Why Do You Look So Worried?

Those short, vertical lines between your eyebrows have a variety of names. They are called “worry lines” by some, “eleven lines” by others – because they look like the number “11” – headache wrinkles, frown lines; you get the idea. The point is, these lines are often the first wrinkles to appear on a person’s face.

Glabellar lines can cause you to look worried, angry, confused and older. They can develop as early as the mid-20s. When first formed, they show intermittently when you frown. Over time, they can become deeper and more permanent. The skin in this area is thicker than the skin at the outer edge of the eye where finer lines develop. The thicker skin of the glabella causes the wrinkles here to look deeper.

Causes for Glabellar Lines

As with most wrinkles, aging skin is a factor. As you get older, you may notice the fine lines called crow’s feet at the outer edge of your eyes. You may develop horizontal lines in your forehead due to the muscles that lift your eyebrows. Aging also causes glabellar lines to form. Those who are aging gracefully may not mind the lines that develop as long as their skin is healthy.

Medical conditions can also cause glabellar lines. Thyroid eye disease makes the eyes look wide open or retracted. Individuals with this disease tend to pull their eyebrows down, creating the furrow in the glabella. Dry, sensitive eyes will also cause glabellar lines, as the muscles are used more. People with any form of blepharospasm use these muscles more frequently, too, making the lines deeper.

Sometimes a person truly is angry much of the time, and frowning will cause glabellar lines to deepen. However, those deep lines are not always an indicator of anger or worry. They can also be a result of exposure to high levels of sunlight and pollution. Smokers are also prone to deep lines.

Treatment

Glabellar lines can be treated with Botox® injections. The muscles causing the lines to form are relaxed by the Botox injection. Signals to the brain for the muscles to contract are blocked; the muscles are temporarily paralyzed, eliminating the cause of the glabellar lines. The lines may not disappear entirely, but they will soften and minimize the angry look on your face.

Find out more about treating glabellar lines with Botox and how wrinkles can be reduced by scheduling a consultation appointment with Creative Facial Aesthetics. We provide outstanding results.