Have you started to notice little wrinkles forming around your mouth? Maybe you have small wrinkles to the outside of your lips, or perhaps you have vertical marionette lines from your mouth to your chin.
When mouth wrinkles are small, they are easy to ignore. But in fact, this is exactly when you should start paying more attention to your wrinkles. If you take action early, you can slow their progression and help keep them from worsening.
Moisturize
If you don’t already have a good moisturizing routine, now is the perfect time to develop one. Moisturizing regularly will help keep your skin soft and supple, which will help slow the progression of your wrinkles.
Which moisturizer is best depends on your skin type and preferences. Here are some good ingredients to look for when you have aging skin:
- Peptides
Peptides, or small proteins, can help stimulate your skin to produce more collagen, which can help ease the appearance of wrinkles. - Hyaluronic Acid
This compound, found naturally in your skin, helps give it a plump, plush texture and appearance. - Vitamin C
An antioxidant vitamin, vitamin C can help smooth your skin and keep fine lines from worsening.
Wear Sunscreen
Sun exposure can accelerate the progression of wrinkles. This is especially true of wrinkles around your mouth, since the skin around your mouth tends to catch more sunlight due to facial structure. So, to keep your mouth wrinkles from worsening, it is important to apply sunscreen or sun protection before you go outside.
Some people prefer to use a daytime moisturizer or BB cream containing SPF. Others like to apply a separate sunscreen as a part of their morning skincare routine. Choose the approach that best fits your schedule and skincare needs. Just make sure you choose a product that contains SPF 30 at a minimum, and apply it liberally around your mouth.
Drink Plenty of Water
Staying hydrated will help keep your skin hydrated, which will help keep your mouth wrinkles from worsening. While the rough guideline is to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, everyone’s needs are somewhat different. You may need more water on hot days, or if you work out regularly.
If you have trouble remembering to drink enough water, here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Carry a water bottle with you. When you have a spare moment, take a few sips.
- Add cut-up fruit to your water to give it a hint of natural sweetness.
- Use an app to track your water intake. Some apps also have visual and audio signals that remind you to drink.
Use Retinoids
Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that can be applied topically to your skin. They’re know to help slow the progression of wrinkles.
While there are some prescription retinoids, you can also purchase retinol products over-the-counter. And for most people, over-the-counter retinol products are strong enough to help slow the progression of mouth wrinkles. You can even look for a moisturizer that contains retinol, which helps simplify your skincare routine.
Regardless of which retinol product you choose, make sure you introduce it to your routine slowly. People often develop some dryness when they first start using retinol. At first, try using the product every other day. After a week or two, you can start using it daily. Make sure you continue to moisturize and limit your sun exposure to prevent dryness when using retinol.
Consider Neurotoxins
People often think of neurotoxins as being for those who already have deep wrinkles. However, if you get neurotoxin injections early, you can help keep wrinkles from worsening. This is especially true when it comes to mouth wrinkles, which are almost always dynamic wrinkles – those that are most apparent when you move your face or make expressions.
Neurotoxins, like Botox, work by temporarily disabling, or “paralyzing,” the muscles under your skin. A few tiny injections around your mouth can help keep your skin from wrinkling and folding when you smile or talk. If you start receiving injections when your mouth wrinkles are small and shallow, you’ll help keep them from worsening.
At this stage, you won’t need a lot of Botox, either. Your med spa practitioner will be sure to use just enough to smooth your wrinkles without making you look plastic or unnatural.
It’s completely normal to develop mouth wrinkles as you age. And it’s also completely normal to not want them, either! When you smile, you want people to see your happiness, and not your wrinkles. The tips above can help keep those small mouth wrinkles from worsening. Don’t hesitate to contact Balance MedSpa to learn more about neurotoxins and other helpful, minimally invasive treatments.
