Dynamic vs. Static Wrinkles: Identifying, Preventing, and Treating Aging's Telltale Signs

Author

Dr. Stephen Cosentino

All facial wrinkles are the same, right?

Wrong. Facial wrinkles take two forms: dynamic and static wrinkles. At first glance, they might look the same, and it’s true that both are related to the natural and inevitable process of aging.

But dynamic and static wrinkles have different root causes. Sometimes, they have different treatments as well.

Confused? Let’s set the record straight.

Dynamic vs. Static Wrinkles: What’s the Difference?

The basic difference between static and dynamic wrinkles is that dynamic wrinkles are caused by action and static wrinkles are not.

There’s a bit more to the story, though.

What Are Dynamic Wrinkles?

Dynamic lines and wrinkles are caused by repeated facial movements like raising one’s eyebrows, scrunching one’s nose, frowning, or squinting.

These repeated facial muscle contractions cause several common types of wrinkles:

Frown lines, also known as glabellar or 11 lines, which appear between the eyes
Horizontal forehead lines
Lip lines, also known as smoker’s lines, which extend outward from the lips
Smile lines, which appear in the middle of the face
Crow’s feet, the fine lines at the corners of the eyes

What Are Static Wrinkles?

Static wrinkles are caused by the loss of collagen and elastin under the skin’s surface. This results in general facial volume loss and the appearance and deepening of lines and wrinkles in specific areas of the face. The primary cause is aging, but genetics, physical trauma, environmental factors like sun exposure, and lifestyle factors like smoking also play a role.

Examples of static wrinkles include many of the most noticeable types of facial lines:

Nasolabial folds, which extend from the nose down to the mouth
Marionette lines, vertical lines that appear on either side of the chin
Platysmal bands, which appear as vertical lines across the neck
Tear trough lines, which extend downward from where the nose meets the eyes

How to Prevent & Treat Wrinkles

While we can’t permanently stop the aging process, we know how to slow down the progression of dynamic and static wrinkles. Prevention strategies include:

Eliminating lifestyle factors, such as smoking and poor sleep
Using sun protection every day
Regularly moisturizing the skin and using other cosmetic products as directed
Avoiding facial movements that cause dynamic wrinkles to form, such as repeated frowning or squinting

Of course, while prevention is the best medicine, facial lines and wrinkles are inevitable. Here’s a quick look at treatment options for each type.

Treatments for Static Wrinkles

One of the most effective nonsurgical treatments for static wrinkles is injectable dermal filler, typically hyaluronic acid (HA) or calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHa). The latter effectively stimulates collagen production, offering more durable results, while the former is more flexible and easier to reverse.

Other options include laser skin resurfacing and chemical peels. These tend to have less dramatic results but may be appropriate for patients who don’t like needles.

Treatments for Dynamic Wrinkles

Smoothing dynamic wrinkles is a job for injectable neuromodulators like Botox® and other botulinum toxin agents. These medications temporarily paralyze and relax overactive muscles, softening and sometimes eliminating the wrinkles they’re responsible for. If you plan to treat both dynamic and static wrinkles, be sure to work with a provider who has completed an accredited botulinum toxin and dermal filler training course.