The viral Stanley Cup is currently one of the hottest status symbols in the US as a new generation of conscious, health-conscious young adults clamor for the cutest way to stay hydrated.
But even though some of the main selling points of the 40oz Stanley Quencher Tumbler are the side handle and straw, some TikTok users are now warning against repeated slurping from the slurping tool for one reason: lip wrinkles.
Sometimes referred to as lip lines, lipstick lines, or smoker’s lines, lip wrinkles are vertical furrows that develop along and above one’s upper lip, according to Healthline.
To maintain the appeal of a straw while trying to avoid lip wrinkles, TikTokkers were purchase an additional accessory for the Stanleys – anti-wrinkle straws is the last addition in the hydration frenzy.
But do straws really cause unsightly folds?
“The long-term effect of repeated purring and drinking through a straw or other movements that cause the lips to tighten is the development of fine lines in this area,” American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) surgeon Lara L. Devgan , MD. , confirmed to The Post.
The reason this happens, Devgan explained, is that “the skin is like a piece of paper.”
“If you repeatedly fold it over and over again with the same folding patterns, you’ll get etched lines and it becomes progressively harder for them to come off,” he said. “When we see people drinking from straws repeatedly, those lines get deeper and deeper.”
While these lines have been referred to as smoker’s lines in the past, they can appear on anyone — whether you smoke or not, and whether you drink through a straw or not, Devgan clarified — “just because of the pursing of the lips.”
The muscle around the lips, called orbicularis orisit controls the shape and movements of the lips and is shaped like a purse string, so narrowing the shape creates more tension on the skin, which is what creates the lines, he explained.
Straws and smoking are the big culprits for lip wrinkles that people think of, but Devgan said it’s just any strong expression pattern that involves pursing the lips, like making a kissy “duck” face to pull a selfie or apply makeup.
There are other factors that can contribute to lip wrinkles, such as sun damage and exposure to UVA and UVB rays – which promote aging around the lips and loss of volume in the lips themselves – as well as genetics.
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree when it comes to facial aging, and if you have a genetic or family history of more fine lines and deep wrinkles on your face, then you’re likely to fall into that category,” Devgan explained.
People who have “young looking” lips and mouths as they age are those who do not overuse the lip tightening function.
As Devgan explained, a 5-year-old child would not have wrinkled lips even if he drank a lot from a straw.
“You could drink through a straw every day as a child and nothing would happen because you have so much collagen that gives your tissue life and elasticity,” he said. “But with time and aging, your habits catch up with you.
“You know that expression that when you’re young, you have the face you’re born with, and when you’re old, you have the face you deserve? You’ve got all the magic of youth and rich, collagen-packed goodness.’
However, there are a few techniques one can do to reduce deep lip wrinkle lines, which are designed to bring them back “to the level you had at a younger age, when you could tolerate movement better,” Devgan explained. .
The least invasive way would be to use topical products like retinoids, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C, B, and E Ferulic—which Devgan claims are the “three mainstays of wrinkle reduction.” Other products include bakuchiol retinol to improve skin texture and minimize fine lines, or a hyaluronic acid-based lip gloss that can help reduce the appearance of fine lines.
Another way to reduce puffiness in the mouth is a combination of Botox and fillers, Devgan said. A very small micro dose of Botox and injectable filler can restore lost volume around the mouth and smooth fine lines. Using very thin lip augmentation can replace lost collagen in the lips.
“This is a very delicate technique that should be done in expert hands to avoid abnormality or loss of muscle function,” added Devgan.
Laser resurfacing, micro infusion and microneedling can regenerate the tissue around the mouth and resurface the skin. Additionally, the more invasive option would be surgery, such as autologous fat grafting or lip lift surgery, which can be used to reverse overall lip aging.
If one is hoping to prevent lip wrinkles before they appear, Devgan suggests a meticulous skincare routine and avoiding things associated with more lip wear in your daily life. This would include pursing your lips, drinking through a straw, smoking and rubbing your face.
Additionally, avoiding UV and nicotine exposure will help overall skin quality, Devgan adds.
“It’s like counting your sheets, the more your sheets will tolerate a little wrinkle here and there and a little movement,” he explained.
“So it’s both. Are the active factors like what are you doing? Do you drink through a straw every day, smoke a cigarette and blow a kiss for every selfie? But it’s also more passive, behind-the-scenes stuff,” he shared. “So not just genetics, but all those lifestyle habits that plastic surgeons love to talk about.
“You know: genetics, skin care, smoking, sun exposure.”
If your selfie pose is a kiss, try what Devgan calls a “subtle Mona Lisa smile” to take some tension off the lips.
“A delicate Mona Lisa smile is an idealized expression of aging,” he explained. “People used to use the expression ‘resting face on face,’ and you want to think about whether you’re subconsciously holding your face at rest in a position that will contribute to additional action.”
