Why do lips get dry and start to age?

Lips most commonly become dry or chapped due to being burned by the sun or as a result of fluctuations in temperature such as in the winter. When you are younger your skin works in a very productive way making plenty of Hyaluronic acid (hydration molecule), Elastin (keeps our skin bouncy) and Collagen (keeps our skin plump and youthful), however from the age of 20 your skin makes 1% less collagen and elastin every year. Its natural cell renewal process also slows down, resulting in the skin becoming lined, pigmented and wrinkled. External factors also contribute to premature ageing and lifestyle choices have a huge impact on your skin. Ageing is a fact of life, but looking your age is a choice!

Why is it important to keep lips healthy?

If lips are not protected this can lead to lines and wrinkles forming (commonly known as smoker’s lines)

The lips are skin and need to be exfoliated, hydrated and protected just as any area of skin does

If you have had lip fillers, by looking after your lip skin it can enhance and extend treatment results

Lipstick will go on better and last longer

Why do you get lip lines?

Facial movement – We spend a lot of our life talking and using utensils such as straws which purses our lips, over many years of doing this your muscles start to tighten and this is what leads to wrinkles being visible on the surface of the skin

Sun exposure – UVA rays in the sun contribute to premature ageing resulting in lines and wrinkles, UVB rays cause pigmentation and age spots

Smoking – This is one of the most damaging things you can do to your skin, as smoking starves your cells of vital oxygen needed for normal function

Drinking alcohol – Alcohol has been found to reduce the skin’s ability to form elastin fibres

Diet – Eating fast food and high sugar diets affect skin health and slows skin renewal processes

Not using the right products – Using high street moisturiser and not regularly cleaning or exfoliating the skin will disrupt skins natural function

What can you do to prevent dry lips and wrinkles?

Use an SPF daily – Use a lip balm that contains a sun protection to prevent daily damage caused by sun exposure

Exfoliate – Using an exfoliator will remove the dead skin layer

Avoid Vaseline – Products such as Vaseline sit on top of the lips acting as a mask rather than fixing the problem

Use hydrating serums – Serums are optimum for hydration around the eyes and lips as the skin is thinner in these areas so they are more easily absorbed

Avoid smoking and using straws as these cause the lips to purse more frequently and can lead to premature lip lines being visible

Every skin is different and can be influenced by many factors so we would always recommend an initial consultation where a full skin analysis will be performed to determine the correct treatment plan to fit your goals, budget and lifestyle.

All of our treatments are results driven and clinically proven to make sure you get the rejuvenated skin that you deserve.

With over 20 years combined experience in the Aesthetic industry, we have seen all severities of lip ageing concerns and have equipped ourselves with the right tools to manage most conditions. We are considered the best skin clinic in Kenilworth and one of the best skin clinics in Warwickshire so you can be rest assured that you are in safe hands.

Scroll down to follow links for more information on the best treatments available for lip rejuvenation. Use the Book button to arrange an eTwo sublative fractional laser treatment for lip lines, HydraFacial with perk lip upgrade for dehydrated lips or general skincare consultation to discuss your options further.

Contact Us

If you would like to know more about lips, please fill in the form and we will be sure to get back to you soon.

We understand that there are a lot of treatments available and it can be hard to know what is right for your skin. That’s why we offer face to face or video call consultations to discuss your skin concerns and make a bespoke treatment plan based around your goals and budget.

Perk is the effective, non-invasive way to effectively treat the delicate eye and lip area with no pain and no downtime.

Lips FAQs

Botox – Can help to relax the muscles that cause wrinkles
Dermal fillers – Dermal fillers can help to plump up the skin and smooth out wrinkles
Fractional resurfacing – Uses a laser to create a controlled wound to the skin, stimulating collagen production, smoothing out the texture of the skin

Smokers’ lines do not go away on their own. They result from the age-related reduction in collagen and elastin in your body. Even if you change your lifestyle, the appearance of smokers’ lines will not be significantly reduced.

Lip lines or ‘smokers lines’ as they are more commonly known can become visible on anyone, smoker or non smoker. They result from the age-related reduction in collagen and elastin in your body. They are associated with smoking due to the facial movement of pursing your lips to inhale the cigarette smoke, but the same facial expression is made to kiss, pout, drink through a straw etc. so as you age you are just as prone to these lines as smokers are.

Smokers’ lines do not go away on their own. They result from the age-related reduction in collagen and elastin in your body. Even if you change your lifestyle, the appearance of smokers’ lines will not be significantly reduced. Aesthetic treatments are required to be performed by a professional to see any significant reduction in these lines.

Botox – Can help to relax the muscles that cause wrinkles
Dermal fillers – Dermal fillers can help to plump up the skin and smooth out wrinkles
Fractional resurfacing – Uses a laser to create a controlled wound to the skin, stimulating collagen production, smoothing out the texture of the skin

Botox – Cosmetic injections that temporarily reduce muscle contractions in areas such as crows feet, frown lines.
Collagen induction therapy – Resurfacing treatments such as microneedling and ablative lasers can be used to create a controlled wound to the skin and stimulate collagen regeneration. By stimulating new collagen production this retextures the skin, reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles while allowing your face to continue to move and look more natural.
Chemical peels – Improves and smoothes the skin’s outermost layers.
HydraFacial – Deep cleans the skin and delivers key nutrients to make the skin work in a way that it did when it was younger.

High quality cosmeceutical/medical grade skincare can help to improve the appearance of these static lines, however for the best results aesthetic treatments are advised.

There can be many causes of dry lips such as; cold weather, dry air or wind and damage from the sun. If your lips are dry it’s important to first remove the dead skin on them by exfoliating, then apply a hydrating serum and SPF lip balm to lock in hydration and prevent future sun damage. Repeat this multiple times a day for the best results.

Facial movement – We spend a lot of our life talking and using utensils such as straws which purses our lips, over many years of doing this your muscles start to tighten and this is what leads to wrinkles being visible on the surface of the skin
Sun exposure – UVA rays in the sun contribute to premature ageing resulting in lines and wrinkles, UVB rays cause pigmentation and age spots
Smoking – This is one of the most damaging things you can do to your skin, as smoking starves your cells of vital oxygen needed for normal function
Drinking alcohol – Alcohol has been found to reduce the skin’s ability to form elastin fibres
Diet – Eating fast food and high sugar diets affect skin health and slows skin renewal processes
Not using the right products – Using high street moisturiser and not regularly cleaning or exfoliating the skin will disrupt skins natural function

While vaseline can be a good product to lock in hydration this is not beneficial if your lips do not have any hydration in the first place. If your lips are dry it’s important to first remove the dead skin on them by exfoliating, then apply a hydrating serum and SPF lip balm to lock in hydration and prevent future sun damage. Repeat this multiple times a day for the best results.

Do exfoliate them regularly
Do use a hydrating serum containing hyaluronic acid on them daily
Do use an SPF lip balm to lock in hydration and prevent sun damage
Don’t smoke
Don’t apply vaseline to exfoliated lips
Don’t sleep with lipstick on

Do use an SPF lip balm and high factor facial SPF daily
Do use a high active ingredient, cosmeceutical skincare range containing anti-ageing ingredients like retinol
Do exfoliate your skin regularly
Don’t smoke
Don’t use sun beds
Don’t sleep with lipstick on

People whose families had deep smoker’s lines may find that they do too. This is not guaranteed, but genetics play a part in the development of wrinkles

While drinking is essential for your overall health, including skin health, there is no definitive research supporting the claim that drinking water will hydrate your lips.

Use an SPF lip balm and high factor facial SPF daily
Use a high active ingredient, cosmeceutical skincare range containing anti-ageing ingredients like retinol
Exfoliate your skin regularly
Avoid smoking and sun exposure

Prices will vary based upon your location, the quality of the machine being used and the experience of your practitioner. Head to our price list to see pricing of our eTwo sublative treatments which are the most commonly recommended treatment for smokers lines.