of water and snow, so glare can come at you from many directions.

2. Having an Abnormal Bite

If you have jaw asymmetries, there may be more severe wrinkles on one side of the face compared to the other. In addition to cosmetic treatments, it’s a good idea to get a dental consultation if this may be causing your expression wrinkles.

3. The Way You Apply Makeup

Be gentle on your skin when applying makeup or removing contact lenses. The skin around the eyes is very thin and fragile, so the constant stretching as it’s pulled this way and that can make wrinkles more likely to occur. Rubbing your eyes due to allergies or fatigue also makes fine lines and wrinkles more likely to develop.

4. Drinking Out of a Straw

Since the mouth nearly constantly moves while we’re eating or talking, wrinkles are more likely to form in this area. Puckering the lips while drinking out of a straw causes contractions of the orbicularis oris muscle, so it’s best to skip drinking from straws whenever possible.

To learn more about how dynamic wrinkles can be corrected with certain types of advanced dermal fillers, contact Radiance Skin Therapy & Laser Center. Call (608) 240-0088 or fill out a contact form to request a consultation if you would like to discuss facial fillers or neuromodulators.