Articles related to focusing on healthy aging, prevention, mobility, cognition, nutrition, independence, and caregiving support.
According to research published in *Psychology Today*, the wrinkles that form around your eyes when you smile can make you appear older than your neutral expression. This phenomenon can be surprising, leaving many to wonder, **Why does my face look old when I smile?**
While a popular belief suggests that smiling makes one appear younger, psychological research has consistently shown the opposite to be true. When people are asked to estimate the age of a smiling face, they often rate it as older than the same person with a neutral expression, challenging the assumption that **does smiling a lot make you look younger**.
The skin's collagen production begins to decline in your mid-to-late 20s, a natural process that directly influences the appearance of facial lines. Understanding the factors at play is key to answering the question: what age is it normal to get smile lines?
While many people associate smile lines, or nasolabial folds, with advancing age, their appearance at 20 is surprisingly common and often not a sign of premature aging. These lines are natural creases that can be influenced by factors other than the breakdown of collagen and elastin that happens much later in life.
According to dermatological studies, a person's skin can begin to lose its regenerative capacity as early as their mid-to-late twenties. This natural decrease in skin elasticity and collagen production is the primary reason why nasolabial folds first start to appear, though the exact timing varies significantly from person to person based on a combination of factors.
