Igor MarcikicI was never too concerned with forehead wrinkles during my 20’s (I just turned 30 this year… scary) mostly because I didn’t have any. Though my oily skin (and oily forehead) gave me quite a bit of trouble growing up (acne… lots and lots of acne), one of its main advantages is not being prone to wrinkles.
I remember that, during my high school years, my biology teacher made a comment regarding the “state” of my face; she said “your oily skin might be causing problems now, but, as the years go by, it will make you look younger!” I didn’t make much of her comment since acne were my primary concern at that time!
As I got older, I saw that she was 100% correct and now most people think I look, at least, 5 years younger. So, if you have oily skin, you are probably not even reading this article because the years can’t hurt you 🙂
But if you don’t and you started noticing wrinkles on your forehead at the age of 20, you should read on. Developing forehead wrinkles at 20 (25 or even 30) is not that rare (but it's not normal either) and it has nothing to do with aging or loose skin.
No, the primary cause are forehead muscles, muscles that help you raise your eyebrows. When we contract these muscles (try to look up) forehead lines become more prominent and visible; but as soon as the muscles relax, they go away.
Over time, however, due to the repeated action of these muscles, the skin on our forehead begins to fold and lines become deeper.
Can this process take place at such an early age? Well, we’ll discuss this very question in the following paragraphs!
What Causes Wrinkles At The Age Of 20?
As we get older, we start to develop wrinkles, its natural and there is nothing we can do to stop it. Today we have all types of surgical procedures to reverse the aging process but its not permanent and eventually the wrinkles will start to show. The skin gets less elastic, thinner and drier as we age, it can’t protect itself as well and this leads to wrinkles, lines and creases on the skin.
Squinting, frowning and unfortunately, smiling too much can lead to wrinkles at a younger age. So, if you are in your 20s and 30s and you have started to notice fine lines its most likely because you are always changing your facial expressions. Experts at the Mayo Clinic state that every time muscles are used in the face; a groove is created under the surface of the skin. Young people have got flexible skin and it just bounces back into place, but this is not the case with older people and the grooves become more ingrained and visible.
There are a number of other reasons why people get wrinkles earlier than they are supposed to. The majority of us like going to the tanning salon and sunbathing – this is vanity, but even those who like playing sports outdoors risk getting wrinkles early because of the exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. UV light destroys the elastin and collagen in the skin, these fibers basically hold the skin together. When these fibers are damaged, it does the skin no favors.
For those who say they love their outdoor job, especially those who live in hot countries, you won’t be saying that for too long when you start to look like your grandmother before your 40th birthday.
Premature wrinkling is also caused by using the wrong facial products, harsh chemicals are not good for the skin. They strip it of natural oils and moisture which causes the skin to become dehydrated. It is also important to remove make up from the skin before going to bed at night. Eye cream is one of the main culprits when it comes to harsh facial products, because that area tends to dry out quickly, people (especially women) reach for any old moisturizing cream to hydrate under the eyes. This is a bad idea, the skin around the eyes are very sensitive, and any exposure to harsh chemicals can cause damage very quickly.
Young people can also get wrinkles because of a bad diet. Vitamin and nutritional deficiency have a negative effect on the skin. Processed food, junk food, fizzy and sugary drinks doesn’t help, and young people tend to have a weak spot for this type of food.
Stress is another cause of developing early wrinkles. When the body is stressed it releases a hormone called cortisol and cortisol is responsible for destroying collagen. The less collagen you have in your skin the less protection it has and the more chance you have of getting wrinkles. In this day and age, its difficult not to get stressed because there is so much societal pressure. However, it is important that we take time out to destress so that it doesn’t negatively affect our health in the future.
It’s also important to get enough sleep, the body fights free radicals that accelerate the aging process during sleep. A lack of sleep means less time for this to take place which translates into more wrinkles.
Is It Normal For A 20 YO To Have Wrinkles?
It’s completely abnormal for a 20-year-old to have wrinkles! Ideally people should not start getting wrinkles until they are in their late 40s. This is a clear indication that they have not been looking after themselves properly and it is probably as a result of a bad diet, a lack of sleep, too much sun exposure, or smoking.
If you have already got wrinkles, or you are worried about getting wrinkles early, there are several things you can do to prevent it.
Forehead Wrinkles When Raising Eyebrows
Raising the eyebrows too much causes forehead wrinkles. The forehead contains a muscle called the frontail muscle, when it is raised, the skin on the forehead is pulled up and wrinkles are formed. Some people are very animated and raise their eyebrows more than others making them more prone to getting forehead wrinkles.
Facial expressions are important, especially when we are communicating because it shows people that we are interested in what they are saying. However, if you don’t want premature wrinkles, you will have to keep this to a minimum.
One great way to disguise wrinkles on the forehead is to change your hairstyle. A choppy fringe will do two things, it will hide your wrinkles as well as soften your features and frame your face for a new and fresh look. Another way is to ask your hair stylist to add highlights around your eyes. This softens the appearance of wrinkles and brightens your eye color.
You can also exercise to get rid of forehead wrinkles. According to yoga instructor and fitness expert Beth Shaw, headstand exercises increase circulation and blood flow to the scalp and face. This causes the facial muscles to relax and invert which helps to reverse forehead wrinkles.
So, before you decide to go and get a costly surgical procedure such as Botox injections or fillers, try standing on your head or getting a haircut, its much cheaper!
