Frown lines

introduction

Everyone knows them, nobody likes them. We are talking about the frown line - that small crease that appears in pairs between the eyebrows when we are angry (hence the name), or when we frown. From an anatomical point of view, a muscle with the complicated name "Musculus corrugator supercilii" is responsible for this. This muscle pulls diagonally downwards from the middle of the eyebrows towards the nose and is responsible for drawing the eyebrows together towards the middle. When we look grim and pull our eyebrows together, we are using this muscle. If we do this too often, however, small skin wrinkles occur because the skin is moved along with the muscle. This naturally takes years to decades, so it's no wonder that wrinkles are commonly referred to as signs of aging. Since the corrugator supercilii muscle is placed in pairs under both eyebrows, not just one but two wrinkles develop, which are collectively referred to as frown lines. In addition to the vertical frown fold, there can also be a horizontal, i.e. transverse frown fold, which, however, is caused by another muscle, the M. depressor supercilii. A horizontal frown line is less common, however, but can appear when the soft tissues of the forehead also sag.

causes

The causes of frown lines are of natural origin. Over time, our skin wears out, that Connective tissue becomes weaker, and Environmental influences like sun, wind and cold do the rest. The skin ages. Like leather, our skin wears off and wrinkles - a natural process that many people absolutely want to stop in order to retain a piece of youthfulness. In addition to the natural signs of aging, however stress, and an unbalanced lifestyle accelerate wrinkling. A lot can be inferred from the name "frown lines" about the possible causes. Weak connective tissue or neurological disorders such as tics can also promote wrinkles.

therapy

The frown line is not a disease or a symptom that requires treatment in the true sense of the word. Therapy is purely cosmetic. While many people see wrinkles as a natural sign of the times, others want to get rid of them as quickly as possible. The drug of choice for treating wrinkles is now the neurotoxin botulinum toxin, a trade name Botox. Botox works on the transmission between nerve cells and muscle cells. It blocks the release of the neurotransmitter acetycholine in the synaptic cleft, and thus prevents muscle contraction. If there is no muscle contraction, the skin is not wrinkled, it looks smooth and taut - exactly the result that one hoped for.

Risks

However, botox also has a number of disadvantages. On the one hand, the application repeated every few months as the effects of the neurotoxin wear off. This is always associated with costs, and the dose may then have to be increased further. Furthermore, botulinum toxin is currently the case deadliest poisonwhich is known to man. Statisticians claim that a fingernail-sized dose would be enough to kill the entire world's population. Botox is applied in nanogram doses, i.e. in the billionth of a gram. Slightly increased doses, or even setting off a tens digit, can have fatal consequences. Cases of doctors, or even self-appointed doctors, are repeatedly known who have caused permanent damage to their patients, including death. It is therefore particularly important to consult a qualified, experienced doctor and not always directly accept the cheapest offer. A Botox treatment in Germany costs 150 to 250 € per session, depending on the region.

Others

Other names for the "frown lines" are also Thinker butterfly and, in medical jargon, "Glabellar fold". While “frown lines” admittedly doesn't sound particularly flattering, thinker's wrinkles and glabellar lines sound much more graceful. A short-term removal of frown lines by means of Botox also always harbors the danger of giving the face a certain "mask-like character", since certain facial movements are no longer possible. This should always be considered before a botox therapy. In Germany, due to the easy accessibility and the comparatively low costs, a real shopping trend towards "small" repairs to the body has developed. Every intervention on the body - no matter how small - involves dangers and should be carefully considered.