Types of Mouth Wrinkles and How to Address Them

Mouth wrinkles are a natural part of aging that tend to develop over time, which makes them a common concern for many people. This issue can leave you feeling less than your best because these fine lines can cause an aged or tired appearance.

Fortunately, there are many great ways to address this problem. Read below to discover what causes different mouth wrinkles (and lip wrinkles, too), and learn more about the treatment options that can help you look and feel refreshed.

Common Types of Mouth Wrinkles

Not all mouth wrinkles are the same! Different lines and wrinkles can affect other areas around the mouth and have various causes. Before you start on a treatment path, it helps to know more about the types of mouth wrinkles you may be experiencing.

Nasolabial Folds

These are often called “smile lines” or “expression lines.” Nasolabial folds are the lines that extend from the sides of your nose to the corners of your mouth. 

Many people experience this type of wrinkle as a natural part of aging. Repeated facial movements over time (like smiling) combined with the natural collagen loss that occurs as you age can result in this type of wrinkle.

Vertical Wrinkles

Vertical wrinkles are sometimes called “sun folds” or “smoker’s lines,” although you don’t need to be a smoker to develop this type of wrinkle. Vertical wrinkles are fine lines that appear above the upper lip. While smoking can be a major contributor, sun damage and natural aging processes can also cause them.

Marionette Lines

Marionettes have a seam from the corners of the mouth to the chin so that their jaws can move to mimic speech. In humans, marionette lines occur in the same place as deeper lines extending from the corners of the mouth to the chin, making it look like your mouth is drooping.

Lipstick Lines

“Lipstick lines” is another way to refer to vertical lines, the wrinkles that form vertically around the mouth. They got the “lipstick line” name because they’re most noticeable when lipstick settles into the creases. As with other lines and wrinkles, these are caused by natural aging processes, sun exposure, and various lifestyle factors.

What Causes Mouth Wrinkles?

There are a variety of things that can cause different types of mouth wrinkles. Some of the most significant factors include:

• Aging: Skin naturally produces collagen and elastin—and that production slows down as people age, which results in skin that is thinner, less resilient, and more prone to wrinkles.

• Sun exposure: Ultraviolet rays damage skin, speeding the aging process and eventually leading to wrinkles.

• Smoking: Like UV rays, smoke contains harmful chemicals that can damage skin and lead to premature aging. Repetitive puckering motions can also cause lines.

• Genetics: For many people, there is a genetic component. Some people are genetically more likely to develop wrinkles in a particular area, like around the mouth.

How to Address Mouth Wrinkles

Fortunately, many different treatments are available that can help reduce the appearance of mouth wrinkles. Most people benefit from a combination of treatments designed around their needs. Read below to discover the types of treatments that can help you reduce the look of mouth wrinkles and improve the overall look and feel of your skin’s texture.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are injectable gels often made with hyaluronic acid. They fill areas where the skin has lost volume to create a smoother, more helpful appearance. 

Botox

Botox is an injectable treatment that uses a purified protein to temporarily block nerve signals to targeted muscles, which reduces their activity. This treatment can help smooth out dynamic wrinkles like smile lines and vertical lines.

Lip Augmentation

Lip augmentation uses dermal fillers or implants to smooth fine lines around the lips. Because this treatment adds volume to the affected areas, it can minimize the look of vertical lip lines.

Facelifts

Surgical and non-surgical facelifts can provide dramatic results for people with deeper wrinkles or more significant skin laxity. This treatment tightens and lifts sagging skin around the lower face and neck, which helps you create a firmer, more youthful look.

Microneedling

Microneedling is a minimally invasive treatment that stimulates collagen production to improve skin texture and reduce wrinkles. This treatment relies on tiny needles, which create micro-injuries in the skin to trigger the body’s natural healing response. The result is firmer, smoother skin.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

PRP treatments rejuvenate skin by using your body’s natural healing properties to reduce wrinkles and improve skin tone. A professional will extract platelets from blood samples and inject them into your skin’s target areas to complete this treatment. This will help stimulate collagen production, promoting your skin’s healing ability.

Get Treatment for Mouth Wrinkles at Vargas Face & Skin Center

Most people have a mixture of static wrinkles, visible even when the face is at rest, and dynamic wrinkles, caused by movements or flexing facial muscles. For that reason, many will benefit from combining treatments like Botox and dermal fillers to address different types of mouth wrinkles. 

Additionally, treatments like micro-needling and PRP can help enhance your skin’s texture and resilience, reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

The Vargas Face & Skin experts can help with any type of wrinkle. We’ll analyze your skin and recommend the best treatment path to help you achieve smoother, more youthful skin.