How to Manage Nasolabial Folds Through Lifestyle Habits?

The nasolabial folds (nasolabial grooves) that run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth are structural folds that everyone develops. The reason these folds become particularly noticeable with age is not only due to decreased skin elasticity itself, but also because cheek fat sags downward and the skin's resistance to gravity weakens.

When factors such as UV exposure, dry skin condition, smoking, and frequent facial expression habits (such as excessively pulling the cheeks when smiling) are added, the folds can appear deeper even among people of the same age. In other words, understanding that nasolabial folds are a change caused by multiple overlapping factors rather than 'a single cause' is the starting point of management.

The process of nasolabial folds forming and deepening

Up until your 20s, collagen and elastic fibers within the skin are relatively abundant, so cheek sagging isn't very noticeable. However, after the mid-30s, the skin's own thickness and elasticity gradually decline, and the fat and ligaments that support the cheeks weaken, tending to make nasolabial folds progressively more visible.

When dryness is added on top of this, the issue becomes more pronounced. When skin holds enough moisture, fine lines are less noticeable, but when the stratum corneum is parched, wrinkles of the same depth appear deeper and more distinct. In other words, 'managing' nasolabial folds is more realistically approached by keeping the skin surface hydrated and the texture smooth so wrinkles are less visually prominent, rather than trying to restore collagen itself.

Lifestyle check: Are you unknowingly deepening your nasolabial folds?

Sun protection is the most basic yet highly effective habit. UV rays can affect the deep elastic structures of the skin and accelerate sagging, so it's good to apply sunscreen consistently even indoors.

Sleeping face-down or resting your chin on your hand repeatedly puts pressure on one side of the cheek, which can create asymmetrical wrinkles. Also, rapid weight loss from extreme dieting can cause a sudden loss of facial volume, leaving skin without support and leading to faster sagging, so sudden weight changes should be approached with caution.

Smoking and insufficient water intake are also commonly cited lifestyle factors that accelerate skin dryness and loss of elasticity. Simply drinking enough water and managing indoor humidity can help reduce surface dryness, making wrinkles appear less prominent.

Step-by-step home care: Consistency makes the difference

① Sun protection — Applying sunscreen every morning and reapplying every 2-3 hours is, in the long run, the most effective way to preserve skin elasticity.

② Moisturizing routine — If you feel tightness after cleansing, it may signal that your skin barrier has weakened. Using a cream containing ingredients similar to skin lipids, like ceramides, can help care for the barrier and smooth out the skin surface.

③ Correcting facial expression habits — Simply reducing habits like excessively pulling the corners of your mouth or chewing only on one side can lessen the repeated pressure placed on specific areas.

④ Minimizing stimulation over massaging — Vigorously rubbing the skin during massage can actually lead to irritation and reduced elasticity, so gently patting products in for absorption is the safer approach.

If you're considering a lifting procedure, care becomes even more important

Many people who feel limited by lifestyle management alone consider lifting procedures like ZXQMAGAZINETERMUltherapyZXQ, ZXQMAGAZINETERMThermageZXQ, or Shurink, or skin boosters. However, regardless of which procedure you choose, how stably the skin recovers afterward can affect how long the results last, so it can help to build hydration and barrier care habits beforehand.

Post-procedure recovery is largely determined by home care

After lifting procedures or skin booster treatments, the skin tends to become temporarily sensitive and dry. Home care during this period, combined with everyday lifestyle habits, can affect your skin condition. ABZU Cream offers a 2-STEP post-procedure recovery solution: immediately after the procedure (days 1-3), the Ultra Cera-Rich Cream focuses on soothing redness and caring for the skin barrier, while during the recovery phase (from day 4 onward), the Hydro Re-Boosting Cream continues with deep hydration and skin texture care. Both products contain a complex of 5 types of ceramides and panthenol, and can also be used as part of your regular skin barrier and moisturizing routine.