Frown Lines: Treatment, Causes, Prevention & More

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Board-certified plastic surgeon Usha Rajagopal, MD, explains the best ways to treat pesky wrinkles between your brows

Co-authored by Usha Rajagopal, MD and Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: August 5, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Getting Rid of Wrinkle Lines Between Eyebrows
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• Prevention
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• Causes
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• What are frown lines?
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• FAQ

|Show more |Show less

There’s nothing worse than looking in the mirror and noticing two thick wrinkles forming in between your eyebrows, especially when they won’t go away. You may feel like there’s nothing you can do, but we’re here (along with board-certified plastic surgeons, facial cosmetic specialists, and dermatology experts) to tell you that that’s not true! In fact, there are ways you can get rid of those wrinkle lines between your eyebrows, prevent them, and more! Read on to learn all about those wrinkle lines (including their causes).

How to Treat Wrinkle Lines in Eyebrows

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Board-certified plastic surgeon Usha Rajagopal, MD, says the most effective treatment for reducing the lines between your eyebrows is Botox, especially when they are noticeable at rest. Other effective treatments include:

• Retinol
• Dermal fillers
• Brow lift

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

How to Get Rid of Wrinkle Lines Between Eyebrows

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   Botox According to Dr. Rajagopal, the most effective treatment for getting rid of glabellar lines (wrinkle lines between the eyebrows) is Botulinum toxin (commonly known as Botox), “especially when the glabellar lines are forming or kind of show at rest.” That said, it generally lasts 3-6 months, so you’ll likely need to return for touch-ups to maintain results.

   • Facial cosmetic specialist David Isaacs, MD, says Botox is a procedure that paralyzes the muscle, preventing you from contracting it. This relaxes the muscle and smooths away the wrinkles.
   • Although it’s a costly treatment, Botox is a quick procedure with little to no recovery time needed.
   • While Botox is common, there can be side effects, so be sure to consult with a licensed medical professional before getting injections.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Usha Rajagopal, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience focusing on cosmetic surgery of the face, breast, and body.

   David Isaacs, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon who treats aesthetic and functional conditions of the face and eyelids.

   Heather Richmond, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist with over nine years of experience and a specialization in medical, surgical, and cosmetic procedures.

   Lisset Tresvant is a licensed esthetician and skincare expert with over eight years of experience specializing in helping clients achieve their skincare goals.

   Daniel Barrett, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over six years of experience. He specializes in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery of the face, nose, and body.
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   Retinol According to board-certified dermatologist Heather Richmond, MD, “retinol will help to thicken the skin and minimize the wrinkles over time.” Although it may not be as effective on deeper wrinkles between the eyebrows, retinol can still help stimulate new collagen and add structure to the area.

   • Retinol is a topical vitamin A treatment known for promoting collagen production and its anti-aging effects. It’s widely available over the counter.
   • Keep in mind that retinol increases your risk of sunburn, so be sure to use SPF 30 and wear sun-protective clothing during the day.
   • If you’ve never used retinol before, start with a pea-sized amount every other day and then use it daily after 3-4 weeks. This slowly incorporates the ingredient into your routine, reducing the risk of side effects.
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   Dermal Fillers Injectable dermal fillers help smooth your skin and fill things out, which can reduce the wrinkle lines between your eyebrows. It’s also a minimally invasive procedure, as gel-like substances are injected through a needle and eventually absorb into the body.

   • Common fillers include Hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, and poly L-lactic acid (PLLA).
   • Filler’s effects are immediate and can last for several months to a year, depending on the type of filler used. As with any procedure, be sure to go to a licensed healthcare provider.
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   Brow Lift A brow lift is a surgical procedure that tightens the skin on your brows and forehead to get rid of wrinkles and create a smooth appearance. By getting rid of excessive sagging, it smooths out the wrinkles between your eyebrows, but it’s important to remember that it’s a surgery that’s not meant to be taken lightly.

   • Consult a medical professional to determine whether a brow lift is right for you.
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   Chemical Peels Chemical peels can help soften wrinkles by using a chemical solution to break down the top layers of the skin. When these layers grow back, the skin is smoother. You may need a medium or deep chemical peel depending on how deep the wrinkle lines between your eyebrows are, so consult a medical professional to figure out what’s best for you.
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   Microneedling According to skincare expert Lisset Tresvant, microneedling is one of the best natural ways to minimize wrinkles. It boosts collagen production by “[mimicking] injury to the skin using tiny needles, which triggers the body to produce more collagen and elastin,” Tresvant says.

   • This collagen and elastin can help make the skin smoother and firmer, combating those eyebrow wrinkles.
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   Silicone Pads Silicone pads are reusable silicone gel pads that can be put on scars and wrinkles to soften them. While silicone pads don’t permanently eliminate the wrinkles between your eyebrows, they can temporarily soften them by restricting muscle movement, creating a similar effect.

   • Not sure what to go with? Try facial patches like Frownies and wrinkle pads like those from SiO Beauty.
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Prevent Wrinkles Lines Between Eyebrows

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   Avoid repetitive frowning and expressions in the area. Board-certified plastic surgeon Daniel Barrett, MD, says that “Once you start noticing wrinkles in your forehead, you can start training your forehead so you don’t utilize those muscles as much.” For example, if wrinkles form between your eyebrows, actively try to avoid frowning and movements that furrow the brows.
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   Regularly clean and moisturize your face. Keeping your face clean helps prevent irritation, which can accelerate skin aging. Moisturizing helps retain water in the skin, helping maintain elasticity and a youthful look. Together, cleaning and moisturizing your face daily slows down those eyebrow wrinkles.
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   Wear sunscreen whenever you head outside. The UV rays from the sun can prematurely age your skin and lead to wrinkles. To protect your skin and help prevent that wrinkle line between your eyebrows, wear a broad-spectrum, water-resistant, SPF 30 or higher sunscreen when you head out for the day.
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   Avoid tanning beds. Whenever you use a tanning bed or get a tan in the sun, you speed up your skin’s aging process thanks to the UV rays emitted. This can contribute to wrinkles forming between your eyebrows, especially if you're the type who regularly uses those muscles. To avoid this, stay away from tanning beds, keep sun tanning to a minimum, and opt for self-tanner.
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   Eat a healthy, hydrating diet. Eating fruits and vegetables and staying hydrated can help prevent the damage that causes your skin to age prematurely. This includes those pesky wrinkles between your brows. To help keep them from forming and setting up camp on your face, eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and drink lots of water.
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   Avoid smoking. Smoking greatly accelerates the skin’s aging process, which can cause eyebrow wrinkles to appear earlier than usual. So if you smoke and want to prevent that wrinkle line in between your eyebrows, stop.
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Section 3 of 4:

Causes of Wrinkle Lines Between Eyebrows

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   Aging As you get older, your skin loses elasticity and firmness, which naturally leads to wrinkles and depressions. This isn’t limited to smile lines or eye bags—the area in between your eyebrows can also be affected, especially if you regularly make facial expressions that move the muscles in the area.
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   Facial expressions Frowny and furrowed facial expressions are among the biggest causes of wrinkles between your eyebrows, as repeated use of the facial muscles can create wrinkles over time. As you age and your skin weakens, the tension from those regular movements becomes more noticeable, resulting in those pesky wrinkles.
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   Genetics Genetics play a big role in how you and your skin look. Smoothness, skin color, and wrinkles can all be influenced by your genes, so if you have family members with wrinkle lines between their eyebrows and notice them forming between your brows, they may be genetic.
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   Excessive sun exposure UV radiation from the sun can damage your skin and lead to premature aging. As the skin ages, it loses elasticity and firmness, which can contribute to wrinkles. While it isn’t going to sear wrinkle lines in between your eyebrows, it can speed up their formation, especially if you’re always frowning or furrowing your brows.
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   Smoking Smoking can damage the collagen in your skin upon exposure, as well as reduce hydration and blood flow and dry out your skin, which can all contribute to the formation of wrinkle lines between your eyebrows.

   • Like smoking, pollutants in the air can also speed up the skin’s aging process and lead to wrinkles.
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Section 4 of 4:

What are frown lines?

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1. 
   Frown lines are lines that form between your eyebrows after years of expression. Wrinkle lines between the eyebrows (also called frown lines) are formally known as glabellar lines. According to Dr. Rajagopal, glabellar lines are two parallel lines that form when you frown and furrow your eyebrows. Over time, these lines get deeper the more you furrow your brows.

   • Frown lines can feature more than two lines. In fact, they’re often called “11” lines due to their deep, intricate wrinkles.

Common Questions: Reducing Wrinkle Lines Between Eyebrows

Is it possible to get rid of deep frown lines without using Botox? While you can’t entirely get rid of deep frown lines without Botox, you can significantly reduce them through a combination of moisturizing, anti-wrinkle cream, and facial muscle training to avoid moving the areas that formed the wrinkles.

Do anti-wrinkle patches or silicone tape actually work overnight? Wrinkle patches and silicone tape do provide relief from your wrinkles overnight, but the results are temporary. There is no research that proves they permanently remove or reduce the wrinkle lines between your eyebrows.

What causes deep vertical wrinkles between the eyes at an early age? Deep vertical wrinkles between the eyes at an early age can result from genetics and frequent facial expressions. If your family has these wrinkles and you’re prone to frowning, squinting, and furrowing your brows, you may develop the same wrinkles at an early age.

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