Forehead wrinkles are horizontal lines across the forehead. They come from two things working together: the muscle you use to raise your eyebrows, and the gradual loss of collagen that comes with sun exposure and age. Seeing faint lines in your 20s is normal, especially if you have an expressive face. Here is what helps, from daily habits to clinic treatments.
Why forehead wrinkles form
- Movement: every time you raise your eyebrows, the frontalis muscle folds the skin. Over years, those folds stop fully disappearing.
- Sun damage: UV breaks down collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep skin firm and springy. It is the biggest controllable cause.
- Age: collagen production slows from your mid-20s, so lines last longer.
- Genetics and dehydration: some people simply crease more easily, and dehydrated skin makes fine lines more visible.
Lines that appear when you move and fade when you relax are dynamic wrinkles. Lines visible even when your face is still are static wrinkles. Skincare helps the first type most.
What skincare can do
- Daily broad-spectrum SPF 30+: the most important step for preventing lines from deepening.
- A retinoid at night: retinol over the counter, or tretinoin on prescription, has the best evidence for improving fine lines over 3 to 6 months.
- Moisturiser: hydrated skin makes fine lines look softer within days.
- Peptides and vitamin C: supportive, with weaker evidence than retinoids.
In-office options
For deeper or static lines, neuromodulator injections (such as botulinum toxin) relax the muscle so lines soften, usually for a few months at a time. Laser resurfacing, microneedling and chemical peels can improve texture and fine lines over a course of sessions. These should be done by a qualified professional; a dermatologist can tell you which suits your skin.
Forehead wrinkles in your 20s
Faint lines in your 20s are common and usually dynamic. Sunscreen every day, a gentle retinoid a few nights a week and a good moisturiser are enough for most people at this stage. There is no need to rush into treatments for normal expression lines.
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Frequently asked questions
Is it normal to have forehead wrinkles at 20 or 25?
Yes. Faint forehead lines in your 20s are common, especially if you raise your eyebrows a lot. They are usually dynamic lines that respond well to sunscreen, a retinoid and moisturiser.
How do you get rid of forehead wrinkles?
Daily sunscreen and a nightly retinoid soften fine lines over months. Deeper lines usually need in-office treatments such as neuromodulator injections, lasers or microneedling.
Can skincare remove forehead wrinkles?
Skincare can soften fine and dynamic lines and slow new ones, but it rarely erases deep static wrinkles. Those respond better to professional treatments.
What causes forehead wrinkles?
Repeated eyebrow movement, sun damage that breaks down collagen, natural ageing, genetics and dehydration.