Smiling makes us more attractive, right? However, those little lines , commonly known as smile lines or nasolabial folds, that appear around the corners of our mouth and nose when we smile can be bothersome. Now let’s look into the causes and the ways to deal with them , so that we can have beautiful smiles on our faces again.
What Are Smile Lines?
Smile lines are known as nasolabial folds. They are creases that form between the sides of your nose and the corners of your mouth. Although they are completely natural, they can become more and more obvious as time passes by, which may make us appear older. They are essentially a part of our skin’s story, but if you’re not a big fan of these creases, there are ways to soften them.
Causes of Smile Lines ?
- Aging: Collagen and elastin are two key proteins responsible for the skin’s firmness and elasticity. However, the loss of these two key proteins will occur as we grow older. As a result, our skin becomes thinner and less resilient, which deepens the smile lines , making them more visible.
- Repetitive Facial Movements: Our skin creates folds in the same areas whenever we smile, frown, or laugh. The repetitive facial movements will build up over the years, which leaves marks on our face.
- Loss of Volume: When we are young, our cheeks are full and round, which prevents smile lines from appearing obviously. The fat on our cheeks diminishes as we age and our face starts to sag, which makes those lines more obvious.
- Sun Damage: Exposure to the sun with no protection accelerates the development of smile lines. As collagen in our skin can be broken down by UV radiation , it speeds up the aging process of our skin and makes the lines more noticeable.
- Lifestyle : Smoking, unhealthy diet, and even dehydration are factors of smile lines. Nicotine decreases blood flow to the skin, while the skin loses its repairing ability due to a lack of nutrients and hydration.
Ways to Reduce Smile Lines
Feeling stressed because of the smile lines ? Don’t worry! We can actually reduce or even prevent them from forming at an early age with the below ways!
1. Use of collagen-boosting Skincare Products
Use serums and creams that include peptides, or hyaluronic acid. Retinol stimulates the growth of collagen while hyaluronic acid plumps the skin, reducing the appearance of lines.
2. Non-Invasive Treatments
- Dermal Fillers: They replenish lost volume in the cheeks and around the nasolabial folds. A significant reduction in lines can be shown immediately.
- Botox: It relaxes certain muscles,which prevents the lines from deepening.
- Laser Therapy: Fotona 4D laser is an example. It is highly effective in stimulating the growth of collagen ,lifting the face naturally which reduces lines. The skin can be rejuvenated with minimal recovery time.
3. Surgery
Surgical facelifts or cheek lifts can solve problems like sagging skin and deep nasolabial folds, with long-lasting results.
Prevention Tips for Smile Lines
- Use Sunscreen Daily: Wear sunscreen everyday to protect collagen from being broken down by UV rays which deepens smile lines.
- Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water to keep our skin hydrated, plump, and healthy, minimizing the chances for smile lines to form.
- Healthy Diet: Eat foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Vitamin C, E, and healthy fats help our skin to maintain elasticity and prevent premature aging.
- Avoid Smoking: The chemicals in cigarettes speed up the aging process of our skin, reduce collagen and skin elasticity, making smile lines appear more obvious.
- Facial Exercises: Doing gentle exercises, such as cheek lifts and pucker motions for the face,can tone up our skin and minimize smile lines.
Perfect Medical’s Fotona 4D Treatment
Hoping that the smile lines can diminish without surgery? Perfect Medical is your savior! The Fotona 4D laser treatment offers a non-surgical procedure with the combination of four different laser technologies, targeting the outer surface and the interior oral cavity of our face.
Fotona 4D not only targets surface-level issues, but also stimulates collagen at multiple depths without surgery and recovery time. With the help of Fotana 4D, our skin can be revitalized naturally and effectively, perfect for those who are bothered by smile lines.
Ready to get rid of smile lines with Fotona 4D ? Try it out now to smile with confidence!