Your forehead wrinkles might actually be dehydration lines — here's how to get rid of them

• Not all forehead lines are wrinkles — some are actually from dehydration, says a dermatologist.
• You can smooth them by using moisturizers with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid. 
• Keeping a consistent skincare routine will help fade all kinds of fine lines.

Forehead wrinkles are notoriously annoying to get rid of, whether you're taping them away or going the more expensive Botox route.

But before you devote time (and a decent amount of money) to fading yours, it's good to figure out what your lines are actually caused by. In some cases, the issue might be as simple as dehydrated skin.

Dr. Ivy Lee, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in southern California, told Insider that while all fine lines improve with more moisturization, dehydration lines (which can look just like wrinkles) tend to go away once you start using the right skincare products.

Dehydration lines look lighter and more textured than wrinkles

Unlike wrinkles caused by repetitive muscle movement, Lee said dehydration lines are finer and have a "crepe paper-like texture when the affected skin is not well hydrated."

While we typically associate dehydration with drinking water, she noted that overall body hydration doesn't really determine whether we have dehydration lines on our faces or not. In general, drinking excess water doesn't have any added skin benefits — instead, topical products are best for smoothing fine lines. 

You should pick a moisturizer that has three key hydrating ingredients

Lee said there are three main categories of moisturizing ingredients:

• Humectants, which attract water into the skin (ex: hyaluronic acid and glycerin).
• Emollients, which repair the skin barrier and soften the skin (ex: squalene and plant-derived oils).
• Occlusives, which "trap moisture into the skin by creating a seal," Lee said (ex: hydrated petroleum or mineral oil).

Ideally, Lee said you should be using products that contain all three. She recommended CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, and SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2.

Sticking to a consistent routine is key

Whether you have dehydration lines or deeper creases, Lee said you'll benefit from a consistent daily and nightly skincare routine. 

If you've hydrated your skin and still see lines, then they might, in fact, be wrinkles. In that case, Lee suggested using moisturizing antioxidant sunscreen in the morning (like La Roche Posay's Anthelios Mineral SPF Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid) and, at night, an exfoliating cleanser, moisturizer, and prescription-strength retinoid, in that order.