As our bodies mature, our skin will start to show wear and tear. You may take a look in the mirror and notice a few more fine lines around your eyes, and mouth. Perhaps your “laugh lines” (nasolabial folds) are becoming more prominent. If this is the case, and you want to help combat aging as much as possible, keep reading, and try some of these helpful tips. The best part is, you don’t even have to be awake for them to work!
The roles of collagen and elastin are to maintain elasticity and firmness, and it is what keeps our skin firm, and helps it retain that youthful appearance. So when our bodies create less, it becomes noticeable. This can be quite concerning to some for obvious reasons. While most of us refer to this simply as aging, it’s also known as dermal atrophy.
Nasolabial folds, sometimes confused with marionette lines, are naturally occurring creases that extend down from the side of your nose to the corners of your mouth. Their appearance can be due to sagging skin, and loss of volume within the skin itself. As our bodies mature, they can become more prominent, and turn into deeper wrinkles. These lines are not harmful but can be a deterrent to one’s self-esteem.
As we age, our bodies change, so nasolabial folds cannot be completely avoided nor eradicated. However, here are some simple steps to help minimize their appearance:
This may seem like a silly idea, however, if you are constantly sleeping on one side of your body, the pressure that is constantly applied throughout the night can contribute to more wrinkles. If you are not able to sleep on your back due to other health concerns, have no fear – there are more suggestions below to try!
- Ensure proper rest
If you aren’t sleeping well, fatigue and exhaustion will wreak havoc on the body. That includes our appearance. Sleep deprivation can lead to a skin imbalance, and in return, increase breakouts, and redness, and leave you with a dehydrated complexion. There have even been studies examining if sleep deprivation can lead to an impairment in skin integrity.
- Use a good pillow
A good pillow is essential for proper rest. If you are a side, or stomach sleeper, a good pillow can help reduce wrinkles around the face and neck. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the average adult aged 18-60 should be getting 7-9 hours of sleep per night. That’s an average of 49 hours of sleep a week, and 196 hours per month. That’s almost 200 hours of facial compression, wrinkling, and premature aging, all while sleeping. You can fight this by ensuring you have the proper support necessary for a healthy night’s sleep.
Those are all helpful solutions that will help combat fine lines and aging, all while sleeping! While that may not seem like a small change in your lifestyle, it’s a great start.
Here are a few other precautions you can take to reduce your nasolabial folds.
- Lifestyle changes
Another way to help reduce your wrinkles is by increasing your hyaluronic acid. In our bodies, hyaluronic acid is a chemical that naturally occurs. It is typically found in the eyes, joints, and skin. Increasing our hyaluronic acid levels will help to keep your skin taut, and more youthful looking. You can quickly increase these levels by consuming foods that have a high hyaluronic acid content. Some of these foods are bone broth, oranges, kale, and sweet potatoes just to name a few.
- Wear sunscreen
Sunscreen could be considered the first line of defense in fighting aging. It’s a lifelong commitment and should be applied daily for the best results. It should even be applied on cold, cloudy, rainy days. When our bodies are exposed to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, the damage it causes may not be noticeable at first and could take years to become visible. However, photoaging, also known as solar damage or sun damage, can cause wrinkles and DNA changes on a cellular level and has even been known to cause cancer.
- Quit smoking
This is another important aspect of fighting aging. Smoking is known to damage essential nutrients our bodies need, which in turn, speeds up the aging process prematurely. It’s notorious for changing our skin, teeth, and hair which can add years to your looks. It’s not uncommon for the skin of a 40-year-old smoker to resemble someone in their 70s.
- Incorporate a retinol moisturizer into your skin care regimen
Aside from sunscreen, retinol may be your next best move in terms of accelerating the reversal of your fine lines, and wrinkles. It’s also important to make sure that your retinol has a moisturizer in it to prevent dryness. You might even consider using retinol which has other vitamins and minerals in it to help stimulate collagen.
- Hydrate
Hydration may not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think of anti-aging solutions. However, since our bodies are largely made up of water, it makes sense that it needs constant replenishment. Our skin is the largest organ in our body and probably takes the most damage on a consistent basis. A simple increase in your water intake can help fight aging on a large front.
- Smile
Although nasolabial folds are often referred to as laugh lines, that’s not what causes them. In fact, when we smile, our brains have a ‘good-time’ party. Smiling activates the release of neuropeptides, as well as dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin, which help fight stress and depression. This can help lower your heart rate and reduce your blood pressure. Smiling also has the ability to lower cortisol levels, which not only fights stress but also improves your mood.
Nasolabial folds are unfortunately a part of everyday life, and our biggest asset to help combat them is knowledge. Incorporating some, or all of these suggestions will help support healthier-looking skin while diminishing fine lines and wrinkles.