Eye Wrinkle Treatment
Dark circles, puffiness and wrinkles of the eyes usually starts in our 20s: As we grow older, a few fine lines and wrinkles begin to form under our eyes. They’re nothing to be frightened of; they’re just a sign that our skin cells are losing collagen and reducing their ability to renew themselves. Those under-eye wrinkles—actually, most of the wrinkles we do or will have in life—also come with having an exceptionally expressive face.
They also called crow’s-feet, these wrinkles don’t need to be a reason you lose sleep at night, but some might be concerned that they will stretch and deepen, making a face look older or more tired, as they can be accompanied by puffiness and dark circles. That begs the question, what can one do to prevent under-eye wrinkles from forming? And how about treating those that already exist?
What causes wrinkles around the eyes?
“There are several factors that can cause skin to wrinkle, one of them is genetics; this is the No. 1 cause of wrinkling on people. Other factors include pigmentation, too much collagen in the skin, and smoking.
Signs of under-eye wrinkles
According to Dr. Amy Wechsler, a New York City-based dermatologist, under-eye wrinkles are essentially just the visual version of the brown spots that occur in your skin when you get older. “The usual indicators of aging—wrinkles and even discoloration—are essentially age-related changes in the skin,” says Dr. Wechsler. She explains that these wrinkles usually appear around the eyes, and they also tend to look worse in the morning when the skin is more sensitive and irritated from sleeping in.
Frown lines (crow’s-feet) are caused by the eyebrows pulling the skin down over the eye, making the area look older. The risk of under-eye wrinkles is actually heightened by enlarged or thinning eyes.
How to prevent wrinkles from forming
Start by protecting your skin from the sun. “We know that the sun’s rays can cause collagen breakdown,” explains William Kwan, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and co-director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “So, if we avoid [sun damage] and stay out of the sun as much as possible, we might have a better chance to prevent wrinkles from forming.” (A dermatologist-recommended sunscreen also keeps your skin free of toxins that may contribute to aging).
How to treat wrinkles that have formed
There’s no one quick fix or magic cure for under-eye wrinkles. You’ll have to try different products to see what works best for you. These products are categorized as wrinkle-free, anti-wrinkle, deep-set, and skin brightening.
“The first thing that you need to do is think about your lifestyle. They are like sun spots, you can’t correct them all at once,” says Dr. Harold Lancer, creator of the LaserFinity and HydraFacial Laser for Facial Hair Removal, who is also the founder and president of The Beverly Hills Laser Institute. “You have to start slow and build up and increase your treatment time as your lifestyle changes.”
Besides, there are treatments such as:
- Chemical peels – applied to the face to remove dead skin cells and promote new cell growth.
- Dermal fillers – injected into the skin underneath or around the eyes to “plump up” the appearance of the face.
- Microdermabrasion
- Lasers
- Microneedling
- Botox
Conclusion
Eyelids do change as we get older, and we’re starting to see more subtle signs of aging. But there are things you can do to prevent this most common of under-eye complaints. Here’s what you can do to fight them and, instead, keep your face looking as youthful as possible:
“There are two key ways to prevent those visible signs of aging: First, be sure to exfoliate daily. This removes the top layer of dead skin cells and gives your skin a clear base to build from. A second trick is to use a face moisturizer with peptides, which will also work to boost collagen and encourage skin growth,” explains Sonia Kashuk, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, in an interview with Health.