Most people aren’t as concerned about wrinkles on the upper lip as they are on the forehead, neck, or near the eyes. Although wrinkles above the lip are less obvious, they suggest aging of the skin.

How do wrinkles appear above the lip? Just like on the face, these wrinkles appear as we age. As we age, our skin thins and loses moisture and elasticity. But there are also external factors that speed up the process, such as unprotected skin care, especially when we’re outdoors, unhealthy food choices, lack of sleep, and smoking. For wrinkles above the lip, smoking plays an important role. But why?

It is very easy to understand. Think about what happens when a person smokes. His lips pursed and the muscles around his lips contracted. Gradually, the muscles of the lips weaken and, along with advancing age, the lines appear.

But smoking causes more harm than upper lip wrinkling. It also accelerates the formation of wrinkles in other parts of the face. This is because the nicotine and chemicals in cigarettes deprive the skin of moisture and nutrients, leaving it vulnerable to wear and tear with minimal skin repair by the body.

Here are some tips to treat upper lip wrinkles:

Give up smoking: The most practical way is to stop the activity that causes more harm than good. If you like the feeling of something dangling from your lip, choose something healthy like a carrot stick.

Drink straight from the cup: Avoid drinking through a straw as the lips pucker up just like when smoking. In addition, it is also more respectful with the environment since you eliminate the use of straw.

Apply lip balm with SPF: 30 minutes before leaving the house, protect your lips with lip balm. Choose a lip balm with SPF 30 or higher. Moisturizes and protects the lips to delay the formation of wrinkles on the upper and lower lip as well.

Make upper lip curl: A common exercise to prevent upper lip wrinkles is an exercise called the “Fish Pout.” Curl your upper lip and hold it in position with your index finger. Move your finger to the left and then to the right corner of the mouth. Do it 10 times a day to strengthen the upper lip muscles.

Eat foods rich in antioxidants: They prevent cell damage and wrinkle formation. Some of the foods to consider are green tea, lemon, spinach, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Lighten lines with lip fixer: By filling in lines with lip balms, it makes wrinkles less noticeable by minimizing makeup and lipstick seepage. This will make the wrinkles above the lip less noticeable.

Proper lip care regimen: Lip care for wrinkle prevention is easier than you think, although it is often neglected. First, keep your lips clean. Remove food residue after meals and apply moisturizer to keep it hydrated. Drink plenty of water and spend a few minutes massaging it daily.

Also apply tretinoin cream or serum containing glycolic acid to the upper lip. Tretinoin with glycolic acid speeds up skin cell turnover to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. However, it is only available through a dermatologist.

That is all. 7 prevention tips for wrinkles on the upper lip and also on the lower lip.