From frowns to smiles: These 7 tiny expressions speed up visible ageing

Everyday facial expressions like squinting, pouting and smiling can lead to wrinkles and fine lines over time, say doctors who explain how muscle movement ages the face

Don't want to miss the best from Business Standard?

You probably don’t realise it, but your face is keeping score. Every frown at a tough text, every squint at your laptop screen, every pout in frustration—these small, everyday expressions might be leaving behind something more permanent than just a fleeting emotion: fine lines and wrinkles.

7 common facial expressions carving lines on your face

Here are the big culprits:

1. Frowning (aka worry lines):

That furrow between your eyebrows comes from the glabellar muscle tightening. Over time, the “11 lines” can stick around even when your face is relaxed.

 

Dr Nirupama Parwanda, Dermatologist & Founder of Zolie Skin Clinic, said, “These lines get more difficult to remove as you age. Eventually, they may develop into wrinkles.”

2. Squinting (crow’s feet):

Whether caused by sunlight, screen glare or weak eyesight, the orbicularis oculi muscles contract, leaving fine lines fanning from the corners of your eyes.

 

“Squinting gives you crow’s feet, a weird-sounding word, but it’s because these lines resemble the talons of a crow. Basically, they are diagonal and horizontal wrinkles, also known as lateral canthal lines, that fan out from the corners of the eyes,” said Dr Gizem Seymenoglu, medical aesthetician, Longevita.

3. Raising eyebrows (forehead lines):

Those moments of surprise or emphasis engage the frontalis muscle, leaving horizontal creases across your forehead.

 

“When the face relaxes, these lines initially disappear, but they may eventually become permanent,” said Dr Parwanda.

4. Nose scrunching (bunny lines):

That innocent nose wrinkle while laughing or reacting to something gross is powered by the nasalis muscle. Repetition deepens tiny lines across the bridge of your nose.

 

“Have you ever seen the nose of a twitching bunny? That’s exactly where bunny lines get their name from. While several muscles play a role, the key player here is the nasalis muscle, which is what you use to flare your nostrils,” said Dr Seymenoglu.

5. Pursing lips (smoker’s or straw lines):

Smoking, drinking through straws or even certain speech habits cause repetitive puckering of the orbicularis oris muscle, leaving vertical lines around the mouth.

 

“They might appear worse in smokers as a result of collagen breakdown,” said Dr Seymenoglu.

6. Pouting (the sulk lines):

Whether it’s the duck-face selfie, a sulk or exaggerated lip push, pouting also strains the orbicularis oris. Over time, it deepens fine lines above and around the lips.

7. Smiling (laugh lines):

The most joyful expression can also deepen nasolabial folds—those creases running from the nose to the mouth.

 

“The repetitive muscle contraction from smiling can deepen nasolabial folds extending from your nose all the way to the mouth,” said Dr Rachana Tataria, Breast Reconstruction & Plastic Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Mulund.

 

“Of course, as a human, it is very difficult to avoid expressions, and it is a way of communication, but it is recommended that we use fewer of these expressions to avoid early wrinkle formation,” said Dr Tataria.

What else speeds up facial ageing?

Doctors explain that genetics and facial structure also play a role in how deeply these lines are set in. If your skin is thinner or your muscle activity is naturally more pronounced, you may notice wrinkles earlier than your peers. External factors like UV exposure, smoking, alcohol, stress and lack of sleep can speed things up further. 

Since you're already here

…and clearly interested in your health, take a moment to explore our varied range of stories on wellness, medical research, and public health insights.

• Men's grooming essentials  Adult acne, dull skin, hair loss: Skincare tips every man should know
• What a heart doctor won’t eat  10 foods a cardiologist avoids after 20 years treating heart disease
• Early cataracts and screen stress  Cataracts in 30s and 40s? How screen time and stress may be clouding vision
• Eat to prevent cardiac arrest  Heart-smart eating: Diet tips to lower risk of sudden cardiac arrest
• Everyday foods linked to cancer  Doctor warns against these 6 everyday foods that may raise cancer risk
• Fitness trends under the microscope  Are these popular Instagram fitness trends actually helpful or just hype?
• Back pain? Walk it off  Want to avoid chronic back pain? Walk over 100 minutes a day, says study
• Hidden heart hazards at work  Why your office coffee cup and lunch box may raise heart disease risks
• How to be heard at work  Speak up at work: What to do when you're feeling ignored and invisible
• Beyond sobriety: Addiction recovery  Why recovery from addiction needs more than just quitting substances

For more health updates, follow #HealthWithBS 

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.