The Best Derm Tips To Get Rid Of Bunny Lines, Sans Botox

Quite a few skin concerns come with cute and quippy names. Strawberry legs, marionette lines, crow's feet, orange peel skin… Need I go on? 

“Bunny lines refer to fine lines that appear on either side of the nose bridge when you wrinkle your nose or make a certain facial expression,” explains board-certified dermatologist Teresa Song of Marmur Medical. You know, just like how a bunny might wiggle their nose. “They are caused by movement of specific muscles on the nose, particularly the nasalis muscle and some components of the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi 1muscles,” she adds. 

The thing is, crow's feet and bunny lines appear only with movements when you're young; "over time, they can become more permanent and develop into resting wrinkles," says Song. "This happens due to the decline in our skin's elasticity and collagen levels from aging and sun exposure. Coupled with repeated muscle movements in the area, grooves can form, allowing these lines to settle in and become permanent." 

The name may sound adorable, but the permanent lines themselves can be pesky—especially because they tend to crop up much earlier than you'd like. Why? Well, according to board-certified dermatologist Loretta Ciraldo, M.D., FAAD, founder of Dr. Loretta Skincare, people often forget to apply their skin care (including sunscreen) on the nose area. "I don't know why this is, but the consequences are not only bunny lines,” she shares. “It also leads to more precancerous growths in this area, with the nose being one of the most common sites of facial skin cancers." 

No, this doesn't mean you can't ever laugh or scrunch your nose up again. Just be mindful of how many times per day the skin crinkles, especially times you might not be aware. 

If you use healthy aging ingredients in your skin care routine (retinol, vitamin C, and the like), don't forget to apply them around your nose, too. "We don't cover our upper nose with skin care products," Ciraldo notes, so make an intentional effort with your smoothing serums. 

Finally, Song suggests dabbling in LED light therapy, namely red lights. Studies have demonstrated that red light therapy can improve collagen density, leading to fewer fine lines and overall tighter skin. 

One study, in particular, found that participants receiving red light therapy on their face twice a week for 30 total sessions experienced improved skin complexion2, skin tone, skin smoothness, and collagen density (as measured with an ultrasonographic test).