Wrinkles and fine lines: How to reverse signs of ageing

Published: October 2015 
Last Reviewed: February 2025 

Wrinkles are creases that develop in the skin and are among the earliest visible signs of ageing, with fine lines often appearing first. Depending on your genetics and lifestyle, they typically begin to form between the ages of 25 and 30. 

Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Epigenetic Serum is designed to tackle early signs of ageing and helps to make the skin look younger than its age. Explore the signs and symptoms of wrinkles and fine lines, their causes, treatment options to reduce them, and ways to prevent them. 

Fine lines are small, shallow lines that normally first appear under the eyes and mouth, and these develop into more visible furrows as the skin’s structure weakens with age. Wrinkles, on the other hand, are deeper creases within the skin that develop over time. Fine lines become wrinkles as you age in conjunction with repeated facial movements.

Wrinkles fall into two categories:

1. Fine lines: These fine, surface lines develop due to irregular skin thickening, and because of a decrease in the amount of moisture held in the skin. Sun damage and exposure to environmental toxins, like tobacco smoke, are the main causes.
2. Furrows: Deeper lines or furrows can be classified as dynamic or static. Dynamic face lines appear with movement, e.g. from muscle activity, while static lines are unchanged with muscle movement. Dynamic lines will eventually become static.

Fine lines and wrinkles tend to become visible first in certain areas, such as the face, neck, and hands, which are often the most frequently exposed to sunburn. 

Unlike a loss of volume, fine lines and wrinkles are easy to spot as they appear as distinct lines or creases on the face. Over time, fine lines appear all over the face and develop into deep wrinkles.

Fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes are often the first visible sign of skin ageing and are known as ‘crow’s feet’ or ‘laughter lines’. This is because the layer of skin in the area around your eye, the periorbital hollow, is thinner than average and is therefore more prone to developing lines than other parts of the face.

Under eye wrinkles are more self-explanatory, and these are often the first signs of wrinkles and ageing alongside 'crow's feet'.

Read more about under-eye wrinkles and crow's feet here.

You may notice horizontal lines and furrows between the brows. These start as ‘mimic wrinkles’ and are partly caused by facial expressions. They are particularly visible when frowning or raising your eyebrows. Years of frequent contraction of your facial muscles, such as squinting, raising your eyebrows, concentrating or frowning, along with external and lifestyle factors, can all cause wrinkles and fine lines to form on the forehead over time, commonly known as frown lines.

Those which are visible when making facial expressions but disappear after relaxing are called ‘dynamic wrinkles’. Those which are visible regardless of facial movement are known as ‘static wrinkles’.

Read more about forehead wrinkles and how to treat them.

There are three types of wrinkles and fine lines that appear around the mouth, which include: 

• Nasolabial folds: Deeper lines between the nose and mouth are known as nasolabial folds or smile lines. The appearance of these wrinkles can be linked to a loss of volume, as they are also a sign of sagging skin. 
• Marionette lines: Another type of wrinkle around the mouth is marionette lines, which usually appear with nasolabial folds. These develop with age, appear vertically from the mouth to the chin, and  can have a sagging appearance. 
• Lipstick lines: Lipstick lines, also known as smoker’s lines or vertical lip lines, are wrinkles that affect the lip area only. They can develop along the upper lip and on the lips themselves. 

You can learn how to treat marionette lines and how to treat nasolabial folds, so you can restore volume to around your mouth.

Neck lines and wrinkles in the décolletage area are also common, learn more here.

Ageing is a natural process and therefore all healthy skin changes over time. At present, there are no quick or fast solutions to removing fine lines and wrinkles, as improving the appearance of the skin due to ageing can take time. However, there are skincare solutions to add radiance to your skin and reduce ageing’s appearance.

For example, the Hyaluron-Filler Epigenetic Serum includes ingredient Epicelline® which is proven to visibly reverse signs of skin ageing for firmer, younger-looking skin.

Anti-ageing skincare products can help to reduce wrinkles and fine lines on the face. Many contain active ingredients which address the skin’s primary ageing concern.

After 15 years of Epigenetic research, we developed the Hyaluron-Filler Epigenetic Serum. This helps to visibly reverse skin ageing and contains the powerful active ingredient Epicelline®, which reactivates the skin’s youth genes at the root and makes the skin act younger.  

The serum is formulated with Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate the skin and plump up wrinkles. Clinical studies confirm that the Hyaluron-Filler Epigenetic Serum provides visible results in 4 weeks of using the serum*.

*Clinical study over 2 and 4 weeks with 43 volunteers respectively. Product-in-use test over 4 weeks over 160 volunteers. 

Ensuring your skin is protected from the sun is essential to reducing wrinkles and fine lines on the face. The Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Day SPF 30 is an anti-ageing day cream, formulated with ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Saponin and Enoxolone to reduce wrinkles for a more rejuvenated look.

For more advanced symptoms of ageing, the Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity range is ideal for mature skin. Inspired by dermatological treatments, Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity 3D Serum is a light and moisturising anti-ageing serum that effectively treats the three dimensions of skin ageing; age spots, wrinkles and a loss of elasticity.

Our innovative blend of high and low molecular Hyaluronic Acid visibly plumps deep wrinkles.

For best results, use in combination with other products in the Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity range. Using Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity in combination offers topical anti-ageing solutions for a rejuvenated look with products tailored to every major stage of the ageing process. Eucerin’s blend of high and low molecular Hyaluronic Acid, Arctiin and Silymarin in the day and night creams plumps up deep wrinkles and improves elasticity. 

Anti-ageing creams and serums are designed with ingredients that are clinically proven to reduce wrinkles and fine lines on the face. These include Hyaluronic Acid, which the body produces naturally. It’s an ingredient that attracts and holds onto moisture in skin cells, which then allows the skin to feel plumper. Other ingredients, such as Saponin and Enoxolone, are important in supporting Hyaluronic Acid production in the skin and protecting the skin from free radicals. 

Epicelline®, found in the Hyaluron-Filler Epigenetic Serum, is an active ingredient that reactivates the skin’s youth genes at the root and allows skin cells to act younger, promoting a youthful, revitalised complexion. 

These powerful ingredients are essential in improving the appearance of the skin and reducing wrinkles on the face.

*Product-in-use test with 160 women over 4 weeks.

Repeated facial expressions - like squinting, frowning or smiling - contribute to wrinkles over time. Each time a facial muscle is used, a groove forms underneath the skin. These grooves eventually become permanent as the skin ages and loses its flexibility.

Though facial expressions are a factor, wrinkles on the face are largely caused by ageing. The substances that keep our skin smooth and firm, such as collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, begin to deteriorate as we age. Collagen is a protein the body produces that gives your skin structure, while providing stretchiness and elasticity so you can move easily. As your body’s cells age, the ability to produce proteins like collagen reduces. This means that it can be more difficult for your skin to return to its original shape, which in turn causes wrinkles around the eyes, face and neck.

Some of ageing’s influencing factors are natural and inevitable, but some are largely environmental and can be controlled:

• Internal causes: The natural ageing process predetermined by our genes. Also known as intrinsic, biological or chronological ageing.
• External causes: Environmental factors that cause oxidative stress to the skin, e.g. over-exposure to sunlight. Also known as extrinsic ageing.

Young skin has a structure that is similar to building blocks, with a regular arrangement of dermal tissue and a plentiful supply of collagen. It appears even and feels firm, but from about the age of 25, a 1% annual decline in collagen levels together with an increasingly disorganised dermal tissue arrangement causes a loss of skin strength.

This results in the appearance of fine lines which develop into wrinkles over time as the creases manifest throughout the layers of skin.

Another key factor is age-induced dryness. As a result of reduced skin functions, mature skin becomes increasingly dry and may be itchy and rough, too. Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler SPF15 is a day cream formulated with ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid, Saponin, and Enoxolone to tackle ageing for those with dry skin on the face.

One reason this occurs is due to a decrease in the amount of Hyaluronic Acid being produced in the skin. This is the moisture-binding substance that surrounds the skin cells and gives the skin its smooth, youthful appearance. This decline causes the skin to lose its full, firm feel and it becomes more susceptible to creasing and deep wrinkles.

Finally, genetic make-up and family history may also have a bearing on the skin's ageing process.

External causes of fine lines and wrinkles are all due to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress releases free radicals which damage skin cell structures and contribute to the natural degradation of the skin’s collagen, elastin, and Hyaluronic Acid. Causes of oxidative stress include:

• Sun. Sun damage is the primary cause of photoageing (premature skin ageing caused by the sun) and contributes to wrinkles. Prolonged and repeated sun exposure damages collagen, which results in a less elastic, weakened skin structure that wrinkles more easily. You can learn how to treat and prevent sunburn to protect your skin from ageing. The sun has variety of different light rays that can damage your skin, but you can find out how UVA, UVB and HEVIS light affect the skin. Wear sunscreen everyday to prevent your skin from being damaged by the sun.

• Pollution. Pollution triggers the release of free radicals and accelerates oxidative stress in the skin.

• Smoking. Oxidative stress is triggered by smoking. Free radicals damage the skin’s structure and contribute to the general signs of ageing, including wrinkles. In addition, the nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes damage the collagen and elastin in the skin. This has influences the skin’s elasticity and may also cause wrinkles.

• Diet. Certain foods, mostly fruits and vegetables, are rich in antioxidants and vitamins that can help to prevent premature ageing and slow down skin ageing in general.

• Lack of sleep. The skin needs sleep to repair and regenerate. Poor sleep can also contribute to your day-to-day stress levels. When the body experiences stress it produces the hormone cortisol which is known to negatively impact the collagen levels, further accelerating the development of wrinkles.

Wrinkles are a natural part of the ageing process and affect everyone at some stage in life. However, you may be more likely to experience wrinkles and fine lines earlier in life if:  

• You are frequently exposed to UV radiation, such as sun or tanning beds, and have sun-damaged skin. 
• You do not protect the skin that is most vulnerable to UV radiation, such as the face, neck and ears. 
• Your skin type is fairer. 
• You smoke tobacco or tobacco-based products. 
• You produce less collagen, or your body loses collagen, a protein that gives your skin elasticity and support. 

While everybody develops wrinkles on their face over time, there are some ways to prevent or reduce the development of fine lines:

Avoiding UV exposure reduces skin damage, so try to limit the amount of time you spend in the sun. Wear broad-spectrum sunscreens of SPF 30 or higher, reapplying every two hours, and always wear protective clothing like a hat, sunglasses or long-sleeved shirts. Look for make-up and other beauty products with built-in sunscreen, ensuring you're protecting your skin every day, all year round. 

Dry skin can shrivel plump skin cells, which can cause premature fine lines on the face. Moisturising products enable water to stay in the skin, helping to mask face lines and creases. Ingredients such as retinol, niacinamide and vitamin C can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. 

Use a gentle cleanser and avoid rubbing the skin too harshly, which can cause irritation and accelerate skin ageing. Ensure you wash your face after heaving perspiration, as sweat can irritate the skin and cause damage over time.

Tanning beds can damage the skin, making your skin age quicker. Wrinkles, age spots, and skin sagginess can occur in people who tan more frequently, at a much faster rate than those who don’t.

Nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes can contribute to wrinkles, as they cause blood vessels to narrow and reduce oxygen flow to skin cells. Even heavy smokers can improve their skin tone and texture by quitting.

Studies show that certain vitamins in a healthy diet help protect the skin.

This dehydrates the skin and causes damage over time. Alcohol can affect the way some of your vital organs work, causing them to age faster, as well as speeding up biological ageing.

Any wrinkle treatment that involves an invasive procedure should be carried out by a dermatologist, or other healthcare professional, in a clinical environment. Invasive wrinkle treatments include:

• Dermal filler injections: These are designed to fill out wrinkles by plumping up the skin, most commonly with Hyaluronic Acid.

• Cosmetic surgery: Surgery presents a more permanent treatment option, with the potential to target concerns for specific areas of the body such as forehead furrows or jowls. It is however a more invasive and expensive procedure.
• Laser resurfacing: Laser resurfacing is a procedure that uses energy to improve the skin’s appearance. A method called ablative laser resurfacing uses a beam of energy to destroy or damage the outer layer of skin, simultaneously heating the underlying skin. This is done to stimulate collagen growth, and as the wound heals, the new collagen generated will lead to smoother skin. 

Invasive treatments are commonly associated with treating wrinkles around the mouth, such as marionette lines and nasolabial folds. You can learn more about how these invasive treatments are used, as well as, how you can get rid of nasolabial folds and marionette lines naturally.

Medical research has shown that the use of some skincare products containing Hyaluronic Acid can significantly improve the effects of Hyaluronic Acid filling treatments when skincare products are used regularly after the injection over a prolonged time − especially around the eyes. Hyaluronic Acid is the main active ingredient in the Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler anti-ageing family and is proven to deliver results, especially in the eye area.

1. Study report: Saponins – a new generation of Hyaluronan-stimulating actives for human skin, S. Gallinat, F. Rippke, C. Keppler, J. Mergell, A. Bürger, F. Stäb, H. Wenck Beiersdorf AG, Hamburg, Germany2.
2. The standard unit for measuring the mass of an atom is a kilo Dalton (kDa). High molecular Hyaluronic Acid has a kDa of 2000 and low molecular Hyaluronic Acid has a kDa of 52. Both are contained in the Hyaluron-Filler, Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity and Sun Photoaging Control formulas.
3.  In-vitro studies