What Are Bunny Lines And What Can You Do About Them?
In the wise words of Oscar Wilde, with age comes wisdom. And with wisdom comes grace, beauty, and of course .. wrinkles. But even though wrinkles are a natural part of life that typically can be seen on the face and body of those above a certain age, that doesn't mean younger folks are exempt. In fact, some adults as young as 21 years old develop wrinkles, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Although age is a common contributor, certain lifestyle choices also influence potential wrinkle production. Tanning, smoking, and snacking on unhealthy foods can be enjoyable for some, but all can eventually contribute to the creation of fine lines, per Mayo Clinic. While most causes can be avoided, there is one common source of wrinkles that you probably aren't willing to sacrifice to keep your skin naturally wrinkle-free -– facial expressions.
Wrinkles caused by facial expressions occur when you use the same muscles in your face over and over, like smiling or raising your eyebrows, according to Mayo Clinic. Eventually, those constant movements will form wrinkles on your face, which are commonly described using charming nicknames like crow's feet, cobblestone chin, and bunny lines.
Bunny lines are nose wrinkles
Do you crinkle your nose often when you make certain facial expressions, especially when laughing or crying? Per Healthline, those little wrinkly lines around your nose are called bunny lines. And if you are a chronic nose-scruncher, chances are, you may eventually develop bunny lines that never go away. According to Westlake Dermatology, bunny line wrinkles may become more evident with repeated nose crinkling and can even become noticeable when resting the face.
Do you have bunny lines? Go ahead and look in the mirror and scrunch your nose like a bunny. Chances are, you'll see little wrinkles appear all around your nose. If those lines are only visible when you scrunch up your nose, those are called "dynamic wrinkles" and are pretty easy to treat. For those who always have those little lines, even when you aren't making any facial movements, those are referred to as "static wrinkles" and may be more challenging to treat as they are often deeper in the skin.
While some find these wrinkles adorable, others not so much. For those who would like to erase those bad boys, the good news is you probably can. Just like you can fight other wrinkles on the face, bunny lines are no exception, especially if you catch them early enough.
So how do you treat bunny lines?
It's no surprise that a bit of injectables where the wrinkles appear can help reduce the appearance of bunny lines. New York City-based dermatologist Jody Levine told Byrdie, "The best way to treat bunny lines is to use just a bit of Botox on each side of the nose to smooth these wrinkles." While Botox isn't a permanent solution, it can be a great temporary treatment option for those who want that extra confidence boost.
However, you want to be careful not to overdo it. Injecting too much Botox on other parts of the face can overwork those muscles in your nose, thus causing bunny lines instead of erasing them, per DC Derm Docs. So, while you're getting other areas of your face touched up the Botox, like in between the eyebrows, make sure your certified healthcare provider is injecting the right amount for you.
While filling in those wrinkles with Botox injections is the top recommended way to reduce the appearance of bunny lines, there are Botox alternatives you could use to get rid of wrinkles. Per Cleveland Clinic, a daily skincare regimen involving a retinoid may be effective in diminishing the appearance of wrinkles, and not just on the nose. While refraining from making facial expressions is one of the best ways to prevent bunny lines, you probably don't want to keep a stoic expression 24 hours a day — and honestly, it'd be impressive if you could.