
Aging affects different parts of your body in various ways. When it comes to your skin, aging causes sagging, dryness and lack of resilience. You gradually lose the reserves of collagen in the layers of your skin, resulting in lines and wrinkles.
The Most Noticeable Signs of Aging
Facial wrinkles change your appearance until you might no longer recognise yourself in the mirror. Pucker lines around your mouth are among the most noticeable and difficult to conceal.
Causal Factor One: Heredity
Pucker lines form for several reasons. As the ligaments that frame your mouth loosen, your cheeks sag, making lip lines more noticeable. If older members of your family have pronounced pucker lines, you are more likely to get them, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Factor Two: UV Radiation
Sunlight is another source of facial wrinkles. Ultraviolet radiation causes about 90 percent of premature aging in the skin, according to a New York Times report. UV rays reach deep beneath the epidermis and damage the collagen, a protein that supports healthy skin. UV radiation also weakens the elastin in your dermal layers, making them looser and less resilient. Your best defense against sun damage is to limit UV exposure and use sunscreen when you are young.
Factor Three: Smoking
Cigarette smoke affects your collagen too. It slows down your body’s natural renewal processes, causing fissures beneath the skin and ultimately, surface wrinkles. When you smoke, toxins come into direct contact with your lip area where they contribute to pucker lines. You can take a stand against age lines by kicking the habit before it becomes too late.
Factor Four: Pursing
Pucker lines also result from repetitive pursing. If you always have a water bottle at hand, you probably pucker up frequently to take a sip. Habitual smoking requires lots of pursing too. Switching to more lip-friendly habits can help prevent pucker lines later on. For example, try using a wide-mouthed water bottle to minimize pursing.
Factor Five: Chewing Gum
Gum chewing probably contributes to pucker lines, says an article in the Telegraph. Repeated chewing motions may cause muscle fatigue and the breakdown of supporting tissues, resulting in wrinkles around the mouth. Remember this the next time you reach for a pack of chewing gum in the checkout line.
Serious Wrinkle Defense
Beauty and health experts recommend specialised products to prevent pucker lines. According to The Dermatology Review, the best lip balm contains collagen boosters such as peptides that promote plumper, more elastic lips. Similarly, some of the best anti-aging product lines contain retinol, which works to thicken your dermal layers and smooth out fine lines. Alpha-hydroxy acid is another effective skin care ingredient that helps reduce the appearance of pucker lines.
Conclusion
While it is difficult to overcome heredity, you can prevent or minimize pucker lines around your mouth in other ways. Combining good skin care habits, preventative measures and the best anti-aging products available is an excellent strategy for wrinkle defense.
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