Lip lines are a common problem that many people experience as they age – they typically can’t be avoided. However, like other signs of aging, men don’t seem to be nearly as affected by lip lines as women. But when a woman develops vertical lines that spread outward from the border of her lips, she may have a difficult time keeping lipstick in place. Also, lip lines can make the face look older and can decrease one’s sense of self-confidence – particularly given the amount of attention that our mouths attract on a daily basis. In this article we will take a look at what contributes to lip lines and what can be done about them. Let’s hop in!

What Causes Lip Lines

It may go without saying that lip lines are a result of aging – I’m sure that part doesn’t require any explanation. But what exactly causes it? With age, we lose volume in our skin because there is less hyaluronic acid to hold water molecules in place. We also experience the degradation of collagen and elastin, the chemicals that keep skin firm and flexible. These are the major factors, but unfortunately there’s several more contributing factors.  For instance:

Sun damage

We may know to apply sunscreen when we go outdoors, but how many people apply a lip balm with SPF every day? The truth is, sun damage breaks down collagen and can be detrimental to the thin skin around the mouth.

Expressions and Speaking

The dynamic nature of our mouths is an unavoidable factor in signs of aging, such as lip lines. Of course, we can’t be expected to avoid moving the mouth. This makes movement an unavoidable factor in signs of aging around the lips.

Environmental Irritants

Our bodies are exposed to pollutants all the time, from endless sources. This results in the production of free radicals within your body – unstable atoms that seek to take energy from otherwise healthy atoms and cells. When there are numerous free radicals circulating in the body, oxidative stress, a mechanism associated with premature aging, occurs. And this includes most parts of the body, including the lips.

Can You Do Anything About Lip Lines?

Given that these factors above might seem impossible to avoid –  you may think there is nothing you can do to avoid lip lines. But in fact, your habits can affect how soon lip lines begin to appear around your mouth. To postpone the development of lip lines, take these steps:

• Avoid smoking
• Drink from a glass, not using a straw
• Wear SPF lip balm daily
• Hydrate the lips daily with a topical hyaluronic acid balm or serum
• Exfoliate the lips once a week to slough off dead cells and stimulate collagen production

Treating Lip Lines

But perhaps you’ve already begun to see vertical lines creeping away from the borders of your lips. It’s not too late, though. One great option to combat or correct lip lines is dermal filler injections. The right dermal filler formula will help plump lips and reduce lip lines. Juvederm Volbella is a top formula for treating lip lines. Volbella is specifically designed for adding volume to the lips, defining the lip border, remoisturizing its structure, and filling medium wrinkles near the lips. The addition of Lidocaine, a local anesthetic, helps make the treatment less painful and more comfortable for patients. It is a numbing medication that reduces pain or discomfort caused by injection-related procedures.

The Bottom Line

While there’s many factors working to create lip lines – ranging from dynamic mouth expressions to environmental irritants – treatment with dermal fillers can definitely help roll-back the damage. Licensed medical professionals can buy Juvederm Volbella and other fillers online, at low wholesale prices.