How to Reduce Nasolabial Folds: Causes & Care

What are
Nasolabial Folds?

Also known as smile or laugh lines, nasolabial folds are creases that run from the sides of your nose diagonally downwards to the corners of your mouth. These smile lines are a type of dynamic wrinkle, meaning they appear more prominent whilst you’re pulling facial expressions. They appear with age as collagen production slows, but can also be deepened by sun-induced damage and other stressors.

As the name suggests, smile and laugh wrinkles signify a life full of joy, so they should be celebrated. If a more youthful complexion is your goal though, there are a number of methods available to get rid of, or at least reduce, nasolabial folds. These range from cosmetic procedures to massages and topical creams.

What causes
Nasolabial Folds?

The underlying cause of smile lines appearing is a decrease in the amount of collagen and elastin present in your skin, leading to creasing and folding. Although this occurs naturally with age, deeper nasolabial folds can be caused by UV damage, smoking and weight changes.

Recap: Why is collagen important for the skin?

Collagen is a protein that you naturally produce; it provides structure, strength and support throughout your body. Abundant levels are what keep your skin firm, youthful and supple.

The following are all causes or contributors to the appearance of laugh lines:

1) Age
From as early as your 20s, collagen levels can reduce by 1% each year. Lower levels of collagen lead to wrinkling and sagging skin. Your facial structure also changes with age as once high cheekbones begin to flatten, leading to nasolabial folds.

2) Sun damage (photoageing)
When UV rays penetrate your skin they disturb processes important for its regeneration and repair. In the short term, sun damage can cause sunburn; long term, it weakens connective tissue, leading to the appearance of wrinkles, lines and dark spots.

3) Smoking
Both the nicotine and thousands of other harmful substances in smoke can harm your skin, due to the oxidative stress that harms collagen formation. Studies have further shown that skin in nasolabial folds is thicker in smokers than in non-smokers. Facial expressions you pull whilst smoking can also contribute to smile lines.

4) Changes in weight
It's common to experience excess skin after weight loss, which can sag and accentuate the appearance of facial lines. Whereas weight gain can cause your cheeks to grow in size, also increasing the appearance of laugh lines.

5) Dehydrated skin
Dehydrated skin is different to dry skin: it refers to a lack of water as opposed to a lack of natural oils. One of the characteristics of dehydrated skin is a sunken or shadowy complexion, causing wrinkles to be more defined.

6) Genetics
The amount of collagen and elastin you produce is influenced by your genetic make-up. If your parents had prominent nasolabial folds, chances are you will also get them.

7) High sugar diet
As much as you might enjoy a sweet treat, unfortunately sugar breaks down both collagen and elastin – leading to laugh lines becoming more prominent. This doesn't mean you should stop enjoying delicious cake but you should try to limit the amount of sugar in your diet overall.

8) Repetitive facial expressions
To begin with, nasolabial folds may only appear as dynamic wrinkles when you laugh or smile. Over time these repetitive expressions can cause the dynamic wrinkles to become static as your skin loses its ability to snap back into place. Consider these a permanent reminder of the good times!

9) Pollution
Air pollution such as smog and car fumes can cause free-radical damage to your skin, disrupting its defensive barrier. One of the effects of this is accelerated skin ageing, leading to nasolabial folds.

10) Sleep deprivation
Your skin enters its natural regeneration and repair process as you sleep, rebuilding its defensive barrier and producing collagen. Therefore without enough beauty sleep, your skin has a harder time staying plump and firm.

To begin with, nasolabial folds may only appear as dynamic wrinkles when you laugh or smile.

How to get rid of
Smile Lines

Without undergoing potentially costly and invasive treatments, there’s no way to completely get rid of nasolabial folds. There are plenty of ways to reduce their appearance though, including topical creams, facial massages and light therapy.

Here’s how you can reduce laugh lines:

Facial massages

There are claims that facial massages can treat signs of ageing by plumping your skin and stimulating collagen production. Although evidence of success is limited, there’s no harm in giving your face a regular massage to try and reduce lines.

Topical day creams

Day creams such as the NIVEA Cellular Expert Lift Pure Bakuchiol Anti-Age Day Cream SPF 30 contain effective ingredients that nourish your skin and support the production of collagen. Using them daily will help to smooth lines and redefine contours.

Topical night creams

Along with an effective day cream, using a night cream that helps to support your skin’s natural regeneration and repair process as you sleep can help redefine your facial contours. Ingredients such as Q10, Bakuchiol and folic acid all have proven anti-ageing effects.

Facial exercises

These are something you can try every day that help to strengthen the muscles in your face, helping to make smile lines appear less prominent. Evidence to support how effective they are is limited, but they’re safe and free for you to try.

Light therapy

LED light therapy is used to treat several skin concerns and conditions. During treatment, LED light penetrates your skin in an attempt to boost regeneration, reducing signs of ageing. Generally, regular sessions of therapy alongside a good skincare routine are needed to see benefits.

Surgical or cosmetic solutions

Probably the most effective yet least natural way to get rid of nasolabial folds is cosmetic treatments. These range from fillers and micro-needling to full facelifts. It’s recommended to try a consistent skincare routine and natural solutions before going down this route. When considering anything invasive, consult your GP for further advice.

NIVEA Q10 targeted wrinkle filler
To Reduce Nasolabial Folds

The NIVEA Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Power Expert Targeted Wrinkle Filler Serum offers an advanced solution against wrinkles. It combines pure coenzyme Q10 with Bioxifill peptides to penetrate your skin 10 layers deep, helping stimulate collagen production and give near-instant wrinkle-filling results.

Work this solution into your anti-ageing face care routine, after cleansing and before applying your moisturiser, to see a reduction in smile lines over time.

Coenzyme Q10 is a powerful antioxidant that helps to recharge and rejuvenate your skin. The NIVEA Q10 range has been carefully created to meet the needs of different skin types, protect cells from damage and slow the process of ageing. Including these products in your skincare routine can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time.

NIVEA Q10 Products

Can you prevent
Nasolabial Folds Forming?

Unfortunately the answer here is no – they’re a natural part of ageing and even children have them when they laugh or smile. There are things you can do to prevent them from deepening though, which generally means avoiding the causes.

To try and reduce the deepening of smile lines, you can:
1) Avoid smoking
2) Apply SPF every day
3) Eat a healthy diet
4) Get plenty of exercise
5) Have a personalised skincare routine that you stick to
6) Get 7–9 hours’ sleep each night
7) Keep hydrated

Muscles on your face can be toned like elsewhere on your body, helping you to better control expressions.

How to massage nasolabial folds

To reduce nasolabial folds naturally, you can give them a massage every day. Massaging aims to improve skin structure and prevent sagging. Here are a few tips to carry out the massage:

Using your knuckles, swipe downwards from your cheekbones to your chin and back
Repeat this process approximately 20 times on each side of your face
Apply a light amount of pressure
Repeat every day as part of your skincare routine

Facial exercises to try & reduce nasolabial folds naturally

Muscles on your face can be toned like elsewhere on your body, helping you to better control expressions. When repeated over time, you may see a reduction in smile lines. You can give the following a try every day, without risking any harm:

Push your lips upwards as though you’re trying to kiss the sky and hold for 15–20 seconds. Repeat 5 times.
Pull the corners of your mouth apart with your index fingers whilst contracting your facial muscles in slight resistance. Hold for 2–3 seconds and repeat 30 times.
Pout your lips whilst pulling the corners of your mouth out. Hold for 15 seconds and repeat 5 times.
Gently lift your cheekbones using the palms of your hands whilst pouting your lips out in a kissing motion. Hold for 20 seconds and repeat 5 times.

How to reduce
Nasolabial Folds For Men

Fortunately for men, their skin is denser in collagen so usually appears younger than that of women of the same age. Men’s skin structure is slightly different to women’s, so it requires slightly different care. Most broad skincare advice still applies, but what men put on their faces should reflect the needs of their skin.

NIVEA MEN Anti-Age Hyaluron products have been formulated with hyaluronic acid to keep your skin hydrated whilst reducing signs of ageing. Regular use of these products over time will help to plump, firm and smooth your skin, visibly reducing deep wrinkles and strengthening its elasticity.

Further Treatment for
Nasolabial Folds

Smile lines appear at any age as a dynamic wrinkle, however, they begin to appear more static between the ages of 25–30

The Cellular Expert Lift and Cellular Expert Filler ranges offer some of NIVEA’s most efficacious anti-age care. Combining hyaluronic acid with other superior anti-age actives, these products can help to improve the firmness of your skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

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