Laugh Lines: What They Are, Why We Get Them & 7 Natural Remedies That Work

For something sounding so joyful, laugh lines sure do cause people grief. But remember this type of wrinkle is a totally normal part of the aging process—as are all wrinkles for that matter. Laugh lines are given their name because of their location (around the mouth) and one of the ways you may develop them (uh, laughing). So if you see them creeping in, take it as a sign you've had a good ole time. 

As we noted, their name gives a good indication of their placement: "Laugh lines are wrinkles that appear on the face and extend from the outer edge of your nostrils down to the corner of your mouth," says board-certified dermatologist Margarita Lolis, M.D., of Schweiger Dermatology Group in Hackensack, New Jersey.

You may also hear them called "smile lines," "marionette lines," or the more technical "nasolabial folds," says aesthetic registered nurse Neethi Masur, R.N. at SKINNEY MedSpa. 

Skin is a complex, living organ made up of several structural components that (quite literally) touches a lot of different parts of us. When you look at the makeup, there's collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, lipids, and so forth; from there, it's also affected by the muscle composition and bone underneath. This is all to say, when wrinkles form—it's hardly ever due to a singular reason. 

So to start, there is the fact that many components of our skin structure decline with age. "As we age, we lose collagen, fat, and start to resorb bone. These changes lead to volume loss, thin, saggy skin. As a result, our nasolabial folds become more pronounced," says Lolis. 

It's also important to note that these lines are exacerbated with movement, the same way crow's feet can come from squinting and the "11's" can come from scrunching your brow.

This is where we get honest, here. Laugh lines are notoriously difficult to treat because of their complex nature. First off, they are not just caused by collagen and elastin depletion—they're also influenced by bone and fat loss in the face and cheeks. While you can certainly find topicals to help support the former two, there are no topicals to encourage bone or fat growth. 

Then there's the movement part: They are formed as the result of laughing, talking, and smiling. Imagine a life without those? No thanks—we'll take a few extra folds.

Our experts agree—the aim here isn't "fixing" them, it's simply softening their appearance as we get older.  

OK, we've covered that these wrinkles are difficult to treat after the fact, so the best stance is preventive: "Since these laugh lines or nasolabial folds are a product of living, really the only preventive measure you can take is to protect your skin from the sun and use an effective age-preventing skin care regimen," says Nicole Hatfield, a certified esthetician for Pomp and founder of Radiant Beings Wellness & Beauty Coaching.

Proper sun protection—a la a mineral sunscreen—is your first line of defense, as UV damage significantly contributes to premature aging.

Smart topicals can act as another preventive measure, as they help keep our skin barrier strong, encourage cell turnover, provide exfoliation, and help collagen production. "Healthy aging ingredients like retinoids, alpha-hydroxy acids, niacinamide, anti-aging peptides, and growth factors can also be helpful," says board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D. 

Retinoids, in particular, are great for aging skin. Not only do they help slough off excess dead skin cells by encouraging turnover, but they can help build collagen by stimulating the fibroblasts1. 

Supplements can help skin internally by providing us with much-needed nutrients. For example, collagen supplements contain short-chain amino acid peptides, which can be absorbed by the body, and then travel to our dermis where they support your skin's fibroblasts.* Our fibroblasts are the things that create collagen and elastin, so for healthy skin we must keep these little things strong. 

OK, so with advice, we are certainly not telling you to limit your precious smiles and laughs. Those are an important part of life—and mental health is skin health. However, being mindful of how you move and rest your face can help your facial tissues and muscles in the long run—in the same way you are likely mindful of your bodily movements.  

For example, you can try face yoga, which involves simple targeted movements, poses, and stretches to strengthen your facial muscles for a tighter, more toned skin. And, much like you are mindful of rest and recovery, you should consider how you are holding your face when not actively engaging.

So, sleep wrinkles are a thing. When you sleep—hopefully for the recommended eight hours—your face is likely smooshed up against a pillow for a decent amount of it. Research has even identified several areas that are more affected than not, which includes your cheeks and nasolabial area. 

Of course, healthy skin comes from healthy living—this we know to be true. And really, it's all simple stuff: "Exercise regularly, stay hydrated, don't smoke, eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep, and overall, keep the skin healthy," says King.

Think of platelet-rich plasma as your "all-natural injections." The integrative treatment is quite impressive: when you are injecting into skin, well, your own platelets.

"Platelet-rich fibrin is your own body's stem cells, which are spun in a centrifuge forming a gelous substance that is injected into the folds," says Masur.