Ageing is one of the leading causes of smoker’s lines. As we age, our skin produces less collagen and, as a result, becomes thinner and less elastic. Given that the skin on the lips is particularly prone to dryness, it’s even more likely to develop fine lines.
Smoking is another major contributing factor to the formation of lip wrinkles. For one, the free radicals produced when someone smokes result in premature ageing of the skin. On top of that, the repeated pursing of the lips to draw from a cigarette causes fine lines that can develop into deeper wrinkles over time.
Other potential causes of smoker’s lines include overexposure to sunlight and constant puckering of lips. This means even if you never smoked in your life, you can still get smoker’s lines from constantly sipping through a straw, whistling a tune, pursing your lips in frustration, or even overdoing it on those duck-face selfies. Smoker’s Lines are better known as Barcode lines, not everyone who develops these lines have a history of smoking!
If not tackled in time, smoker’s lines can form deeply ingrained wrinkles. Therefore the recommended approach is that you start seeking solutions when you first notice these lines forming. Potential treatment courses include dermal filler injections, laser treatments, home-based skincare regimes, or avoid pursing your lips completely—the last might not be very practical.