What Is The Difference Between Dynamic and Static Wrinkles?

IN THIS ARTICLE:

• 01 What Are Wrinkles?
• 02 What are Dynamic Wrinkles?
• 03 What are Static Wrinkles?
• 04 Can Red Light Therapy Reduce Wrinkles?
• 05 Can Red Light Therapy Reduce Dynamic Wrinkles?
• 06 What Color LED Light Is Best for Wrinkles?
• 07 The Takeaway

4-minute read

Wrinkles are a prominent sign of aging, and even though we encourage a philosophy of supporting healthy aging, sometimes we want to slow down the rate at which wrinkles appear. The best way to learn how to tackle wrinkles is to understand that not all wrinkles are born equal, and different wrinkles often require a different approach.

What Are Wrinkles?

Wrinkles are the creases, folds, and lines that gradually form in the skin, often as a natural result of aging. They are caused by a loss of elasticity, decreased collagen production, and the cumulative effects of repeated facial movements.

As we age, collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid begin to break down and we lose plumpness and elasticity - key features of youthful skin. Environmental factors such as sun exposure, pollution, and lifestyle accelerate this process. The lack of these key structural proteins, combined with repeated facial movements leads to the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Facial wrinkles are divided into two broad categories - dynamic and static.

What are Dynamic Wrinkles?

Dynamic wrinkles form through frequent facial movements over several years. Temporary lines appear when we smile, frown, and furrow. Once our face is at rest again, dynamic wrinkles disappear. Some examples include crow's feet, 11’s, forehead wrinkles, and smile lines. Frequent facial movement coupled with a loss of facial volume worsens the appearance of dynamic wrinkles

What are Static Wrinkles?

Static wrinkles are caused by general aging, exacerbated by environmental factors. They are lines in the skin that are evident even when the face is at rest. Static wrinkles are mostly associated with ‘volumetric tissue loss’ such as the loss of collagen, hyaluronic acid, and other key structural proteins that give skin structure and youthfulness. Static wrinkles are usually more difficult to target as once they appear, they remain visible even when the face is motionless. Of course, dynamic wrinkles can become static wrinkles with time and so preventative skincare techniques are hugely important when it comes to wrinkle formation.

Can Red Light Therapy Reduce Wrinkles?

Red light therapy uses specific red light wavelengths to boost mitochondrial activity within each skin cell. The application of light triggers a whole host of biochemical reactions such as the production of collagen and elastin, DNA repair, and reducing inflammation by inhibiting certain compounds such as prostaglandin PGE2, COX-1, and COX-2. The impact of these biological reactions is extensive and includes improved skin elasticity and plumpness, repairing sun damage, healing wounds, and scars, smoothing fine lines, targeting hyperpigmentation.

So, does red light therapy work for wrinkles? In short, yes, red light therapy is a very effective treatment for reducing fine lines and wrinkles. In particular, red light therapy targets static wrinkles by protecting against collagen loss and inflammatory markers that lead to premature aging.

Can Red Light Therapy Reduce Dynamic Wrinkles?

For expression lines like frown furrows and crow's feet, the increased collagen and elastin production helps minimize their visibility when the facial muscles contract. The skin has more bounce-back, so those wrinkles appear less pronounced. Clinical studies have found red light therapy can reduce wrinkle depth, like a 2023 study that observed a 15.6% decrease in crow's feet after 28 days of using a red light mask.

So red light therapy can certainly prevent the worsening of dynamic wrinkles, but it is difficult to see how it can erase them altogether, as mentioned, dynamic wrinkles are the result of repeated facial movements and other approaches such as anti-wrinkle injections are more effective for dynamic wrinkles as botulinum toxin A is injected into areas of the face to induce the relaxation of muscles and temporarily in prevent movement in this area. No movement = no dynamic wrinkle formation. It is widely thought that both red light therapy and anti-wrinkle injections target signs of aging however it is important to research anti-wrinkle injections injections before committing to a course of treatment and always choose a trusted, board-certified dermatologist to administer the treatment. 

What Color LED Light Is Best for Wrinkles?

The most effective LED light therapy combination for wrinkle reduction and general anti-aging is red + infrared light therapy.

Infrared light therapy (700-1100) penetrates deeper than all other light on the visible spectrum. Similarly to red light therapy, infrared light has deep healing benefits. Studies have demonstrated its ability to reach beyond skin to deliver healing benefits in tissue, muscle, and even bone. Infrared light boosts cellular function and triggers collagen synthesis for increased skin elasticity, tightening and the prevention of fine lines and wrinkles. The length of infrared light wavelengths also makes it a powerful treatment for muscle repair, inflammation and pain management. 

If aging is your primary skin concern, a mask combining red and infrared light is the ultimate option. 

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The Takeaway

Dynamic wrinkles form due to repeated facial expressions and muscle movements, while static wrinkles are the result of aging, sun damage, and the gradual loss of skin elasticity.

While treatments like red light therapy can temporarily soften dynamic wrinkles by stimulating collagen production and reducing inflammation, it is particularly effective at addressing static wrinkles by targeting the deeper causes, such as reduced collagen and skin elasticity.

However, red light therapy cannot fully prevent dynamic wrinkles from forming, as it doesn't stop the ongoing muscle movements responsible for expression lines. To achieve optimal anti-aging results, using the correct wavelength is crucial, an approach combining red + infrared LED light therapy is the best choice for staving off fine lines and wrinkles.

  written by Charlotte Rycroft