Can I use Retin-A to treat the lines/wrinkles on my lips?

Question

I exfoliate my lips and use moisturizers (in addition to hydrating) and still I feel like I can't get that smooth, wrinkle-free finish on my lips. It makes me look older and I hate the way it looks with lipstick. Since Retin-a can help with the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the face, I was wondering if that is also true of the lip skin.

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

If you are talking about the red body of your lips, fillers can help smooth the lines and then regular moisturizers and sunscreen can be used to help to protect and maintain the improvement. Retin A may be too drying and irritating for direct use on the lips. If by any chance, you are also suffering from vertical lipstick bleeding (aka "smoker's" or "bar code") lines around the mouth--a very common, age-related problem resulting most often from years of repetitive, daily use of the expression lines around the mouth and from the permanent surface "etching" and creasing resulting from those movements. Chronic overexposure to the sun and smoking can both speed the develop of and worsen these lines.To best treat these lines, microdroplets of Botox (or Dysport or Xeomin) may be used to diminish the dynamic (expression muscle-related) component underlying their development and fillers, such as Belotero Balance (my go-to for this in my Upper East Side Manhattan practice) or Teosyal Redensity II (my choice in my Israel satellite facility, where a far greater number of regulatory agency approved fillers are available), can elevate and smooth the existing creases and etch markings. For maintenance of the improvement achieved through the above and for prevention of continuing damage, smoking cessation (if applicable) and regular sunscreen use are of course essential, as are the regular use of at-home prescription strength agents like Retin A (or other retinoids) and alpha hydroxyacids (like glycolic acid) would be helpful. Happy holidays and best of luck to you.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser.  Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads can seriously improve surface sun damage and UV related pigmentation. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery.  
Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Can I use Retin-A to treat the lines/wrinkles on my lips?

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Can I use Retin-A to treat the lines/wrinkles on my lips?

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