What Are Barcode Lips and What Can You Do About Them?

Why do wrinkles form around and on the lips?

Wrinkles on and around the lips form from a natural loss of collagen, elastin, proteins, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and a loss of fat and volume. These biological components are needed for supple, more hydrated and smoother skin. But many factors can speed up this ageing process, including smoking, pollution, poor nutrition, sun exposure and alcohol consumption to name a few. Our facial expressions also have an impact on wrinkle formation, by creating grooves underneath the skin’s surface. As skin loses its elasticity, these grooves then become more visible on the skin.

What are 'barcode' lips?

“Barcode lips” refer to vertical wrinkle lines above and below the lip line, that crease into the lips themselves, creating a barcode-like appearance. They generally start to appear as the skin ages i.e. collagen production and lip volume reduces and levels of elastin decrease.

Smoking is a particularly prevalent cause of barcode lips. The chemicals in tobacco damage the precious collagen and elastin in our skin, resulting in early sagging and wrinkles. In addition, the consistent act of puckering your lips when smoking, drinking through straws, pouting etc can speed up the wrinkle formation.

At what age do women start to have lip wrinkles?

Women may start to see lip wrinkles forming around their 40s.

How can women reduce/eliminate wrinkles around the mouth and barcode lips?

Luckily, there are many ways to improve wrinkle depth in and around the lips. Dermal fillers can help to plump the skin and lips by filling in fine lines and wrinkles. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is used to stimulate collagen production, by utilising plasma from your own blood. Microneedling also helps to form more collagen, reducing the signs of ageing. Chemical peels can assist in reducing wrinkles by promoting growth factor production.

As always, prevention is the best medicine! Using SPF on your lips is a must, as is a nutritious diet.

To prevent barcode lines, smokers may consider a reduction in smoking or quitting altogether.