What Is The Difference Between Fine Lines And Wrinkles?

Fine lines are often one of the very first signs of aging. As skin begins to age, fine lines may begin to appear around the eyes and other areas on the face. These shallow lines tend to form along expression lines that appear when you smile, laugh or frown.

No matter how old you are, dermatologists agree that it's never too early (or too late) to start taking care of your skin. Explore our range of the best skincare products for fine lines.

While fine lines are superficial and closer to skin’s surface, wrinkles are more deep-set.^I As you age, many fine lines may turn into wrinkles as skin loses elasticity and firmness.

Over time—and with exposure to UV rays and pollution—collagen and elastin in the skin may become damaged which causes skin to gradually lose its firmness and elasticity. As this happens, fine lines can form that may eventually turn into deep-set lines and wrinkles. Skin often becomes dry or dehydrated with age which can also cause lines to appear more visible. While there are some steps you can take to help prevent early signs of aging, fine lines and wrinkles ultimately happen to every skin type. Whether your skin is oily, dry, or acne-prone, you will begin to see wrinkles at some point in your life. Even though age is a key factor in causing lines and wrinkles, there are external aggressors that can have a major impact on your skin’s appearance.

• UV Rays
  Sun damage is the most common cause of skin damage and wrinkles. In addition to leading to lines and wrinkles, the sun can also contribute to other visible signs of aging like dark spots.^II Using a daily SPF with broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection is the most important step you can take to help defend skin from early signs of aging.
• Pollution
  If you live in a city or are regularly exposed to high levels of pollution, your skin can experience damage. Free radicals in exhaust, fumes and smoke can cause damage which can lead to visible signs of aging. Look for formulas with pollution protection to help defend skin from these external aggressors.

While wrinkles can occur on the neck, chest, forearms and other parts of the body, most are found on the face. Not only is the face expressive but it also often has the most exposure to the sun and other environmental aggressors. Some of the most common types of facial wrinkles are:

• Forehead Lines
  Forehead lines, or frown or worry lines, are horizontal lines across the forehead and vertical lines between the eyebrows. Stress, worry and frowning can all contribute to how forehead lines form. ^III
• Smile Lines
  Smile lines, or marionette lines, usually form on the sides of the mouth and can be related to laughing and smiling.
• Crow’s Feet
  The delicate skin around the eyes is often one of the first places to show signs of aging. Crow’s feet is another name for the lines that form around the outer corner of the eyes. In addition to the skin around the eyes being delicate, squinting can also lead to crow’s feet forming.

The difference between dynamic and static wrinkles essentially comes down to whether they appear for a moment or last over time.

• Dynamic Wrinkles
  Dynamic wrinkles are creases that show when you are making facial expressions like smiling, laughing or frowning, but then disappear shortly after.
• Static Wrinkles
  Static wrinkles are lines that are visible even when you are not making expressions. Over time, dynamic wrinkles often become static wrinkles.

While expression lines affect everyone, how you sleep can also impact how lines form on your face.

• Expression Lines
  Expression wrinkles form along the dynamic lines that appear when you laugh, smile or frown and are the most common.
• Sleep Wrinkles
  Sleep wrinkles form in a slightly different pattern based on how your face is positioned when you sleep.^IV If you routinely sleep on your side or stomach you may develop sleep wrinkles in addition to expression lines.

The best thing you can do to help care for skin is to help prevent damage by wearing sun protection every day. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen in the morning and reapply throughout the day, especially if sweating or swimming. In addition to daily sun protection, look for formulas with pollution protection and antioxidant protection to help defend skin against other external aggressors.

We can’t completely stop wrinkles and fine lines in their tracks, but with the help of face serums for wrinkles, we can slow down their advances. They can be layered with the best moisturizer for fine lines, night creams, and masks to enhance potency, be used as a spot treatment or as standalone actives that target just about every skin concern.

While you may not be able to reverse fine lines and wrinkles, there are ways to make them less visible. If your skin is dehydrated, use a moisturizer or hydrating serum to help smooth and plump skin to minimize the appearance of fine lines. For deeper-set lines, use an anti-wrinkle serum which can help improve skin’s elasticity and firmness. An eye cream or serum can also help treat the delicate skin around the eye area where early lines and crow’s feet often first appear.

For younger-looking skin, look for formulas with potent ingredients to help visibly smooth and plump. Some of the most trusted anti-aging skincare ingredients are:

• Vitamin C
  Vitamin C is a trusted ingredient known to help improve fine lines and wrinkles and smooth skin’s texture. Within skincare formulas, Vitamin C is also known to help boost radiance and provide antioxidant protection.
• Retinol and Pro-Retinol
  Retinol and Pro-Retinol are derivatives of Vitamin A known to help visibly reduce fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging.
• Hyaluronic Acid
  Known to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, Hyaluronic Acid is used in formulas to help smooth and plump skin.