How often do you wear makeup? Like countless women, you may apply your favorite lipstick, mascara, eye shadow, and other products every day. It’s a part of who you are and how you express yourself.

But you might notice that makeup sits on your face differently with age, and applying it brings new challenges. One of the most common: lipstick bleeding into the wrinkles and fine lines around the mouth.

Other people may not notice this cosmetic mishap, but it could affect your self-confidence if you realize your lipstick is bleeding out beyond the borders of your mouth. And if it happens repeatedly, this issue could be frustrating enough to discourage you from wearing makeup altogether.

Fortunately, you don’t need to give up your favorite lipstick just yet — you can take advantage of the latest cosmetic treatments to tackle those problematic wrinkles and fine lines instead. One option is the CO2 + Erbium laser treatment, which uses two powerful lasers to achieve outstanding results.

To help you understand how this solution works and the benefits it provides, we’ll explore it in detail below. We’ll also explain the natural changes that create wrinkles and fine lines over the years.

What Causes Wrinkles and Fine Lines Around the Mouth?

As you age, you’ll start to develop wrinkles and fine lines across your face. This is a natural process, but it can be difficult to accept. You may notice a couple around your eyes (crow’s feet) or on your forehead at first, before finding more in other areas — including around the mouth.

The main factor causing wrinkles and fine lines is the body’s natural decrease in collagen and elastin production. Collagen is a protein that gives skin its structure and firmness. Elastin, on the other hand, helps skin stretch, shrink, and return to its original shape as needed.

However, as the body produces less collagen and elastin from a person’s mid-twenties onwards, skin gradually becomes thinner and looser. This creates wrinkles and lines, which grow more numerous and visible with age.

Other factors can contribute to wrinkles and lines, including:

• Smoking: Cigarettes contain chemicals that harm the skin and affect circulation, making it harder for nutrients to reach skin cells. The repetitive lip movements involved in smoking can also exacerbate wrinkle formation.

• Sun damage: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and tanning treatments can impact collagen and elastin production. Frequent exposure to UV rays over long periods can accelerate signs of aging.

• Facial movements: Making repetitive expressions is an inevitable and largely unavoidable part of interacting with others, but it adds to the development of wrinkles and lines. Botox, one of the most popular cosmetic treatments in the world, prevents muscles from contracting to help reduce wrinkles.

What is a CO2 + Erbium Laser Treatment?

The CO2 + Erbium treatment is an effective, efficient way to create smoother skin. It’s a non-invasive alternative to surgery, and can achieve lasting results with just a few sessions.

It involves two distinct lasers: a CO2 laser and an Erbium laser. These are similar, but have important differences that set them apart. Cosmetic surgeons regularly use these lasers to help repair skin and encourage rejuvenation after invasive procedures, such as facelifts.

Both lasers direct light energy towards one target area of the skin at a time (in this case, surrounding the lips). Water in the affected skin cells absorbs this energy, and the superficial layer of skin (epidermis) is steadily removed. This process stimulates production of collagen to help treated skin become thicker, firmer, and tighter — creating a younger appearance.

Crucially, CO2 lasers penetrate deeper than Erbium lasers and heat the skin’s middle layer (dermis). As a result, CO2 lasers are typically used to target wrinkles that are particularly deep, as well as scars and sagging skin. Erbium lasers are usually recommended for superficial issues, such as fine lines, that require shallow laser penetration only.

By bringing both lasers together, our CO2 + Erbium laser treatment can effectively reduce wrinkling around your mouth for a smoother texture. Not only will this help prevent your lipstick from bleeding into those lines, but it can take years off your look overall.

How Does the CO2 + Erbium Laser Treatment Improve Skin Overall?

The CO2 + Erbium treatment is powerful enough to address other skin issues beyond wrinkles. These include:

• Acne and surgical scars: The CO2 laser can penetrate deeply enough to reduce the visibility of scarring, whether caused by severe acne or invasive procedures.

• Large pores and uneven skin texture: By resurfacing the skin, our CO2 + Erbium laser treatment can create a more balanced texture.

• Sun damage and skin discoloration: Our treatment will target UV-related damage and different types of discoloration for a more even appearance.

• Sagging skin: Increasing collagen and elastin production will help skin become thicker, firmer, and more resilient. This will reduce sagging and leave your skin looking more youthful overall.

Depending on the extent of wrinkling on your face, you may choose to focus on the area around your mouth only or target other zones (e.g. forehead, cheeks). Creating a smoother skin texture across the face can make all makeup (not just lipstick) look better, with less risk of it bleeding into lines.

We’ll customize the CO2 + Erbium laser treatment to fit you: we can adjust the intensity to achieve the right level of resurfacing. Most patients notice an improvement after their first session, with three treatments spaced a few months apart required to create the best results.

Learn More About Smoothing Wrinkles Around Your Mouth

If you’re frustrated by common signs of aging, including wrinkles and sagging skin, our CO2 + Erbium treatment can create incredible results. It will address different skin issues across multiple sessions, with treatments tailored to your unique cosmetic needs and goals.

VBeauty Spa’s team is ready to help you with honest, expert advice on our CO2 + Erbium solution. We’ll discuss the process with you to ensure you understand what it involves, and we’ll offer reliable aftercare advice for a smooth recovery.

To book your free consultation at our Yorkville spa, get in touch today.