You’ve noticed it in the mirror, in photographs, or while applying moisturizer: the lines on one side of your face—the crow’s feet, the laugh lines, the forehead furrows—are noticeably more deeply etched than on the other. It’s an asymmetry that can feel puzzling. Is it just aging?
While some facial asymmetry is perfectly normal, a significant and growing disparity in wrinkling is often more than simple genetics. If your wrinkles are deeper on one side of your face, it is very likely a living record of your lifelong habits, a map of your daily environment, and a potential signal from your nervous system.
Your face is a canvas, and every line tells a story. When one side tells a more dramatic story, it’s because that side has consistently borne the brunt of certain forces.
The Most Common Culprit: The “Sun Side” of Your Face
Think about your daily routine. Do you have a long commute where the sun streams through the driver’s side window? Do you sit in a home office with a window consistently to your left or right? Most of us are “side-sun” people, not just “beach-sun” people.
Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays, the primary aging rays, can penetrate glass. Decades of cumulative, unprotected exposure on this “sun side” of your face breaks down collagen and elastin at a much faster rate than the more shaded side. The deeper wrinkles are a direct result of this photoaging—the accelerated aging caused by sun exposure.
The Habitual Expressions: A Life of “Side-Smiling”
We all have unconscious muscular habits. Perhaps you always lead with one side of your mouth when you smile. Maybe you squint more with one eye, a habit that could be tied to an old, uncorrected vision issue. When you sleep, do you always press one side of your face into the pillow? Over a lifetime, these repetitive motions—the squints, the smiles, the sleep creases—create a groove, just like a river carves a canyon. The more expressive side of your face simply gets more of a workout, leading to deeper dynamic wrinkles.
A Signal from Your Nervous System
In some cases, the difference can be more than skin deep. A sudden or pronounced change in facial symmetry, especially if accompanied by other symptoms, can be a sign of a neurological issue.
- Bell’s Palsy: This is a temporary paralysis or weakness of the facial muscles, often causing one side of the face to droop. While the primary symptom is weakness, the aftermath can sometimes leave a perceptible difference in the skin’s texture and tone.
- The Aftermath of a Stroke (TIA): A minor stroke can sometimes cause subtle, lingering weakness on one side of the face, affecting the ability to make symmetrical expressions. If the asymmetry is new and you have other concerns like numbness or weakness, it is crucial to see a doctor.
What Your Face is Asking You to Do
This visible asymmetry is a powerful message about your lifestyle and health.
- Become Sun-Smart: This is the number one fix. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your entire face, neck, and décolletage every single day, rain or shine. Don’t forget the side windows in your car offer little protection from UVA rays.
- Audit Your Habits: Try to be conscious of repetitive expressions. If you are a side-sleeper, consider investing in a silk or satin pillowcase, which creates less friction and compression than cotton.
- See a Dermatologist: They can offer treatments that can help rebalance your skin. Fillers can restore volume to the more sunken side, while laser resurfacing or chemical peels can improve the texture and collagen production on the more damaged side.
- Listen to Sudden Changes: If the asymmetry is pronounced and has developed quickly, or is paired with any muscle weakness, numbness, or vision changes, please consult your physician to rule out any underlying neurological conditions.
Those deeper wrinkles on one side of your face are not a flaw. They are a diary of your life’s journey—the sunny drives, the heartfelt laughs, the peaceful nights of sleep. By understanding the story they tell, you can take proactive steps to protect your skin more evenly going forward, ensuring that the next chapters are written with a little more balance and a lot more protection.