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The wrinkle guide

Wrinkles are not only an expression of our life experience and age, but above all, they are a sign of our emotions and facial expressions. Wrinkles develop throughout life, even if not everyone likes them.

Fortunately, however, there is a lot that can be done to prevent wrinkles and to actively prevent them. When choosing a treatment, it is important to classify the different types of wrinkles, and the beautician knows which active ingredients and treatments will provide the best effect.


1. Dynamic or expression lines

They are caused by the contraction or tensing of the facial muscles, which are located directly under the skin of the face. As a result, laughing, talking and other facial movements lead to the formation of wrinkles as early as the age of 20, which initially disappear completely once the muscles have relaxed or appear as the first fine lines. As we get older and the elasticity of the skin decreases, the wrinkles become more and more visible and can even become permanently "ingrained" in the skin or remain there.

Concentration lines, glabellar lines:

  • They are located between the eyebrows and are caused by angry or strained looks (hence also called frown lines) or by squinting the eyebrows when exposed to sunlight.

  • As a rule, two parallel – sometimes asymmetrical – folds form.

  • If the skin is still elastic, frown lines do not remain permanently, as the skin smoothes out again when the muscles relax.

  • However, as we age, the wrinkle becomes deeper and a permanently grim facial expression develops.

Forehead wrinkles, worry lines, thinking lines:

  • They run horizontally on the forehead and are caused by raising the forehead, for example by looking surprised.

  • The muscles in the forehead area are responsible for frowning or raising the eyebrows.

  • If there is a lot of facial expression in the forehead area, wrinkles can appear early on and quickly make those affected appear older.

Crow’s feet, eye wrinkles, laugh lines:

  • The small wrinkles in the area around the eyes are caused by laughing and squinting.

  • If the skin is still elastic, these laugh lines are usually only visible when the corresponding muscles are activated (i.e. expression lines).

  • However, as we age, the wrinkles become permanent and appear radially at the outer corner of the eye.


Nose wrinkles, bunny lines:

  • These wrinkles do not only appear with age, but are usually present from birth.

  • However, they are not or hardly visible at a young age. Bunny lines are located on both sides of the nose between the bridge of the nose and the root of the nose.

  • Like other facial wrinkles – for example crow’s feet – bunny lines appear when someone laughs a lot and always moves their nose.

Lip wrinkles, barcode lines, perioral wrinkles:

  • They usually run vertically along the upper edge of the lip.

  • They are caused by natural facial expressions, for example by pursing the mouth when smoking or drinking through a straw.

  • However, the formation of these wrinkles can also be genetic.

  • Lip wrinkles are particularly annoying because they not only make those affected look noticeably older but also because the color of the lipstick inevitably runs into the fine wrinkles.

Chin wrinkles:

  • They usually only appear in old age, but often together with other wrinkles around the mouth region and make the optical aging of the lower half of the face very clear.

  • They are caused by the wrinkling of the chin skin as the lips are unconsciously pressed together.

  • The surface of the skin then resembles that of a strawberry (hence the name strawberry chin), another name is cobblestone chin.

  • At the same time, the horizontal crease on the chin can also develop deeply.


The treatment of expression lines:

It should be done as early as possible to maintain the elasticity of the skin for a long time so that the wrinkles can disappear quickly.

  • Cosmetic treatments including activating ampoules and massages are well-suited. Active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, which not only moisturizes but also influences the elasticity of the skin, are particularly suitable.

  • Furthermore, paracress, as a well-known “organic Botox”, contributes enormously to the smoothing of expression lines by inhibiting muscle contractions and thus achieving a significant reduction in facial expressions in a natural way.

  • In addition to professional treatment and home care, training the facial muscles, for example through face yoga, can prevent expression lines.


2. Static wrinkles

In contrast to expression lines, they usually develop independently of facial expressions. They are permanently visible and are a sign of the aging process. This is why they tend to develop in old age. The main cause is intrinsic skin aging with decreasing tissue firmness, lack of moisture and loss of volume, but extrinsic factors also play a role.The most well-known example is the nasolabial fold between the nostrils and the corner of the mouth. It should be noted that some expression lines also acquire a static component over time and then "remain" or are visible permanently.

Nasolabial folds:

  • They extend from the nostrils to the corners of the mouth on both sides.

  • They occur when supporting connective tissue and fatty tissue in the upper third of the face are broken down as a result of aging or after significant weight loss.

  • The cheeks slowly droop, and gravity causes the skin to sink in, forming the deep, curved furrow between the nose and mouth.

  • The resulting facial expression often appears grumpy.

Marionette lines, mentolabial folds:

  • Angela Merkel is considered a prominent “bearer” of marionette lines, hence the name “Merkel lines”.

  • They are caused by the sagging of the cheek tissue and run deep on each side from the corners of the mouth down to the chin.

  • Since this is visually reminiscent of the movable lower jaws of traditional marionettes, the term marionette lines was established.

  • Accompanying this, the corners of the mouth usually pull downwards, so that those affected appear sad or sullen to other people, even if this does not correspond to their true state of mind!

Cleavage wrinkles:

  • As we age, the body's own hyaluronic acid as well as collagen and elastin fibers break down, causing skin elasticity to decrease.

  • In addition, the skin on the décolleté is thin and has little subcutaneous fat.

  • Due to the constant downward pull of the breasts and the sagging of the breast tissue due to gravity as we age, the skin is exposed to greater stress.

  • Especially in side sleepers, long vertical wrinkles appear early on, running from top to bottom between the breasts.

  • UV radiation and nicotine consumption can intensify this effect.

Neck folds, turkey neck:

  • The skin on the neck is also particularly thin, so signs of aging appear early on.

  • As we age, our skin increasingly loses its elasticity, becomes flabby and literally sags.

  • The resulting vertical wrinkles create the impression of a “turkey neck,” which those affected often find very disturbing.

  • The platysma is responsible for this, a longitudinal, superficial, thin muscle of the neck, whose fibers become more visible with increasing age.


Treatment of static wrinkles

Much more intensive treatments are recommended than for expression lines. The skin tissue must be regenerated and rebuilt.

  • Microneedling, intensive peelings such as herbal peeling treatments, ultrasound or other device-based methods can contribute to the restructuring of the weakening skin tissue.

  • Through several treatments in the form of cures, very good results can be achieved in reducing severe wrinkles.

  • Supportive care products should contain active ingredients such as peptides, silicon, collagen or vitamin A to support skin regeneration.


Dr. Med Christine Schrammek Drusio The managing director of Dr. medical Christine Schrammek Cosmetics GmbH is a dermatologist and allergist. As an anti-aging expert, she develops treatment methods, including the “Green Peel” herbal peeling treatment and dermatological care products.


Christina Drusio The author is part of the owner's family and a member of the management of Dr. medical Christine Schrammek Cosmetics GmbH. She is a specialist in dermatology and venereology and, as a skin expert, is a valued speaker at international lectures and seminars.

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