Often called "smoker's lines," those vertical wrinkles that appear above the upper lip are one of the first signs of aging for smokers and non-smokers alike. Affecting women as young as their mid-30s, these vertical lines are caused by the puckering action of smoking, drinking and other everyday lip movement, as well as collagen breakdown caused by sun damage. For superficial lip wrinkles, non-medical remedies are available to temporarily diminish their appearance. For long-term treatment of deeper lip wrinkles, medical treatments are generally needed.
Instructions
Non-Medical
1. Apply an over-the-counter glycolic acid or alpha hydroxy lotion daily to remove old skin cells. These lotions contain milder concentrations of the same chemicals used by physicians and medical spas for chemical peel treatments. When using, apply only to the area above the lips, not on the lips themselves.
2. Use moisturizer containing sunblock daily to the area above the upper lip. This will reduce the appearance of fine lines and protect against further wrinkle-causing sun damage. Choose a product with an SPF of 15 or higher.
3. Apply a lip fixative to your lips before applying lip color, then dust lightly with facial powder. This prevents lipstick from feathering into lip wrinkles and drawing unwanted attention. Using a lip liner with your lipstick will also prevent feathering.
4. Use you favorite lip plumper to give lips extra volume, thus smoothing lip wrinkles. For DIY lip plumping without the expensive price tag, use a touch of cinnamon, cayenne or ginger essential oil.
Medical
5. Evaluate your lip wrinkles to determine if a medical solution may be your best option. Over-the-counter treatments offer only temporary improvement to superficial lip wrinkles. Deeper wrinkles may require the help of a dermatologist, plastic surgeon or medical spa for long-term improvement.
6. Discuss your treatment options with your doctor or esthetician. Options include laser treatments, chemical peels, injectable fillers, Botox injections or a combination of several treatments. Issues to consider include the extent of your wrinkles, price per treatment, number of treatments needed, recovery time and how long the results should last.
7. Arrange for the necessary recovery time for your procedures. Some treatments, such as injectable fillers and Botox treatments, are quick and require no recovery time. Chemical peels and laser treatments may require some downtime, depending upon the depth of treatment. Make sure to follow your doctor or esthetician's instructions after treatment to ensure optimal results.
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