Fine Lines Versus Wrinkles: The Difference & How To Address Them Both

Yet with all of that technical jargon, one common (and confusing) issue remains: What about fine lines versus wrinkles? You may use the terms interchangeably in everyday conversation, but do they actually mean something different in the skin care space? Great question—we had derms weigh in below. 

But again, there's no hard rule to separate the two in dermatology. "If you get five dermatologists in a room, you'll likely get five different opinions on what constitutes a wrinkle versus a line," adds Zeichner. Of course, you can always assess the crease itself: A fine line will often appear, well, fine and faint, while a wrinkle may be more static and deep-set. But even this can be subjective, depending on what you consider "fine."  

If you regard fine lines as "baby" wrinkles, you might notice those once softer etchings start to stick around over time. This happens as your skin thins and collagen levels dwindle with age, which makes it more difficult for your skin to rebound to its original shape—and, thus, those fine lines start to settle in. "Over time, these lines will deepen and etch into the skin, similar to the way folding paper will leave a crease," board-certified dermatologist Cynthia Bailey, M.D., founder of Dr. Bailey Skin Care tells mbg about dynamic wrinkles. 

Whether you consider fine lines "baby wrinkles" or not, it shouldn't affect how you approach those folds. "At the end of the day, it doesn't matter much because we [address] them the same way," says Zeichner. See below for your best practices: 

It's the No. 1 tip for maintaining a youthful skin texture: "Sun protection is critical since up to 80% of the signs of skin aging1—including thinning and loss of elasticity—are due to UV [rays]," says Bailey. Find a sunscreen you love (one that protects against both UVA and UVB rays; here are some of our favorite mineral sunscreens for your  face), and be smart about your time in the sun; proper sun protection goes far beyond a bottle of SPF). 

You can also support your body's natural collagen production endogenously with hydrolyzed collagen supplements.* In fact, studies have shown that taking collagen peptides will support skin elasticity and hydration levels and promote youthful texture2.* See here for our all-time favorite collagen supplements to choose from.

Additionally, you could help support your body's natural antioxidant defenses with targeted supplements—when consumed, antioxidants can help buffer the skin against photoaging by both absorbing UV rays and helping neutralize UV-induced oxidative stress3.* You might want to opt for capsules with astaxanthin, in particular, as this powerhouse phytonutrient has been shown to reduce wrinkles in as little as six weeks.*

Find our favorite HA serums here, or seek other hydrators in your routine—aloe, glycerin, and colloidal oat are common crowd-pleasers. As a reminder, those ingredients are humectants, which means you'll want to layer on an occlusive (i.e., moisturizer or oil) to make sure that hydration doesn't simply evaporate off the surface of the skin. 

And if you tend to sleep with your face smashed against the pillow (yes, sleep wrinkles are a thing), perhaps consider investing in some silk sheets—the fabric prevents friction and provides some slip for delicate skin.

Is there a difference between fine lines and wrinkles? Technically, not really, but people tend to categorize fine lines as "younger" folds with the ability to mature into full-on wrinkles down the line. The good news is, you can approach these lines the same as any other type of wrinkle; all creases are ultimately inevitable at some point, but you can soften their appearance and delay their arrival—yes, even within the delicate under-eye area.