We all know that wrinkles appear as we age, but not all wrinkles are alike. Facial lines can be caused by different factors, and what works to treat forehead lines may not have the same effect on neck wrinkles. To understand these visible signs of ageing, it’s helpful to divide wrinkles into two distinct categories: static and dynamic. Our Harley Street aesthetic specialists are here to explain the difference between the two.
Dynamic wrinkles are those formed by repeated facial expressions like squinting, frowning, smiling, and movements such as drinking through a straw.
Research suggests that dynamic wrinkles can also be caused during sleep, with compression from certain sleep positions causing facial distortion that contributes to the appearance of ageing. Dynamic wrinkles can be further emphasised by genetics, a poor diet or regular smoking.
Every time you make a facial movement, you may notice that lines appear, only to quickly fade when your facial features return to a neutral position. Dynamic lines are only visible when the underlying facial muscles are contracted and include the following types of wrinkles:
• Smile lines
• Crow’s feet
• Frown lines (between the eyebrows)
• Forehead wrinkles.
Although dynamic lines quickly disappear when you’re young, over time, reduced collagen production and a lack of elasticity make the skin less able to bounce back. Eventually, this results in dynamic lines becoming permanent.
Static wrinkles differ from dynamic wrinkles in that they are permanent and can be seen when your face is at rest. Static lines may form due to photoaging, chronological ageing or an unhealthy lifestyle, and they are often the result of dynamic wrinkles that have deepened over time.
Although we may not like them, static wrinkles are a natural part of ageing and affect us all eventually. The skin produces less collagen as we get older and becomes looser and less springy over time, making it difficult to keep wrinkles at bay. Static wrinkles can also be caused by gravity, dry skin, and a loss of fat in the face. These wrinkles include:
• Marionette lines
• Tear trough lines
• Lateral cheek lines
• Neck wrinkles.
There are several treatments available to alleviate the appearance of existing wrinkles, but you can also slow their formation with these simple lifestyle changes:
• Use sun protection to slow down premature skin ageing
• Moisturise daily to nourish the skin
• Drink plenty of water to prevent dryness and dehydration
• Quit smoking
• Get plenty of sleep
• Avoid excessive amounts of sugar and processed foods
• Use a retinoid to keep skin plump.
So, what treatment options are out there for static wrinkles vs dynamic wrinkles?
By far the best treatment for dynamic wrinkles is Botox, a procedure in which botulinum toxin type A is injected into targeted muscles. This treatment temporarily blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles, preventing the injected area from contracting. By stopping specific muscles from moving, dynamic wrinkles are smoothed out and unable to deepen. Botox can also be used as a preventative measure to slow the formation of dynamic wrinkles.
Static wrinkles are often treated using dermal fillers made from hydration booster hyaluronic acid (HA). This anti-wrinkle treatment can smooth out and “fill” static wrinkles, making the skin appear plump, hydrated and youthful. Filler treatments replace lost volume and provide a natural, glowing look, turning back the clock on your skin in an instant.
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