How to Get Rid of Vertical Lip Lines Fast
Published May 20, 2023
One of the first indicators that you’re advancing in age is the presence of vertical lines above your upper lips which sometimes extend to just below your nose. Also known as vertical lip lines, they tend to appear in your forties and become more prominent throughout the years.
Though vertical lip lines don’t have any consequences health-wise, they can still be pretty annoying. It not only makes you look old. It also makes you more conscious of your facial movements.
If you’re looking to get rid of or reduce the appearance of your vertical lip lines, this post is for you. Here, we’ve listed down some of the most effective ways to treat upper lip lines and how they work.
But first, let’s talk about why you have vertical lip lines.
What Causes Vertical Lip Lines?
Vertical lines can form on your upper lip as a result of various factors. This includes:
1. Aging
Vertical lip lines are a normal part of the aging process. As you age, your body produces less collagen and elastin. These proteins give your skin structure and elasticity.
With lesser collagen and elastin, your skin will lose its strength and firmness. Meaning, it won’t be able to effectively hold the tissues underneath it. As a result, lines and ridges will appear on your skin’s surface.
2. Smoking
If you’re a frequent smoker, you’re more likely to get more noticeable lip lines. The toxins in cigarettes can accelerate the breakdown of collagen and elastin in your skin. So you tend to develop lines and wrinkles earlier than most people.
3. Repetitive facial movements
Puckering your lips, smiling, speaking, eating, or even drinking can also cause vertical lip lines. Facial movements like these make your skin crinkle. When repeated often, it creates permanent creases, lines, and indentations around your lips.
4. Sun exposure
You probably know that UV rays are harmful to your skin. Unprotected exposure to it can damage your skin cells. That is why prolonged sun exposure can make you age faster.
5. Dehydration
Your skin needs moisture to keep its firmness and elasticity. But if you’re dehydrated, your skin will lose its moisture. This makes it dry and more prone to wrinkling.
How to Reduce or Get Rid of Vertical Lip Lines
Vertical lip lines can be pretty tricky to treat. As mentioned, they are part of the normal aging process. So they can be inevitable. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get rid of it.
There are plenty of treatments that can help you reduce the appearance or totally get rid of vertical lip lines. This includes:
1. Botox
Botox is one of the most popular ways to get rid of fine lines and wrinkles. It involves injecting OnobotulinumtoxinA into your skin. It’s a type of neurotoxin that temporarily paralyzes the muscles, making them unable to move.
With no muscle movement, your skin won’t crinkle, thus preventing lines and creases from forming.
Since the effects of the toxin are temporary, you’ll need to get Botox injections about once every four months.
2. Laser Skin Resurfacing
As the name suggests, laser skin resurfacing uses heat energy to rejuvenate and tighten the skin. It’s often used to treat common signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots.
By firing laser beams, this procedure peels away the outer layers of your skin. This not only exposes the younger skin underneath. It also encourages the production of collagen and the formation of new skin cells.
If you’re too busy to sit down for a full-pledge skin treatment, laser skin resurfacing is ideal for you. It’s minimally invasive and requires no downtime. So you can go back to your usual activities right after the procedure.
3. Plasma Fibroblast
A revolutionary skin tightening treatment, plasma fibroblast offers immediate effects.
It uses a pen-like device that releases high-energy discharge to create microscopic wounds on the skin. To heal these wounds, your body will produce more collagen and elastin. This, in turn, improves your skin’s appearance and gets rid of lines and wrinkles.
One of the best things about plasma fibroblast it can be used to target specific areas. So if you’re only concerned about getting rid of the vertical lines above your lips, you don’t have to do the procedure on your entire face.
It’s also less invasive so it requires minimal downtime.
4. Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion works just like plasma fibroblast, except that it uses microcrystals to create gentle abrasions. The body will treat these abrasions as injuries and will, in turn, produce more collagen to heal them.
With increased collagen, your skin will become tighter and younger-looking. It also reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in the treatment area.
Since it’s minimally invasive, you can go back to your usual activities immediately after the procedure. Though you may need multiple treatments to get your desired results.
5. Fillers
Fillers are gel-like substances injected underneath your skin at different depths to “fill it out”. It helps restore volume which, in turn, smoothens fine lines and wrinkles. It can also plumpen and enhance the appearance of your lips.
There are different types of fillers depending on the substance they’re made from. The most common ones are:
- Hyaluronic acid
- Poly-L-lactic acid
- Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)
- Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA)
Since they are eventually absorbed by the body, the effects of fillers are temporary. Ideally, you should get an injectable filler at least once every 4 to 6 months. Though some fillers can last as long as two years.
6. Natural Treatments
If injections and cosmetic treatments aren’t your cup of tea, you can also use natural treatments to smoothen out your upper lip lines. Some of the easiest ones you can try include:
- Exfoliants – Scrubbing out your skin’s surface reveals the younger layer beneath it. It also encourages your body to produce more collagen to try and repair the “injury”. There are lots of exfoliating creams and natural exfoliating techniques you can choose from. But if you have sensitive skin or are suffering from any skin disorder, make sure to consult with your doctor first.
- Wrinkle serum – Many wrinkle serums have the same ingredients as fillers. So they can help you get rid of your lip lines too. However, they’re applied topically so you may have to wait months or years before you can achieve your desired results.
- Lip scrubs – Lip scrubs both gently exfoliate and moisturize your skin. This combination is fatal for fine lines and wrinkles. It has a gradual and more natural effect too.
Can You Prevent Vertical Lip Lines?
Yes, vertical lip lines can be inevitable with aging. But that doesn’t mean you can’t delay their appearance or make them less prominent. Here are some techniques to prevent vertical lip lines:
1. Don’t smoke.
There’s a reason why vertical lip lines are also called smoke lines: it’s more common in smokers.
You see, when you smoke, you purse your lips to hold the cigarette stick between them. Over time, this repeated movement can cause deep permanent lines around your lips.
Also, smoking can accelerate the breakdown of collagen on your skin. With less collagen, your skin will age faster leading to more facial lines and wrinkles.
2. Eat healthy.
We all know that eating healthy foods can bring about lots of health benefits. But did you know that it can make you look younger too?
Eating the right kinds of foods will give you the nutrients your body needs. As a result, it will be able to function more effectively, produce more collagen, and delay signs of aging.
Some of the foods that can boost your body’s collagen production include:
- fish
- chicken
- berries
- citrus fruits
- bone broth
- egg whites
- Beans
- leafy greens
3. Avoid direct and prolonged sun exposure.
As mentioned, prolonged sun exposure can make your skin age faster. So make sure to avoid direct and prolonged sun exposure. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen, especially on your face.
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About The Author
Judy Ponio is the lead author for Four Seasons Laser Center and several other prominent websites covering a variety of topics including law, health, nutrition, and more. Her passion for health and beauty trends helps her craft helpful articles that reach millions of people.