While most people might think that bunny lines sound cute, the fact of the matter is that bunny lines can be source of woe for many people. For years, laugh lines and crow’s feet were what troubled most people, particularly women, its bunny lines these days that are causing sleepless nights for many. This article aims at clearing all important questions related to bunny lines.

What are bunny lines?

Have you ever noticed those fine lines that appear when your nose gets all scrunched up, because of a laugh or a deep smile? These are the lines that are known as bunny lines and while these are normally age associated, these could also be tell-tale signs that you have had Botox injections in the past. However, the most basic reason for bunny lines is when certain muscles of the face are used too much. Bunny lines can appear either in a straight-ish line or could be diagonal on either side of the nose and when age starts to catch up the lines will start to become more prominent. If you want to identify bunny lines on your face, all you need to do is look at yourself in the mirror and scrunch up your nose and then relax your face. If you are seeing lines along your nose, especially between the bridge of the nose and the inside of the eye, then you have bunny lines.

What causes bunny lines?

There is no category of people who will most certainly get bunny lines, because anyone can get them – they are after all, they are like any expression lines. If you are someone who constantly crinkles their nose, then you could be more prone to bunny lines. There are two main reasons that can lead to bunny lines:

• Age – We human beings are generally expressive people and we express a lot using our face. When we are young, our skin is extremely firm and elastic, which means that our skin is able to bounce back without any problems. However, when age starts to catch up, skin starts to lose its elasticity, which means that it is not able to come back to its normal shape. This is when wrinkles and fine lines start to appear. You will notice these lines all the more prominently, where your face changes most often. So, the area around the lips, the region around the eyes and the area around the nose, will be the most affected.
• Botox – When you get Botox injections, they are relaxing certain muscles of your face, but when these muscles relax, there are certain other muscles that have work a lot more. So, for instance, if you had Botox in the area between your eyebrows, the muscles near the nose will have to work overtime to compensation for those muscles. Over time, this will start to become obvious, because your expressions will start to change, without you intending to do so. In the hands of an experienced doctor, this should not happen, because they will tell you when to stop the Botox injections.

How can one get rid of bunny lines?

It is important to remember that bunny lines are not like normal wrinkles, which means that those over the counter creams that might be working on the rest of your face, might not work for these lines. This is because, people will not stop making the expressions they always make, which means that the lines will keep forming, rendering the cream pretty much useless. What is interesting to note is that one of the causes for these bunny lines is also the cure – Botox. When Botox is injected into either side of the nose, they should help reduce the lines. As a matter of fact, if bunny lines are treated properly and on time, they should become close to invisible. However, if the injections are not done properly, they could lead to drooping around the mouth. Many doctors will treat bunny lines at the same time as they are treating brow lines, because it is easier. In case you are worried about how more Botox could damage your face, you could talk to your doctor and ask for alternatives. Because the area covered by bunny lines is extremely small, you do not need a very strong agent and a milder injectable might be more than enough.

How can Botox help treat bunny lines?

Although Botox might be the causative agent for the bunny lines in the first place, chances are the best way to tackle them is also Botox. Botox has been approved for usage since the late 1980s, when it won sanction from FDA. Initially, it was used to treat conditions such as blepharospasm or uncontrollable blinking and strabismus or lazy eye, it was in the early 2000s that it won approval to be used as a method of treatment for fine lines and wrinkles. The manner in which Botox works is that it relaxes the muscles and the signal between the nerve and the muscle is reduced, leading to the non-contraction of the muscles. As a result of this, the wrinkle or fine lines becomes a little softer and less visible.

How is Botox used to treat bunny lines?

Botox is nothing more than just a series of injections – the area that needs to be treated is identified and the injections are administered there. In most cases, no anaesthesia is required and the procedure does not take more than a few minutes. However, there could be a little discomfort from when the fine needle is being inserted into the muscles. When Botox has been administered in the right dose and in the proper manner, there is no reason why anyone should be able to identify that you have had Botox.

With the help of a microneedle, anywhere between one to three doses will be administered and each will happen one after the other. In most cases, there is only a stinging or burning sensation, but the pain is minimal, because of the size of the needle. There could be needle marks or redness, but this is normal and should subside within a few hours. For most people, the results will become visible in about two to three days, but for some people, it could take up to five. If you want to maintain the results, then you will have to go in for repeat injections, the course for which can be decided by your doctor.

Can bunny lines be prevented?

Aging is natural and with aging, your skin will also start to show the impact, which means that fine lines such as bunny lines will appear over time. However, if you take care of your skin in your youth, you should be able to keep such fine lines away for a little longer. Make sure that you eat healthy, drink plenty of water and invest in good skin care products. When the first signs of aging start to appear, pick up good anti-ageing creams and use them well. And there is a reason many people call a good night’s sleep, their beauty sleep, because this is the time, when the skin is able to repair and rejuvenate itself.