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Expression lines are the reflection of your everyday facial emotions but also the first signs of aging. Discover how to take care of expression lines and reduce their appearance.
Expression lines form from repetitive facial contractions and can be accentuated by environmental and lifestyle factors. Bioderma experts help you understand what causes expression lines and how to take care of them.
Expression lines are a type of wrinkles; there are two common types of wrinkles including:
Static wrinkles: they are visible even when the face is at rest and are caused by the decrease in collagen and elastin production.
Dynamic wrinkles: also called expression lines, they appear only with facial expressions. Over time, dynamic wrinkles usually become static wrinkles.
Expression lines are mainly caused by the repetition of muscles contraction, but other factors can intervene in their appearance.
Internal factors can bring the appearance of expression lines out.
Because of genetic predispositions, some people are more likely to develop wrinkles than others.
Repeated contraction of the muscles in the face pulls on the skin causing it to fold and crease. Combined with the decrease in collagen and elastin production, these creases stay visible even when the muscles are not contracted. “If you make a facial expression, you contract the underlying muscles. If you repeatedly contract the same muscles for many years, these lines become permanent” explains the AAD.
Other factors than genetics and facial expressions can contribute to the development of expression lines, like certain lifestyle factors.
Stress has a negative impact on the skin as it impacts the production of collagen and creates free radicals that damage skin cells and speed up the aging process. It is one of the main causes of premature aging.
When the skin is dehydrated, it can become vulnerable as its protective barrier cannot resist external aggression. Proper hydration improves the skin health and is crucial for maintaining the skin’s elasticity. This elasticity is what helps keep the skin smooth and less prone to developing wrinkles.
An unhealthy diet impacts the barrier functions of the skin and contributes to skin issues. Favor foods containing low antioxidants, vitamins and healthy fats to maintain your skin hydrated and protected.
Sleep plays a crucial role in skin regeneration. Indeed, while you sleep, your skin enters a phase of intense repair to regenerate, strengthen its barrier, and repair itself. A lack of sleep will impact the skin’s ability to protect itself.
External factors can increase the likelihood of expression lines.
Sun exposure is very harmful to the skin as it damages cells and accelerates the breakdown of collagen and elastin. With a bad quality and quantity of collagen and elastin, the skin loses its elasticity leading to wrinkles.
As sun exposure, smoking is another enemy for the skin as it damages its collagen and elastin natural production.
Air pollution and exposure to pollutants create oxidative stress and promote skin aging and inflammation. Pollution is responsible for skin barrier disruption contributing to the appearance of wrinkles.
There are 5 kinds of expression lines linked to a particular facial muscle.
The eyes area is known to create crow’s feet. These expression lines appear at the outer corner of the eyes and are particularly visible when we smile. The orbicularis oculi muscle is the one responsible for crow’s feet.
In the mouth area, we usually notice smiles lines or marionette lines which are vertical wrinkles caused by the depressor anguli oris muscle or the orbicularis oris muscle. These lines formed around the mouth or at the corners of the mouth and extended down toward the chin.
Bunny lines can develop in the nose area because of the nasalis muscle. They become more prominent when smiling and can create a false appearance of distaste.
The forehead area shows frown lines, also called Glabellar lines. On contraction, the procerus muscle causes horizontal lines while the corrugator supercilii muscles produce more vertical lines.
There are different solutions to support skin showing early signs of expression lines from being too visible and settling deeper into your skin.
By using a dedicated skincare product, you can prevent the appearance of expression lines. Bioderma Sensibio Defensive Serum is particularly recommended to help reduce wrinkles as it protects the skin against external aggressors and acts to limit aging signs. It is also a great product to add to your skincare routine for sensitive skin thanks to its moisturizing action.
Sun exposure is one of the biggest contributors to expression lines, which is why it is important to protect your skin from it. Wear sunscreen with an SPF 50+ and protect your eyes by wearing sunscreen. Even when it is cloudy, UV light can damage your skin, so remember to apply sunscreen each time you go outside.
Smoking and an unhealthy diet damage the skin’s collagen and elastin, which contribute to the development of expression lines. Avoiding these triggers prevents the appearance of expression lines.
During the night, your body undergoes many different repair processes including skin cell regeneration. A lack of sleep can disrupt this repair cycle, which is why it is recommended to sleep at least 8 hours a night.
Drinking water is associated with improved skin barriers. Drink 2L a day to keep your skin hydrated and less vulnerable to any skin disorders.
There are different options to reduce the appearance of expressions lines depending on your skin type and specific areas to be targeted.
Microneeding is a minimally invasive procedure which uses multiple microinjections to help stimulate your skin’s healing process. After the procedure, your skin might be red and swollen for up to five days. Once the skin is healed, you should see immediate results on wrinkles and expression lines.
Hyaluronic acid fillers provide volume and fill wrinkles by delivering hyaluronic acid to targeted areas of the face. Hyaluronic acid is known to help improve the appearance of expression lines by giving the skin’s firmness and elasticity.
Expression lines appear naturally from repetitive facial movements and can be accentuated by other factors. Preventative measures help limit the appearance of these wrinkles, and various treatments are available to reduce them.
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