How To Get Rid of Fine Lines and Wrinkles
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Medically reviewed by William Truswell, MD
Wrinkles are a normal part of aging when it comes to your skin. While fine lines may not always happen in your 20s and 30s, it's possible they can. As you age, you may develop "dynamic" wrinkles, ones caused by repeated expressions. These include "11s"—that pair of vertical lines between the brows. You can also develop "static" wrinkles from loss of elasticity and gravity.
While there's no way to stave off fine lines altogether, the following game plans—depending on your age—will help protect and repair your complexion. Your plan might involve using moisturizers, wearing sunglasses, or adding retinoids to your skincare routine. Read on to learn more.
Your 20s
As you get older, your skin will age, but sometimes aging can happen earlier—known as premature aging. It's possible for wrinkles to form in your 20s due to lifestyle factors or from repeated expressions (i.e., concentration or anger may create dynamic wrinkles between your eyebrows, sometimes called "elevens.") Fortunately, you can do something about premature aging.
1. Use Sunscreen
Wear SPF 30 or higher whenever you're outside, regardless of the weather or time of year. Blocking ultraviolet (UV) rays prevents collagen—the network of tissue deep within the skin that keeps the surface plump and line-free—from breaking down and creating deeper lines.
If you have sensitive skin, look for products with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. They are gentler than their chemical counterparts, like oxybenzone or avobenzone.
2. Add Glycolic Acid or Salicylic Acid to Your Routine
Both of these ingredients can exfoliate your skin and help keep your skin smooth. Swipe your skin with a saturated pad after you cleanse and before you put on sunscreen—one to try: Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix.
3. Wear Your Sunglasses
If you shield your eyes from the sun, you can save yourself from squinting-induced fine lines later. You can do so by wearing the appropriate sunglasses to protect your eyes. Choose sunglasses that:
Cover the skin area around your eyes
Fit comfortably
Stay in place
Your 30s
You may see fine lines around your eyes and 11s between your eyebrows during your 30s. Also, people with lighter skin tend to see lines earlier than those with darker complexions, possibly because more melanin in the skin equals more wrinkle protection.
4. Add a Retinoid
Retinoids are substances derived from retinol, or vitamin A, with anti-wrinkle effects. Over-the-counter (OTC) creams with retinol, like Eve Lom Time Retreat Intensive Night Cream, are gentler than prescription retinoids (like Retin-A), so they're suitable for sensitive skin.
To minimize irritation, begin applying every other night, working up to nightly use. Daytime use of retinoids can make skin more sensitive during sun exposure.
5. Use Products That Don't Clog Pores
Mineral and other oils tend to clog up pores. Clogged pores trigger acne but also stretch out pores, which happens when you age as well. Ultimately, longer pores can connect and create spaces on the face that look like wrinkles.
Non-comedogenic products are ones that won't lead to clogged pores. Look for products to use with the words "non-comedogenic," "oil free," or "won't clog pores" on the label.
6. Quit Smoking and Avoid Secondhand Smoke
Quitting smoking and limiting your exposure to secondhand smoke can allow you to see fewer wrinkles. Both smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke have been linked to wrinkle formation. Also, the longer you smoke and the more cigarettes you smoke, the more wrinkles you can have.
Your 40s
This decade might bring more pronounced wrinkles. Because the skin becomes drier with age, fine lines and wrinkles increasingly appear.
7. Opt for a Serum With Growth Factors
Not to be confused with growth hormones, growth factors are polypeptides—which are made of amino acids—or proteins in the body. They are produced naturally by the skin and help repair it.
Your skin makes less of these substances as you age. However, research has shown that using a serum with growth factors, like PCA Skin Rejuvenating Serum, nets you fewer wrinkles and creases.
8. Consider Antioxidants
You may be aware of antioxidant benefits for chronic disease prevention, but antioxidants can also be protective against skin wrinkles. For example, alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) can exfoliate the skin and improve surface line and wrinkle appearance.
9. Lather on Moisturizer
Moisturizers can offer hydration when your skin becomes drier. Look for a cream with ingredients that plump the skin, such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin. You may also want to invest in separate moisturizers designed for night use and daytime use.
Your 50s
You may notice that forehead lines become more profound, the 11s and crow's-feet are more prominent, and creases start to form at the corners of the mouth. Also, if you're going through menopause, the change in estrogen levels can reduce collagen production.
10. Find a Trusted Dermatologist
A good dermatologist can ensure you're using the right products. They can also make changes to your nightly retinoid dose if needed so you get the best results.
11. Try to Get Quality Sleep
Sleep is important for reducing wrinkles. Not getting enough sleep can lead to increased fine lines, but your skin has the chance to renew itself when you get adequate sleep.
Unfortunately, how you sleep changes as you age; you can have a hard time getting the sleep you need. Still, having good sleep hygiene—like waking up and going to bed at the same time daily and sleeping in a cool, comfortable area—can help you reach quality sleep.
12. Exercise Regularly
Adding workouts to your weekly routine benefits your physical health, including the appearance of your skin. Exercise improves blood flow throughout the body, which can help give your skin an instant glow.
Recommendations for exercise include doing cardio exercise for at least 150 minutes during the week. It's also essential to add in strength training for at least two days of the week.
Wrinkle Treatment Procedures
Lifestyle changes might not be enough to get the results you want when it comes to your fine lines. The following treatments may be helpful for more dramatic results.
Botulinum Toxin Therapy
Dispensed under Botox, Dysport, Rejuveau, Myobloc, and Xeomin, this neuromodulator turns off the signals that tell your facial muscles to tense and squint. After about a week, a couple of shots in critical areas will soften wrinkles by preventing you from making the movements that cause them.
A dermatologist may apply a numbing cream when you get the injections. The best course of treatment is having the therapy every three to six months, but over time, your lines may become more shallow even when it wears off.
You may be a good candidate for this treatment if you have frown lines between the eyebrows or crow's feet. However, side effects after botulinum toxin therapy may include:
Bruising
Mild headache, which is uncommon
Redness
Signs of botulism, like breathing or swallowing problems
Soreness or swelling
Weakness in nearby facial muscles
Fillers
Hyaluronic-acid dermal fillers—sold as Juvéderm, Perlane, and Restylane—differ from Botox. While neuromodulators prevent you from making wrinkle-causing expressions, dermal fillers fill existing wrinkles. They can also add volume to sagging cheeks and plump up undereye hollows.
A dermatologist numbs the skin first, then injects filler where needed. Over time, the fillers may stimulate collagen production, softening wrinkles. If you're unhappy, the dermatologist can dissolve most of those fillers.
People looking to reduce aging signs like scars and fine lines can be good candidates for this treatment. Results are immediate and last one to two years, and the cost may be $800 and up per treated area.
Filler treatment has short-term side effects, such as bruising, redness or swelling, and tenderness. However, more serious side effects can happen if a person receives fillers from an inexperienced provider or beyond a medical setting. Those effects may include:
Allergic reactions
Infection
Lumps or ridges
Over-filled areas
Severe swelling
The most serious complication from filler injection is direct intravenous injection. This can lead to tissue death and most dramatically, blindness.
A Quick Review
Fine lines and wrinkles are a natural part of aging. While there's no way to avoid aging or its effects on your skin, you can help protect and repair your complexion using specific products, making lifestyle changes, or getting wrinkle treatment procedures. Talk with a dermatologist to determine what can best help you get rid of fine lines and wrinkles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are fine lines permanent?
Fine lines can be permanent if you make the same facial expressions and contract the same facial muscles repeatedly.
At what age does your face change most?
People might tend to see more changes in their faces between their 40s and 50s.
Can you reverse fine lines?
You can reduce fine lines with various treatments. Possible options might include moisturizers, fillers, and Botox treatments.
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