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People with wrinkles aren't ill. But wrinkles can alter the way you look, and this may change the way you feel about yourself.

Wrinkles usually start as fine lines. They tend to get deeper over time.

Wrinkles are often especially noticeable on your face. Lines tend to form on your face in the places your skin folds when you smile or make other expressions. You may get wrinkles:¹

• Across your forehead
• Between your eyebrows (frown lines)
• Around the corners of your eyes (crow's feet)
• Around the corners of your mouth
• On your upper lip
• On your cheeks
• Just in front of your ears.

You may also get lines around the front of your neck and on your hands.

Wrinkles caused by the sun are often accompanied by other signs of sun damage, such as:^{2 3}

• A mottled appearance (patches of slightly different colored skin)
• Small patches of darker skin, like freckles. These are sometimes called liver spots, although they don't have anything to do with your liver. You may also hear them called lentigines
• Hard, flaky, raised or differently colored patches of skin. These are called solar keratoses (or actinic keratoses)
• Dry, rough skin
• Sagging skin.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.