Forehead lines are one of the first signs of aging most people notice — and one of the most frustrating. They can make you look stressed, tired, or older than you feel, even when you’re in a perfectly good mood.
The good news is that forehead lines respond well to treatment. Whether they’re just starting to appear with expression or have become a permanent fixture, there are effective options for softening them and preventing them from deepening further.
Horizontal lines across the forehead
Forehead wrinkles, worry lines, expression lines, forehead furrows
Smoother, more relaxed forehead appearance
What Are Forehead Lines?
Forehead lines are the horizontal creases that run across the forehead, above the eyebrows. They’re caused by repeated contraction of the frontalis muscle. This is the broad, flat muscle responsible for raising the eyebrows and expressing emotions like surprise, concern, and concentration.
These lines are sometimes called worry lines or expression lines because of their close connection to everyday facial expressions. Nearly all emotions involve the eyebrows in some way, which is why the forehead is often the first area of the face to show visible signs of aging.
Dynamic vs. static lines: At first, forehead lines appear only when you’re making a facial expression. These are called dynamic wrinkles. Over time, as the skin loses collagen and elastin, these creases can become permanent and visible even when the face is completely at rest. At that point, they’re considered static wrinkles. Understanding which type you have helps determine the most effective approach to treatment.
How they differ from frown lines: Forehead lines run horizontally across the forehead, while frown lines are the vertical lines that form between the eyebrows in the glabella. They involve different muscles such as the frontalis for forehead lines, the corrugator and procerus for frown lines. Many patients treat both areas together for a more balanced, natural result
Why Forehead Lines Develop
Several factors contribute to the formation of forehead lines. Some are within your control; others are simply part of how skin ages.
Repeated facial expressions — Years of raising the eyebrows, frowning, concentrating, and squinting cause the frontalis muscle to create furrows in the overlying skin. Because nearly every expression involves the forehead, these creases develop earlier than lines in other areas of the face.
Natural aging and collagen loss — After the age of 30, collagen and elastin production begins to decline. Collagen is the structural protein that supports the skin, while elastin gives it the elasticity to spring back after being compressed or stretched. As these proteins break down, the skin loses its ability to recover from repeated expressions, and forehead lines gradually become permanent.
Sun damage — UV exposure is one of the most significant accelerators of skin aging. It breaks down collagen and elastin fibers, leading to premature forehead lines and contributing to uneven skin tone and texture. Daily sunscreen use is one of the most effective preventive measures.
Smoking — Cigarette smoke contains chemicals that diminish blood flow to the skin’s surface, depriving it of essential nutrients. This leads to dryness and accelerated collagen breakdown. Smoking in particular puts these pollutants close to the face, resulting in early onset wrinkles.
Genetics — Your genetic makeup influences how susceptible you are to developing wrinkles, how quickly collagen breaks down, and how well your skin repairs itself. If your parents developed prominent forehead lines, you may be more prone to them as well.
Diet and hydration — A diet high in simple sugars can contribute to a process called glycation, which damages collagen and elastin fibers. Adequate hydration is also important — dehydrated skin is more susceptible to developing fine lines and wrinkles. Environmental pollutants and free radicals can also accelerate skin aging, which is why antioxidants play a protective role.
Volume loss — As we age, we lose subcutaneous fat and bone density in the face. This can make the skin appear thinner and forehead lines more prominent, even if the lines themselves haven’t deepened.
How Forehead Lines Can Affect Appearance
Forehead lines are among the most common cosmetic concerns patients bring up — and for good reason. They’re highly visible and can significantly influence how your face is perceived by others.
Patients often say forehead lines make them look:
The forehead is one of the first things people notice in conversation. When deep furrows are present, they can dominate the upper face and give an impression that doesn’t match how you actually feel. Many patients describe frustration with looking “stern” or “concerned” when they’re completely relaxed.
Treating forehead lines can create a more refreshed, youthful appearance while still allowing natural expression. The goal is never to eliminate all movement — it’s to soften the lines so the forehead looks relaxed and the face better reflects how you feel.
How to Prevent Forehead Lines
While it’s impossible to completely prevent forehead lines, proper skin care and healthy habits can slow their development and reduce their severity.
Sun protection — This is the single most effective preventive measure. UV rays accelerate collagen and elastin breakdown, making lines appear earlier and progress faster. Daily use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen — even on cloudy days and indoors near windows — helps preserve skin health. EltaMD has a great selection of sunblocks for all skin types.
Sunglasses and hats — Reducing squinting protects both the forehead and the eye area. A wide-brimmed hat adds an extra layer of UV protection.
Quit smoking — Smoking accelerates collagen loss and impairs the body’s ability to produce new collagen. Quitting is one of the most impactful changes you can make for your skin’s long-term health.
Supportive skincare — A consistent routine with the right active ingredients can help maintain skin quality and slow the progression of forehead lines. Key ingredients to look for include retinol or retinoids, which promote cell turnover and boost collagen production (best applied at night); peptides, which are amino acids that stimulate collagen and elastin production and improve skin firmness; vitamin C, an antioxidant that protects against free radical damage and supports an even skin tone; and hyaluronic acid, which attracts and retains moisture to hydrate and plump the skin, temporarily reducing the appearance of fine lines.
These ingredients won’t eliminate established forehead lines, but they support treatment results and help prevent new lines from forming.
Nutrition and hydration — A diet rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and omega-3 fatty acids supports collagen maintenance. Staying well-hydrated keeps the skin supple and less prone to creasing.
Be mindful of expressions — While you don’t want to stop expressing yourself, being aware of habitual brow-raising or frowning (especially at screens) can help reduce the repetitive muscle contractions that contribute to forehead lines.
What to Expect During a Consultation
A consultation at Lazaderm is designed to feel calm and informative — not rushed or high-pressure.
During your visit, your provider will:
You’ll have time to ask questions and decide what feels right for you.
Setting Realistic Expectations
reatment for forehead lines provides improvement — not permanent change.
For dynamic lines (appear with expression):
For static lines (visible at rest):
The goal is a smoother, more relaxed forehead that still allows natural expression.
The most effective treatment depends on the depth of your lines, your skin quality, and how long they’ve been present. A consultation allows your provider to evaluate the frontalis muscle activity and recommend the best approach.
Protecting your skin helps prevent forehead lines from developing or worsening.
Daily sunscreen: Sun damage is the leading external cause of premature forehead wrinkles. EltaMD sunblocks are recommended for all skin types and provide broad-spectrum protection without feeling heavy.
Quit smoking: Smoking significantly accelerates collagen breakdown and impairs your body’s ability to produce new collagen. Quitting is one of the most effective things you can do for your skin.
Skincare routine: Products containing retinol, peptides, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid can support skin health and complement professional treatments.
Botox and Dysport are the most common and effective treatments for forehead lines.
How they work: Botox and Dysport are brand names for botulinum toxin type A — a neuromodulator that temporarily relaxes the frontalis muscle responsible for forehead creases. When this muscle is relaxed, the overlying skin smooths out and lines become less visible. With consistent treatment, the skin will generally repair itself over time as the muscle is no longer creating the same repetitive creases.
Treatment details:
Important note about the forehead: The frontalis muscle is the only muscle that raises the eyebrows. Your provider will carefully calibrate the dose to smooth the forehead while preserving natural brow movement. Over-treating this area can cause the brows to feel heavy — which is why experience matters. At Lazaderm, our providers are highly experienced in balancing forehead treatment with natural expression.
Best for:
This treatment is often combined with treatment of the frown lines and crow’s feet for a balanced upper-face result.
Dermal fillers may be used when neuromodulators alone don’t completely smooth deep, etched forehead lines.
How they work: Fillers add volume beneath the skin to lift and smooth lines that have become static. Most fillers used in this area are hyaluronic acid-based — a substance that occurs naturally in the skin and helps maintain hydration and structure. They’re typically used in combination with Botox or Dysport, not as a replacement.
Products used:
Another option is Sculptra, which works differently from hyaluronic acid fillers by stimulating the body’s own collagen production over time, gradually restoring volume and improving skin quality.
Best for:
MOXI is a gentle fractional laser that improves skin tone, texture, and overall quality with minimal downtime.
How it works: MOXI delivers fractionated laser energy to create micro-channels in the skin, stimulating collagen production and promoting cellular turnover. It treats a portion of the skin while leaving surrounding tissue intact, which allows for faster healing.
Best for:
MOXI is often combined with BBL for comprehensive skin rejuvenation — BBL targets pigmentation and vessels at the surface, while MOXI works on texture and tone at a deeper level.
In some cases, treatments that improve overall skin quality may be recommended alongside neuromodulators.
Chemical peels — Peels work by exfoliating the outer layers of skin, revealing smoother, fresher skin beneath. They also stimulate collagen production, which can help reduce the appearance of fine forehead lines and improve overall skin texture.
Microneedling — Microneedling uses fine needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin, triggering the body’s natural healing response and stimulating new collagen and elastin production. This works best for fine, shallow lines and can improve overall skin quality.
Laser resurfacing — For more significant skin damage, fractional laser treatments use focused light energy to remove damaged outer layers and promote collagen production and skin tightening.
Your provider will explain whether additional treatments would benefit your specific situation.
If forehead lines are something you’ve been noticing or feeling bothered by, a consultation can help you explore your options. At Lazaderm, consultations focus on education, safety, and helping you feel confident in your decisions.
