FOREHEAD WRINKLE PATTERNS AMONG ADULT RESIDENTS IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

Abstract Facial landmarks, including wrinkle patterns, are valuable tools in forensic science for individual identification, particularly in criminal investigations. This study explores forehead wrinkle patterns among Yoruba adults residing in Southwest Nigeria, with potential applications in forensic anthropology and aesthetic profiling. Eighty participants, 51 males and 29 females, were recruited. Facial wrinkles were documented while subjects sat upright, facing forward in the Frankfort plane. Variables assessed included glabellar vertical wrinkles, horizontal forehead wrinkles, lateral intercanthal distance, medial inner canthal distance, glabella-to-hairline distance, body mass index (BMI), and body surface area (BSA). Facial images were captured using a Nikon D-60 camera positioned one meter away on a tripod. Findings revealed that forehead wrinkle patterns among Yoruba adults are individually distinctive and categorised into two types: horizontal and vertical. Horizontal wrinkles presented in eight distinct patterns, while vertical wrinkles exhibited five. The most prevalent pattern among males was Few Shallow Wrinkles (FSW), whereas females predominantly showed Few Deep Wrinkles (FDW). These patterns were not only unique to each individual but also showed gender-based variation. The study highlights the potential of forehead wrinkle analysis as a biometric marker for identification and contributes novel data to the field of forensic science in Africa. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented analysis of forehead wrinkle typology in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa. The dataset generated offers a foundational reference for future research in regional forensic profiling, dermatological studies, and cultural aesthetics.