How To Reduce My Laugh Lines In 3 Steps
Laugh lines are not very funny to people who prefer to be wrinkle-free. These wrinkles are the verticle lines that curve around your mouth and the sides of your nose. Laugh lines are very common for people old and young.
Not everyone’s laugh lines are due to old age. There are two types of these lines. One is creasing between the upper lip and cheek, while the other is when skin hangs over the crease. Younger people can develop creasing from making everyday facial expressions and not from aging. Although, both of these types develop over time as you age.
We are going to go over how you can treat your laugh lines and the three steps you can take to reduce their appearance.
How Do You Get Laugh Lines?
Laugh lines are the result of making repetitive movements when you make facial expressions and a natural loss of volume in your face. Over time the tissue around the expression lines thins, and a wrinkle forms. As you age, these lines only get worse as your skin's collagen and elastin production fades.
These changes in the skin result in skin sagging and deeper laugh lines. These wrinkles can develop prematurely due to specific environmental and behavioral factors.
These factors include:
- Stress
- Smoking
- A high-sugar diet
- Pollution
- Sun damage
- Not enough sleep
- Dehydration
- Genetics
To reduce the appearance of laugh lines, you need to know if they are being caused by movement or static wrinkles, which you can see even when your face isn't moving. Static wrinkles are what you want to avoid because these can be more difficult to treat.
Can You Prevent Laugh Lines?
There are several things you can do to prevent laugh lines. When looking at the causes, if something you're doing or not doing sticks out to you, start there.
For example, if you're going into the sun without wearing sunscreen or protecting your skin, consider making a change. Premature skin aging is mainly due to sun damage. When you expose your skin to UV radiation, it destroys collagen and elastin within your skin. Sunscreen can prevent a lot of this damage if you wear it when you're out in the sun.
Another big one is smoking, which can create a lot of fine lines and wrinkles, including laugh lines. It affects your skin's elasticity, texture, and pigmentation. In one study, female smokers looked nine years older than their actual age.
However, after they quit smoking, the average age came down by 13 years. By quitting, they greatly improved the appearance of their skin and prevented their laugh lines from getting deeper.
Making sure you are getting enough sleep and hydration can also do wonders for your skin. Stress on the body often has physical side effects, and wrinkles can, unfortunately, be one of them.
Laugh Lines Treatment Options
There are many professional treatments that you can get to prevent and reduce the appearance of your laugh lines.
Botox
Botox is a common treatment to prevent wrinkles. It involves a professional injecting your skin with a small needle, and the substance weakens the muscles. Botox makes the area looked relaxed and prevents wrinkles from forming due to facial expressions.
People can see botox results after just a few days, but the full effect may take a few weeks. You may experience redness or irritation where the needle went in, but this shouldn't last long. The recovery time is usually about 24 hours. The results last three to four months, so you will need to go back for more injections to maintain the effect.
Fillers
Another top choice for laugh line treatment is fillers. It is injected right into the lines around your mouth, smooth out your skin and reduce their appearance. You can see the results from fillers right away. If you don't like what you see, you can even have the fillers dissolved.
The effects usually last longer than botox at six to 12 months, but they will eventually fade. It is possible to get an allergic reaction to fillers, and you may also get a headache.
Retinol
Retinol can do wonders for people with fine lines and wrinkles. It can break down free radicals that lead to wrinkles, and it can increase collagen production. One study reported significant results from people using retinol treatments of 0.4 percent. The participants used retinol lotion multiple times a week for six months, so you don't see results as quickly as you do with botox and fillers.
Microneedling
Microneedling increases collagen production in your skin. The procedure involves a doctor using a skin roller with tiny needles on your face. The new collagen can fill in the wrinkles. However, you will need multiple treatments to see results. You may experience bruising and redness after each session. The full results can take up to nine months, so it's a long time to wait.
Laser Treatments
Laser treatments are a form of skin resurfacing that removes the top layer of skin. It can reduce the appearance of wrinkles by exposing a lower layer of new skin. This type of treatment can be painful, and you may experience some swelling, which should go down after a few days.
The full recovery can take one to three weeks, and you will most likely need a second treatment after a few months. Laser treatments are also pricey, costing between $1,750 to $2,300 for a package.
There are many different options to consider here. You should consult with a dermatologist if you want a specialized plan to treat your laugh lines.
Steps To Reduce Laugh Lines
So what steps should you take to reduce your laugh lines? Here are three steps to implement.
1. Skincare
Your skincare routine can make such a big difference in the appearance and health of your skin. Look for products that contain ingredients like retinol or vitamin c, so you are encouraging collagen production. If your skin is too sensitive for retinol, try a product with lactic acid instead. This ingredient will exfoliate your skin more gently, and it won't cause redness or irritation.
Also, implement a moisturizer in the morning and evening to ensure your skin is hydrated. You can look for a morning moisturizer that has SPF, so you're getting sun protection at the same time!
2. Select a Treatment
You obviously don't need all of the different treatments to prevent and reduce wrinkles. However, if you're serious about preventing them, or you already have them, you should choose a professional treatment that seems doable for you. This step may even give you an extra boost to keep up with your skincare routine.
3. Apply Makeup
There are a few makeup tips and tricks to prevent accentuating your laugh lines. If you do your makeup incorrectly, you may notice it settling into your laugh lines, making them more pronounced.
After priming your skin:
- Apply a thin layer of foundation, like HIDE Premium Foundation.
- Go in with a concealer that is an exact match for your skin tone. HIDE Premium Concealer is great for covering everything from fine lines to scars.
- Give your makeup a chance to set, and then use a blotting paper to remove any product that has settled into your wrinkles.
If you follow these three steps, you can see a big improvement in the appearance of your laugh lines.
Laugh Lines Takeaways
If you're struggling with laugh lines, don't worry; there are steps you can take to reduce their appearance.
Some treatments take time before you can see a difference, but HIDE premium products can give you instant results!
Sources:
Smile Lines: How to Get Rid of Them | Healthline
Smile Lines: What Causes Them & How To Get Rid Of Them | Science Becomes Her
Improvement of Naturally Aged Skin With Vitamin A (Retinol) | Jama Network