Christine KellerYour skin can form wrinkles for so many reasons, but how about your lips? It’s time to stop asking “why are my lips so wrinkly.” This article lays out some of the most common reasons behind those unsightly wrinkly lips.
Lip Wrinkles – What are They?
Those fine vertical lines that form on your lips are what you call lip wrinkles. Lip wrinkles can appear on both your lower and upper lip and can also extend to the skin on top of your upper lip.
These wrinkles can span across both corners of your mouth and may even stretch up to your nose where these can become deeper and more visible. Also called lip lines, lipstick lines, or smoker’s lines, lip wrinkles can age you and may even be too difficult to cover up.
Common Reasons Why Your Lips are So Wrinkly
What causes those undesirable lines on your lips? Knowing the real culprits behind lip wrinkles will make it easier for you to target the issue to determine the right preventative care and treat the problem accordingly.
Below are the most common causes of wrinkly lips:
Loss of Collagen
Just like all types of wrinkles, wrinkly lips are the result of the reduced production of elastin and collagen, the structural proteins in your connective tissues. As you age, this steady reduction can make your skin thinner and less elastic. Even if your lips were plump and full during your younger years, these can turn flat as you get older, resulting in wrinkles.
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Dryness
Also, as a result of aging, your skin’s oil production is also reduced, making your skin turn dryer. Since your lips are always in constant contact with and exposed to the different elements, this part of your face is more prone to drying out. It is quite obvious with the way your lips become chapped easily during winter or colder months.
Repetitive or Habitual Facial Expressions
Having the habit to purse your lips, or what they call duck lips, can also make your lips form wrinkles. Constantly repeating some facial expressions that wrinkle your lips will lead to the formation of lines in these parts of your face.
Smoking
Cigarettes contain free radicals that can lead to premature aging. There are also some beliefs that the constant pressure on your lips from the cigarette can also lead to wrinkly lips.
UV Rays
Exposure to the sun is yet another reason why wrinkles can form on your lips. Since the skin on your lips is delicate and doesn’t have any products to coat and protect them, it can make your lips more prone to wrinkles.
Simple Tips and Solutions to Get Rid of Wrinkly Lips
Now that you know what makes your lips wrinkly, it’s time to find out some ways how to eliminate or at least reduce their appearance.
Drink Lots of Water
This first tip is actually a no-brainer. After all, your body needs lots of water and every time you are dehydrated, it will lead to dry patches, parched skin, and yes, even lip wrinkles. Try to aim to get a minimum of 8 glasses of water daily for your body to stay well-hydrated.
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A great bonus here is that aside from reducing lip wrinkles and improving skin texture, loading up on your water intake can also improve your health in general.
Make Lip Exfoliation a Habit
Lip exfoliation is one of the best ways to get rid of dead skin to reveal the new skin underneath, making your lip wrinkles less visible. Make sure to exfoliate your lips at least once weekly for your lips to look plump and fresh.
Aside from reducing your wrinkly lips, exfoliating also improves uneven-toned and dark lips. You can choose to buy an exfoliator, or you can also prepare your own at home.
Use Vitamin E Oil for Regular Lip Massage
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that works like magic in enhancing the skin’s collagen production. You may want to rub several drops of vitamin E oil both on your lips as well as the surrounding skin two times daily to make them plumper. A gentle massage also helps smooth out all lip wrinkles and fine lines.
Try Some Face Workouts
Your body muscles are designed in such a way that they maintain their tone. These muscles are toned the most if they get regular and correct workouts. Similar to other parts of your body, your facial muscles also need exercise for them to remain toned and strong. This can then help you prevent lip lines and lip wrinkles.
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All you have to do is pick a lip exercise then repeat it a minimum of 20 times a day to achieve the best results.
The first method is to keep your mouth closed. Lift one corner of your mouth so that your lips will turn into a half-smile. Follow the same process on both sides.
Another method is to form your mouth into a big O shape while making sure that your teeth remain concealed with your lips.
Both of these exercises can help stretch your lips gently and tone the surrounding muscles to lessen lip wrinkles and improve elasticity over time. At first, these facial exercises might seem futile but with time and patience, you will soon notice some visible changes in how your lips look and the reduction of wrinkles on your lips.
Take Collagen Supplements
There are now plenty of collagen supplements you can find in the market that will make it possible for you to just pop some collagen to minimize lip wrinkles and strengthen your skin.
Since your body naturally produces collagen, collagen supplementation, in general, is a safe way to boost the collagen in your system. Collagen can also make your nails, bones, hair, and joints stay healthy.
Lip wrinkles may not be the most likable features you can have but at the end of the day, your lips are yours to love and embrace. Follow the tips above and say goodbye to lip wrinkles in no time!
