10 Ways to Smooth Forehead Wrinkles, According to Dermatologists

Use Vitamin C and SPF Every Morning

Sun exposure plays a major role in the youthful appearance of skin. The more sun you get, the drier, spottier, and looser your skin may become over time. As such, it’s important to add ingredients into your routine that can help reverse some of the damaging effects.

That’s why you should always apply a vitamin C serum — to boost collagen production, fight free radical damage, protect the skin from UVA and UVB rays, help fade the appearance of dark spots, and lend to a brighter-looking complexion. Plus, you should always use and sunscreen with at least SPF 30 protection to help shield against the sun’s daunting effects, according to Green. 

And, for extra anti-wrinkle protection, she also suggests wearing sunglasses when outdoors which prevent you from squinting and frowning—two facial expressions that could potentially cause "11" lines and other forehead wrinkles.

Look for Products Loaded With Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is one of the most coveted ingredients on the skincare market thanks to its ability to hold 1,000 times its weight in water. While this is incredible from a hydration standpoint, Engelman points out that it’s also great for minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles thanks to its plumping abilities. We recommend the Skinceuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier ($110) as it uses a unique combination of hyaluronic acid, botanical extracts, and a proprietary super-moisturizing molecule that together are optimized to boost and maintain healthy hydration levels.

Start Using Retinoids at Night

Engelman and Green both tout the necessity of retinoids in any anti-aging routine. Where Engelman points out that retinoids are proven to stimulate collagen growth, Green adds that retinol (aka a vitamin A derivative and weaker form of retinoid) works best at night to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. This is largely due to the fact that (1) the skin repairs itself at night, so applying this topical may boost the process, and (2) retinoids (and retinol under their umbrella) can often create mild irritation that will typically subside by morning.

Get a Professional Facial Treatment

If you’re late to the anti-aging party and didn’t make it in time for prevention, all of the derms we spoke to recommend heading into a dermatologist's or licensed esthetician’s office for a professional treatment—of which there are many.

• Fraxel — Fraxel Dual uses fractional laser technology which penetrates deep into the skin layers to trigger the body to promote its natural healing, improving overall texture and skin tone,” Green explains. “The results of Fraxel are gradual over time as the body replaces old damaged skin cells replacing it with new collagen and elastin.”
• Ematrix — “This is a sublative laser resurfacing treatment that tightens the skin, rebuilds collagen, and improves skin texture,” Green shares. “Ematrix releases heat energy in the dermis of the skin to stimulate collagen production.”
• Thermage — “This is an excellent treatment for forehead wrinkles and works on all skin types,” Green explains. “Thermage uses radiofrequency technology to deliver heat to the innermost layers of the skin. This deep tissue heating stimulates collagen and improves the overall texture of the skin.”
• Vampire Facelifts — “This is a combination of microneedling with PRP (platelet rich plasma),” Green explains. “PRP is a concentrated platelet-rich plasma protein that has a greater concentration of growth factors than whole blood. Growth factors are what our cells used to heal and regenerate healthy tissue.” While somewhat bloody, it’s safe for all skin types (take it from someone with sensitive skin who has gotten this treatment done firsthand).
• Microcurrent Facials — Like their at-home counterparts, Engelman explains that these “use low-level electrical current to trigger the body’s natural skin enhancement chemicals at a cellular level, giving skin therapists an effective tool against the signs of skin aging.” As a whole, she says that in-office microcurrent treatments improve muscle tone, lift jowls, aid in lymphatic drainage, and improve circulation.

Boost Cell Turnover With Peptides

Next up: Peptides. “These are proteins that stimulate the growth of new cells and facilitate cell turnover while you sleep,” Green explains. “Peptides also stimulate the production of collagen, which is responsible for the skin’s firmness and suppleness.”

Frulla seconds this, noting that peptide serums, such as Alastin's Restorative Skin Complex ($230), help promote collagen and elastin production while boosting skin hydration overall. For a double whammy, layer on BeautyStat's Peptide Wrinkle Relaxing Moisturizer ($72) on top.

Try an At-Home Toning Device

Sure, jade rollers and gua sha might feel good, but when it comes to really preventing and diminishing already-established wrinkles, you want to punch up the power. That’s where toning devices come into play. Engelman swears by them. “These devices can help increase the amount of absorption of active ingredients, so they penetrate into the deep layers of the skin giving maximum benefits,” she explains.

She recommends Conture's Kinetic Skin Toning System ($255): “It has a multitude of benefits with over 250,000 hours of research behind it. With three settings for face, neck, and chest, the device combines isometric compression and low-frequency vibrations to prepare the skin for up to 300 percent more absorption of active ingredients up to 45 minutes after use.”

Then there are microcurrent devices which use low-level currents that mimic the body’s natural current meant to help reduce and reverse the signs of aging. We recommend NuFace's Trinity ($385) device to firm and tone.

Consider Injectables for Immediate Results

At the end of the day, if updating your skincare routine with anti-aging ingredients, at-home treatments, and in-office facials doesn’t work—and, most importantly, if you really want to put an end to your fine lines—it’s time to turn your attention to injectables. 

While neuromodulators like Botox are likely the first things that come to mind (we’ll get to those, don’t worry), Engelman says you can start with hyaluronic acid if you’re looking for something a little less aggressive (read: something that already naturally occurs in the body). “You have immediate textural improvement with injectable hyaluronic acid,” she says. “It plumps fine lines and wrinkles, smoothing the overall complexion and adding volume.”

If you’re ready to go all-in with your anti-aging process, Levin says to get to know your neuromodulators. While Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, and, most recently, Jeaveau, are the only FDA-approved neuromodulators for the "11" lines, Botox is the only one that’s FDA-approved for between the brows, on the forehead, and around crow’s feet (if that’s also a concern for you). 

According to Engelman, when Botox is injected into the muscles, it binds to the receptors on the muscles so that your muscles don’t receive the signal to contract. “Therefore, you won’t be able to make dynamic wrinkles (wrinkles you make when frowning),” she explains. And if you’re making less dynamic wrinkles, then there may be less of a chance for static wrinkles to set in—hence the idea of preventative Botox in your mid-to-late 20s and early 30s. 

Whichever you choose, Levin says to be prepared to schedule appointments every three to four months to maintain the results.

And, whatever you do, remember that while there is no downtime as a result of injections, there are a few restrictions. “Once Botox has been injected, you cannot massage the treated area for 72 hours and must keep your head upright for at least four hours post-injection,” Green starts. “Rubbing the area of treatment can result in moving Botox to unwanted areas. Since Botox is superficially injected, it needs an adequate amount of time without movement for it to dissipate appropriately.” What’s more, according to our experts, you shouldn’t drink alcohol or partake in excessive workouts for 12 to 24 hours post-treatment. While bruising is unlikely, these activities may exacerbate the possibility. 

Schedule a Thread-Lifting Treatment

If you're looking for another way to smooth forehead wrinkles and fine lines, consider getting a forehead thread lift. According to Illinois-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jessie Cheung, this procedure calms the muscles while holding them in place. In turn, the forehead is transformed into a smooth, wrinkle-free surface. Similar to other treatments, Dr. Cheung says the results are not long-lasting and usually last about a year and a half.

So, how does it work? "Threads are placed under the skin and have anchoring barbs or cones to lift and reposition [the] skin. Threads are made of materials that stimulate collagen so that along with an immediate lifting effect, you have skin rejuvenation with a gradual tightening and smoothing effect," Cheung explains. Although thread-lifting is an invasive procedure, she adds that the recovery time is short.

Similar to injections, Cheung notes that multiple threads can be inserted in the same place. However, she advises waiting at least eight weeks before treating in the same area.

Invest in LED Light Therapy

LED light therapy devices are more than just another skincare tool that look cool on Instagram. The technology was originally used by NASA to help grow potatoes in space, but since then, it's been clinically proven to have major skin benefits. Red and infrared lights boost collagen production and plump the skin, which can help prevent and treat fine lines and wrinkles. We recommend CurrentBody's LED Light Mask ($380) for its effective technology and comfortable fit.

Look to Laser Skin Tightening Treatments

Dr. Cheung also recommends laser skin tightening treatments, which "to help sandwich the muscles in place, from the surface down." She calls out Ultherapy, an FDA-approved skin lifting and tightening procedure, for its ability to lift both the forehead and brows. When it comes to determining how many laser treatments to get, Cheung says it ultimately comes down to one's needs. "If you've lost a lot of forehead and temple volume, or if you have a very low brow, you may need a few rounds of laser skin tightening," she says.