“External factors contribute to the development of fine lines and wrinkles, with UV damage from the sun’s rays being the biggest contributor to overall skin ageing. Around 80% of skin-ageing is thought to be due to UV damage,” says Thompson. So not only is it important to protect your skin from the sun (more on that below), but quitting smoking or vaping can also help. “Smoking (including vaping) can also have a big effect on accelerating the ageing process. Smokers will usually develop deep vertical lines on the skin above the upper lip—what we call smoker’s lines,” he adds. Granite agrees, “Cigarette and vape smoke create free radicals, which damage skin elastin and collagen, accelerating skin ageing.” Plus, the act of pursing your lips repetitively can also contribute to lip lines. So if you’re currently smoking or vaping, it’s best to quit if you want to get rid of lip lines.
The next lifestyle habit may be somewhat surprising, but if you regularly drink through a straw, then this may also be contributing to your lip lines. “Repeatedly drinking out of a straw causes the lips to purse over and over again, leading to potentially persistent lip creases,” says Granite.
Tagged: skin