Expression lines: do you know why they appear in menopause?
12 Jun 2025
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After the age of 30, you start to worry about that little wrinkle that, although you can hardly see it, torments you when you think about whether you will notice it when you laugh. Relax! Expression lines do not have to be a headache. Here we explain why they appear and how to improve their appearance.
Where do expression lines appear?
Also called laugh lines or worry lines, they develop mainly on the sides of the mouth and eyes, on the forehead and between the eyebrows. In young people, they are more noticeable when smiling or frowning. Frown lines between the eyebrows are usually the first to appear and the most visible. (1,2)
What factors influence its occurrence?
They are the result of all the expressions you make. For instance, laughing, smiling, angry or crying. This is because the muscles begin to have visible traces of your movement pattern (2). Its main causes include (1):
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Loss of elasticity (collagen)
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Dehydrated skin
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Genetics
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Smoking
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Sun damage
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Age
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Menopause
How does the menopause influence its onset?
Estrogen is vital to women's health and plays several essential roles in the development of female body characteristics and fertility. It influences the skin in the following ways (3):
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Prevents collagen depletion, which is essential for skin elasticity and firmness.
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Maintains healthy levels of hyaluronic acid, which is responsible for retaining water and keeping tissues hydrated.
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Maintains healthy skin metabolism. It also promotes blood circulation in the skin.
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Prevents and reduces skin damage and inflammation.
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Increases immune system response and promotes tissue repair after injury.
With menopause, there is a decrease in estrogen levels. In fact, this can happen even earlier than expected if you have a premature menopause, leading to (3):
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Hyaluronic acid and collagen depletion.
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Increased appearance of fine wrinkles and accentuated permanent fine lines.
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Reduction of fat that is stored under the skin. This causes flaccidity, mainly in the cheekbones, jawline, and neck.
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Dry skin and even itching in cases of severe or prolonged dehydration.
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Significant loss of elasticity.
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Fragility and increased susceptibility to lesions and slow healing processes and hyperpigmentation.
Recommendations to reduce expression lines during the menopause
Of course, a healthy lifestyle and some skin care will help to reduce the discomfort and visibility of expression lines. Let us look at (3):
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First, include minerals, vitamins and antioxidants in your diet that protect the body from harmful substances and support collagen production.
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Also, make sure you drink enough water to keep your whole body well hydrated.
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Besides, avoid excessive coffee or alcoholic beverages, as they cause dehydration.
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Exercise regularly. But remember that menopausal dizziness can occur, so avoid situations that put you at risk.
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Get enough sleep to reduce stress.
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Use natural products rich in antioxidants that are suitable and balanced for your skin type. Do not use chemical products that may cause damage to your skin.
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Furthermore, develop a daily skin care routine.
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Use moisturizing cleansing solutions and avoid soap-based make-up removers that can worsen dryness.
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Moreover, always use appropriate moisturizing creams or serums on the face, neck, décolleté and hands.
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During the day, use a moisturizer with 30+ SPF sunscreen to protect your skin.
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Finally, choose gentle exfoliating products.
Exercises to diminish the appearance of expression lines
The secret lies in the discipline and perseverance with which you do them. In that sense, we describe the procedure for each one of them (4):
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First, use the tips of your index fingers to apply pressure to the expression lines around your mouth. Simultaneously, smile with your lips as wide apart as possible. Hold the smile for about 5-10 seconds. Then, rest and repeat 15-30 times.
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In addition, with teeth closed, smile as fully as possible. Hold for about 10 seconds. Relax and repeat 10-20 times.
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Finally, place your thumbs on the outer corners of your eyes. Then place your fingers on top of your head. Close your eyes and squeeze tightly. With eyes squeezed shut, separate outer corners, and pull up slightly. Hold for about 5-10 seconds. Then, relax and repeat 10-25 times.
In brief, expression lines are the traces of your emotions and triumphs. Therefore, they do not have to be a problem. If you do not have them yet, you can start taking care of your skin to delay their appearance. Now, if you are already in your menopause, do not hesitate to start taking care of yourself; it is never too late. Get ready to put your best face forward and join in celebrating the menopause on World Menopause Day.
Referencias bibliográficas
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Cherney K. How to Get Rid of Smile Lines? [Internet]. Healthline; 2022. [cited 2022 Dec 9]. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/smile-lines#causes
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Kuschmider R. What To Know About Frown Lines [Internet]. WebMD; 2021. [cited 2022 Dec 9]. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/beauty/what-to-know-frown-lines
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Breastcancer. Menopausal Skin Changes [Internet]. 2022. [cited 2022 Dec 9]. Available from: https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment-side-effects/menopause/treating-symptoms/skin-changes
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Fletcher J. How to get rid of laugh lines with exercises [Internet]. Medical News Today; 2017. [cited 2022 Dec 9]. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319341#how-do-you-get-rid-of-laugh-lines-around-the-eyes
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