Wrinkles

• Laser treatments — resurface the skin's surface and stimulate new collagen production. Ablative lasers, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) or erbium lasers, remove the outer layers of skin to reveal smoother, tighter skin underneath, and are particularly effective for static wrinkles, textural changes, and sun damage. Fractional versions of these lasers treat the skin in a grid of tiny columns, which speeds up healing while still delivering meaningful improvement. Non-ablative lasers work at a gentler level, stimulating collagen with less downtime but more subtle results.
• Injectable treatments — a purified protein is injected into specific facial muscles to temporarily relax the small muscles responsible for repeated expressions, softening the lines they create. This approach is best suited to dynamic wrinkles — the lines that appear or deepen with expression, such as frown lines between the brows, forehead lines, and crow's feet around the eyes. Results are temporary, typically lasting three to four months before the treatment needs to be repeated.

Many patients benefit from combining approaches, alongside a good skincare routine and daily sun protection, since each treatment addresses a different aspect of how wrinkles form.

Wrinkle treatment can suit a wide range of people, but it's worth discussing your options with a dermatologist if:

• You're noticing fine lines or deeper wrinkles that bother you, whether from sun damage, ageing, or expression
• You have specific expression lines — such as frown lines, forehead lines, or crow's feet — that you'd like softened
• You have textured, uneven, or sun-damaged skin alongside your wrinkles
• You're in good general health and don't have a medical condition or medication that your dermatologist advises could affect treatment safety

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We recommend a dermatology consultation with Dr Alice Rudd if:

• You're considering treatment for wrinkles and want an assessment of which approach — laser, injectable, or a combination — suits your skin and goals
• You've tried skincare products without the improvement you're after
• You want a professional opinion on your sun damage and overall skin ageing, not just the lines themselves
• You're unsure what's causing a particular line or wrinkle, or want to understand your options before deciding on treatment

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The simplest way to think about it is static versus dynamic wrinkles. Laser treatments improve the skin's overall texture, tone, and the fine lines and creases that are visible even at rest — these respond well to resurfacing because the treatment targets the skin itself and encourages it to rebuild collagen. Injectable treatments target dynamic wrinkles — the lines caused by muscle movement — by reducing the muscle activity that creates them, which is why they're most effective on expression lines like frown lines and crow's feet rather than on sun damage or overall skin texture.

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Many people have a mix of both static and dynamic wrinkles, which is why a combined approach, tailored after an in-person assessment, often gives the most natural-looking result. Wrinkle treatments can involve the use of prescription medicines that carry risk, and should only be performed under the directive of a medical practitioner.

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Wrinkles can't be avoided altogether, since they're a normal part of ageing, but their onset and severity can be meaningfully slowed. Daily sun protection is the single most effective preventive measure, since UV exposure is responsible for a large proportion of visible skin ageing. Not smoking, staying well hydrated, and using skincare containing ingredients such as retinoids and antioxidants can also help maintain collagen and skin quality over time.