Static vs. Dynamic Wrinkles: Causes and Treatment Options

The word “wrinkle” is often used as a catchall to describe fine lines or creases on the face, but there are actually two types: static wrinkles and dynamic wrinkles. Static wrinkles tend to be more stubborn of the two, but that doesn’t mean there’s no solution—you may just need to look beyond neurotoxins.

Ahead, we’re diving deeper into what dynamic and static wrinkles are, what causes them and the treatment options that can help soften their appearance.

Featured Experts

What Is a Static Wrinkle?

“A static wrinkle is a crease or fold in the skin that remains visible even when your face is completely at rest,” explains New York dermatologist Elaine Kung, MD. Static wrinkles often begin as dynamic expression lines that appear only while you’re smiling or frowning, but over time, with repeated movement and age-related changes, these creases become permanently etched in, says Washington, D.C. dermatologist Nina Hartman, MD.

What Causes a Static Wrinkle?

“Static wrinkles generally form through a combination of repetitive movement and structural decline. Most static lines actually begin their life as dynamic expression lines. After years of folding the skin in the same spot during a smile or a frown, the skin eventually loses its ability to ‘snap back’ to a smooth state,” explains Dr. Kung. “Without a strong, elastic framework to support it, the skin eventually succumbs to gravity and repeated folding, creating a permanent wrinkle.”

The process is accelerated by the natural decline in collagen and elastin and can also be further sped up by extrinsic skin damage from UV rays and other environmental factors, notes Dr. Kung. Dr. Hartman adds that lifestyle factors such as smoking, poor sleep and chronic stress can also impair skin repair and contribute to static wrinkle formation.

What’s the Difference Between a Static Wrinkle and a Dynamic Wrinkle?

“The fundamental difference lies in the relationship between the skin and the muscle,” explains Dr. Kung. “Dynamic wrinkles are functional and temporary; they appear solely due to the contraction of facial muscles during expression and disappear when the face relaxes. Static wrinkles, however, are structural. They persist regardless of muscle movement.” She notes this is because the skin itself has thinned and the collagen matrix at that specific site has been fractured. “I often use the analogy of a piece of paper: dynamic wrinkles are like bending the paper, while static wrinkles are the permanent crease left behind after folding it thousands of times.”

Simply put, “dynamic wrinkles appear only during facial expressions—such as smiling, frowning or raising the eyebrows—and are caused by the underlying muscles contracting. Static wrinkles, by contrast, remain visible regardless of facial movement,” marking deeper structural shifts, explains Dr. Hartman.

Treating Static Wrinkles

While dynamic wrinkles can be eased by relaxing the muscles with neurotoxins, static wrinkles are more stubborn because they stem from deeper structural changes in the skin. “Treating static wrinkles requires us to restore the ‘canvas’ itself,” says Dr. Kung. “Since the muscle is no longer the only culprit, simply relaxing it won’t erase the line. We must physically repair the skin structure.”

Effective treatments focus on rebuilding collagen and restoring support, adds Dr. Hartman. Often, a combination approach delivers the most natural-looking improvement. For example, Dr. Kung suggests using a neuromodulator to reduce repetitive folding, paired with a laser or biostimulator to repair the dermal structure. As always, consult your dermatologist to determine which treatments best align with your anatomy and skin goals.

Here’s how dermatologists approach treating static wrinkles—and which options may be worth considering.

Resurfacing Lasers

Dr. Kung says resurfacing lasers can be a strong option for addressing static wrinkles. Dr. Hartman adds that technologies such as fractional CO₂ or erbium, can help stimulate new collagen and smooth etched-in lines.

Microneedling

Dr. Kung recommends radiofrequency microneedling for treating static wrinkles, while Dr. Hartman says microneedling—used with or without radiofrequency—can help stimulate collagen and improve skin texture over time.

Fillers

Dr. Kung recommends biostimulatory fillers like Radiesse, Sculptra or Rejuran, which gradually help the skin rebuild collagen. For quicker results, Dr. Hartman says hyaluronic acid fillers can “lift, soften and support deep, well-established creases.”