Lips Gone

Where Have My Lips Gone?

by: Shelia V. Anderson, RN, CAPA

Where Have My Lips Gone? Notice how full the lips look on a baby or small child? Note the ever so slight roll above the lip line that causes the lips to protrude. Looking in the mirror, do you see the same shape with your lips? What happens to our lips as we age?

Where Have My Lips Gone?

- Breakdown Of Collagen The fullness and roll that give the lips their shape are due to a natural body protein called collagen, which protects and supports the softer tissues and connects them with the skeleton. Collagen is the material that provides elasticity and plumpness to our skin. The breakdown of collagen in our body with time (aging) leads to wrinkles.

Where Have My Lips Gone? - Loss Of The Epidermis In our mid 20's, the body begins to lose the protection of the outer layer of the skin (the epidermis), a thinning of 10% per decade. With this protection becoming threatened, the next layer of skin (the dermis) must work harder to keep the collagen formation and protection in place. Exposure to sunlight accounts for 90% of the symptoms of premature skin aging. Most of this damage has occurred by age 20, but may not be visible until later.

Where Have My Lips Gone?

- Vertical Lines Develop As collagen diminishes above the lip, the edge actually rolls forward, increasing the length from the base of the nose to the top of the lip. That area is now flat, void of the previous firm curves. Wrinkles develop in the lips themselves. Finally, vertical lines form from the lip line upward, "smokers' lines". People who have never smoked can develop vertical lines. Genetic makeup plays a part in the development of the vertical lines and the rate at which an individual loses the underlying fat.

Where Have My Lips Gone?

- Use Sun Block We can be proactive and avoid any further UV damage with constant sun block. Even on days when the clouds are gray, sun block (rather than sunscreen) should be applied before leaving home.

Where Have My Lips Gone?

- Your Skin Reflects Your Health Skin health is a reflection of internal health. Hydration is a key component to keeping tissues healthy. Antioxidants help arm the body with the minerals and substances it needs to fight off free-floating radicals. Flax seed oil and omega 3 fatty acids help to return the moisture and fullness.)

Where Have My Lips Gone?

- Your Skin Reflects Your Health Are you tired of looking in the mirror and seeing pencil thin lips, lipstick bleeding above the lips, and the corners of your mouth turning down? There are immediate but temporary fixes available with injectable fillers. Currently some on the market include Collagen, Cymmetra, Fascian, and Comsoderm, lasting 3 to 6 months. New products pending FDA approval promise longer life and possibly permanent correction. A concern with permanent filler injected into the soft tissue is that the only way to correct a problem is with a knife. If your body decides to fight and react to the material, or you don't like the correction, surgery is needed to remedy.