What Causes Lip Thinning?
Beyond the natural aging process, we can see several additional factors that contribute to lip thinning. These include:
- Sun exposure. We know to wear sunscreen and most parents now apply sunscreen to themselves and their children starting at a young age. This wasn’t the case forty and fifty years ago. While we may be better at applying sunscreen, we may be lagging behind in the use of SPF lip balm. It must be understood that UV light degrades collagen in all skin that it touches and also that UV damage can cause skin cancer even on the lips. Tip: Apply sunscreen daily!
- Smoking. People know that smoking can cause lip lines around the mouth because the habit involves puckering around a cigarette or other product. There’s more. Smoking also breaks down collagen in the skin and it prevents the skin from receiving oxygen and nutrients through efficient circulation. Tip: Don’t smoke!
- Genetics. Our genes influence how we age. There’s no way around this. When you see how your family members are aging, you have some idea of your aging process, too. That said, you can mitigate this facto to some extent by taking excellent care of your health and skin. Tip: Control what you can!
What Can be Done about Thinning Lips?
There are a few ways that thin, deflated lips can be helped. These include:
- Stay hydrated. The body relies on adequate hydration (obtained by drinking half your body weight in water every day) to plump and repair the skin.
- Get enough sleep. This isn’t good for your lips only but for your whole body. Studies show that 7 or more hours of sleep a night is vital to the tissue repair process.
- Skip the plumping devices. Don’t let Tik Tok make you buy it! Lip plumping devices might work in the short term but may also degrade the collagen strands that give the lips their form.
Treatment for Thin Lips
The above tips are excellent and can do a lot of good, but what if your lips are thin now and you want them to look dramatically different? Come see us! Injectables can help alter the shape of the lips quickly and safely. The caveat is that you need to see an experienced, licensed professional with a strong track record using approved products. Thin lips can be reshaped using Botox, dermal fillers, or even fat, for longer-lasting results. If you’re ready to see younger-looking lips, contact us today at 702.684.5502. We’re happy to schedule a visit for you at our Las Vegas or Henderson, NV office.