Facial lines and wrinkles
Wrinkles (Rhytides)
As skin ages, it changes. With time, skin develops wrinkles, lines and furrows. How these changes impact an individual depends on his or her inherited tendency (genes) and exposure to environmental factors.
Wrinkles before and after treatment with a topical retinoid
Fine lines
Fine lines and wrinkles arise because of irregular thickening of the dermis and because of a decrease in the amount of water held by the epidermis. This is mainly caused by exposure to the UV radiation of sunlight and exposure to damaging chemicals, such as from smoking cigarettes.
Furrows
Deeper lines or furrows are described as either “dynamic” when they appear as different muscles move, or “static” if they remain unchanged with muscle movement. Eventually, dynamic lines become static furrows. Some furrows are so common that they have been given their own names.
- “Crow's feet” appear around the eyes. These are due to smiling and activity of the eyelid muscles.
- “Worry lines” appear on the forehead. These are due to contraction of muscle used when raising the eyebrows
- “Frown lines” appear between the eyebrows are due to contraction of muscles when concentrating or angry.
- “Smile lines” frame the lips. These are due to the contraction of muscle due to smiling.