Developing wrinkles is an inevitable sign of ageing and the area around a woman's mouth is often affected.
While it is a totally natural part of getting older, many women do not like the appearance of wrinkles and lines. A dermatologic surgeon spoke exclusively to GB News about how ladies can combat these at home.
For the ultimate wrinkle reduction, women have been advised to eliminate smoking, limit sun damage, cut down their alcohol and caffeine intake, minimise their consumption of sugary foods and reduce their stress levels.
This comes as GB News spoke exclusively to two experts about how ladies can combat unsightly mouth wrinkles and minimise their appearance.
According to Dr Jason Emer, wrinkles may be partly down to our own bad habits. He said: "Besides genetics, lifestyle has a significant impact on the skin." Poor lifestyle habits can wreak havoc, according to the expert.
Women were advised to limit their alcohol consumption to improve their skin
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Several common lifestyle habits can lead to premature ageing around the mouth. The expert said: "Dehydration (not drinking enough water), nutritional deficiencies (lots of sugar and not enough protein and vegetables) and sun damage can contribute to the breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin.
"Smoking decreases blood flow and oxygen to the skin and produces free radicals that contribute to premature ageing.
"Constantly pursing the lips, such as when drinking from a straw or making certain facial expressions, can also cause wrinkles."
Mouth wrinkles are often dubbed "barcode lips", which are categorised by the vertical lines that appear above and below the lips.
The expert said: "They result from a combination of ageing, loss of collagen and repetitive use of the muscles from daily activities."
The expert said that lip wrinkles typically start to appear in your 40s and can deepen in your 50s and 60s.
However, some women may notice this wrinkling even earlier in life, perhaps if they smoke or have sun-damaged skin.
To minimise mouth wrinkles and look a little younger as a result, Dr Jason recommended making some key lifestyle and diet changes.
He advised: "Eliminate smoking, limit sun damage, stay hydrated, reduce alcohol and caffeine intake, ensure your diet is rich in antioxidants, get an adequate amount of sleep and reduce stress."
Caffeine is a dehydrator, which can lead to a myriad of issues including dullness, dryness and premature wrinkles. Too much caffeine can lead to fluid loss and a reduction in important nutrients such as water-soluble vitamin B, which is needed for healthy skin.
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Eating too much sugar can have a negative impact on the skin
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As well as ditching bad habits, the right skin care regime can work wonders. The expert advised topical medical-grade skin care.
He said: "Retinol is the most effective formula as it promotes collagen production, increases skin health and slows ageing."
The expert revealed that vitamin C serum can also be "effective for mouth wrinkles". He concluded: "Always exfoliate, hydrate and wear SPF 30+."
Indeed, it's important to use "the unsung hero in anti-ageing", which can lead to less damage and a smoother, more even complexion.
A dermatologist shared the exact amount of sunscreen you should be wearing on your face every day to reduce wrinkles.
