7 Different Types of Wrinkles
Dynamic wrinkles. These develop from repeated facial movements. If you pucker your lips around a straw frequently, for example, you might get lip lines.
Static wrinkles. These result from a loss of elasticity and the takeover of gravity. Wrinkles that come with jowls are static.
Dynamic wrinkles can become static wrinkles over time. Fine smile lines morph into more prominent nasolabial folds when our cheeks lose plumpness and do a slight plummet in middle age, for example.
Creases that could crop up
Forehead lines: run horizontally across the top of the T-zone
Worry lines: create an “eleven” between the brows
Bunnies: etch the bridge of the nose horizontally between the eyes
Crow’s feet: radiate from the outer corners of the eyes
Laugh lines: also called nasolabial folds, create parenthesis around the upper lip
Lip lines: form vertical hatches around the perimeter of the mouth
Marionette lines: frame the chin vertically, and as the cheeks droop, jowl wrinkles form
We spend our lives warding off lines, but wrinkles can be an asset
We buy serums and creams to keep the creases at bay. But the bottom line is that eventually we’re going to get, well, a few lines.
And that’s OK — maybe even a bonus.
After all, fine lines can be just as beautiful as the round-cheeked looks of youth. There’s something endearing about a laugh line and something genuine about an eye crinkle.
We’ve got the details on types of wrinkles, what can cause them, how to slow them, and why we should think of the ones that ultimately appear as art rather than imperfection.
The lines of our lives
Some of us will experience “the elevens,” those vertical forehead lines that can make us look like we’re always in deep thought — even about what toppings we want on our froyo. Others will get more prominent crow’s feet, giving us the appearance of a life chock-full of intense emotion, especially joy.
Creases that could crop up
Forehead lines: run horizontally across the top of the T-zone
Worry lines: create an “eleven” between the brows
Bunnies: etch the bridge of the nose horizontally between the eyes
Crow’s feet: radiate from the outer corners of the eyes
Laugh lines: also called nasolabial folds, create parenthesis around the upper lip
Lip lines: form vertical hatches around the perimeter of the mouth
Marionette lines: frame the chin vertically, and as the cheeks droop, jowl wrinkles form
The folds or furrows that might bedeck our faces fall into two categories: dynamic and static.
Dynamic wrinkles
These develop from repeated facial movements. If you pucker your lips around a straw frequently, for example, you might get lip lines.
Static wrinkles. These result from a loss of elasticity and the takeover of gravity. Wrinkles that come with jowls are static.
Dynamic wrinkles can become static wrinkles over time. Fine smile lines morph into more prominent nasolabial folds when our cheeks lose plumpness and do a slight plummet in middle age, for example.
What your wrinkles reveal about you
Although we can map out what wrinkles might appear, we’re all going to reframe the wrinkle story a little differently. Our unique set of lines says something to the rest of the world. So instead of removing our story lines, we should think about what they say first.
Researchers have been busy studying how facial creases can impact how people perceive us. Depending on the wrinkles you start to get, they might impede your poker face or enhance it. Or if you were never one to hide how you feel, maybe your fine lines amplify the way you express emotion on your face.
They mirror our overall disposition
Even when our faces are resting or neutral, we still provide cues to our emotions, and the wrinkles that form are part of what give us away, a recent study shows.
This is especially true for people with positive dispositions. If you’re habitually beaming and develop laugh lines as a result, or crow’s feet from smiles that reach the eyes, you’ll likely be perceived as a happy or joyful individual.
They can mimic contempt or RBF
Just as some people’s neutral faces may indicate positivity, other people’s relaxed mugs may indicate displeasure — but without that intention. In recent years, the phrase “resting bitch face” (RBF) came about online to describe this moody-looking countenance.
Researchers have actually studied the phenomenon of RBF, now used as a scientific term, via a technology that reads hundreds of points on the face to determine emotional expression. The technology registers a larger percentage of contempt to be present on images of some people.
Certain wrinkles, like marionette lines, can accentuate RBF by giving the appearance of a downturned mouth. Forehead, worry, and lip lines can indicate displeasure, as well. To determine if you have RBF, you can take the researchers’ test.
If you do — own it. You’re under zero obligation to smile for the sake of others. Many celebs rock the steely look. And some people who have RBF consider it their secret weapon to success.
But if it concerns you in any situation, just slide the corners of your mouth back slightly. This will evoke a neutral face, neither scowl nor grin. For something extra, go for a micro eye squint.
They can highlight sincerity
Crow’s feet are nothing to screech about. They can be an indication to others just how genuine you are, says a recent study.
The eye crinkle we sometimes make when expressing both positive or negative emotion is called the Duchenne marker, and it’s linked to how others perceive the intensity of our emotions.
And since wrinkles can indicate the expressions you’ve made over your lifetime, a pair of crow’s feet can make you appear more authentic. The same goes for bunnies since we often wrinkle our noses during a big smile or when wincing in agony.
If you have areas of concern, contact us for a free consultation. Or make an appointment for our anti-aging services. Botox can help smooth out those wrinkles you're not wanting to look at anymore in the mirror.
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