Over time our skin naturally loses its elasticity, which can result in sagging, fine lines and wrinkles, especially around the eyes. Our Ottawa cosmetic specialists talk about how our skin changes as we age and ways that you can help get rid of under eye wrinkles.
Aging Skin Concerns: Under Eye Wrinkles
Under eye wrinkles are normally caused by a combination of biological and environmental factors as well as how you have cared for your skin over the years.
What are under eye wrinkles?
As you age your skin does too. Skin that was once renewing its cells frequently will be doing so less often resulting in the aging skin we see. We typically see wrinkles and other signs of aging in the skin under the eye first due to this skin being thinner and more sensitive than any other skin on our body.
How do the wrinkles under your eyes form?
Collagen is the key element in our skin keeping it soft and flexible. As we age this collagen production slows down resulting in the skin losing its elasticity.
As you move your face to express yourself your skin gets pulled in all different directions. When you are producing a large amount of collagen your skin can stretch and then return to its previous position with ease. However, as we age this becomes more difficult for the skin to do. The repeated movements will eventually begin to cause fine lines in areas that are moving most often. An example of this is people who squint often, as this recurring movement can lead to eye wrinkles that are commonly known as 'crow's feet'.
What are some ways you can help get rid of lines under the eyes?
Don't Use Regular Soap Around Your Eyes
Believe it or not, one of the most common contributors to dry, damaged skin around the eyes is soap. Many mass-produced soaps contain harsh chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), triclosan, lye, polypropylene, and synthetic dyes. These additives are created to strip away the dirt that may be on your skin but they also remove all of the protective oils on your skin in the process. When your eyes are stripped of these natural oils, the skin can become very dry, leading to wrinkles.
Use Cucumbers on Your Eyes
While you may have thought that cucumbers under the eyes were just something you see in the movies, there are actually benefits to this. The under eye area is prone to dryness which as stated before, can lead to the dreaded wrinkles. Cucumbers are packed full of moisture which they can transfer to your under eye area.
If you are wondering how to get rid of eye wrinkles then you may just need to start by taking some time to relax and place a few cucumber slices on your eyes at the end of the day.
Apply an Eye Serum Daily
If you are really looking for some added moisture with staying power, an eye serum may be your best option. These serums are created with the delicate skin under your eye in mind and will help to lock in the natural oils and moisture.
Many eye serums are created with the ability to increase collagen production within your skin, which can help combat those fine lines and wrinkles as they begin to appear.
Don't Drink or Smoke
As mentioned above, collagen is the key to keeping your skin flexible and plump. When you smoke, you cause your body to increase the reproduction of an enzyme that actually breaks down the collagen within your body. This may cause wrinkles to develop prematurely and quicker than they would if you did not smoke.
Alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it will cause your body to lose fluids resulting in dehydration. This dehydration will affect your skin as well causing it to become dull and saggy along with the appearance of wrinkles.
Be Gentle Around Your Eyes
Throughout the day, you move your eyes a lot, from blinking to squinting to expressing your emotions. Because the skin around the eyes is quite delicate, this can result in wrinkles and fine lines.
Another consideration is that the skin around the eyes does not contain oil glands and collagen like the rest of your face and body, which can make it prone to dryness, droopiness, lines, and wrinkles.
Protect Your Eyes From The Sun
One of the leading causes of wrinkles is sun or UV exposure. When you expose your skin to the harmful UV rays from the sun, you are allowing the breakdown of the natural collagen and elastin in your skin. Because of the dangers of the sun, you should always be sure to protect the delicate skin around your eyes, as well as the rest of your body.
The best way that you can do this is by wearing both a hat and sunglasses and always making sure that you are wearing sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30. Be sure to reapply every 2 hours and after you've been in the water.
Massage Your Face Regularly
Another known cause of wrinkles is tense muscles. One way to combat this is to massage your skin often to help relax the muscles and prevent these wrinkles from occurring. By massaging your skin you can also stimulate your body to produce more collagen, which can help keep your skin flexible.
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
As with the health of the rest of your body, a healthy diet can help keep your skin healthy. Vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin E are all frequently used in skincare products. By eating a diet that includes these vitamins, you can help ensure that your body replenishes cells as needed.
Some of the foods that are high in these vitamins include citrus fruits, carrots, and pumpkins.
Be Gentle When Exfoliating
While it is perfectly acceptable to exfoliate the skin under your eye when dry skin forms, remember to use a product that is specific to this need and to be gentle. If you use harsh products or are too rough for your skin, you could not only dry it out but cause damage which may be difficult or even impossible to reverse.
What treatments are available to help get rid of under eye wrinkles?
Anti-Aging Eye Cream
A good eye cream is a great way to help fight the signs of aging such as under eye wrinkles.
LifeCell Eye Contour Cream by Nelly De Vuyst is formulated with Salmon DNA and Bisabolol to diminish visible signs of aging around the delicate eye area.
Fillers For Fine Lines
Fillers are injected under the skin effectively 'filling' in the area to help smooth out any fine lines or wrinkles that you are experiencing.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are used to help remove the outermost layer of skin, removing the dead skin cells and causing the skin to replenish itself. While this treatment cannot remove deep wrinkles, it may help to diminish them.
Micro-needling
Micro-needling is a treatment option where tiny needles are rolled into your skin causing your body to react and produce collagen to heal itself.
Allergy Treatments
When you suffer from allergies, the skin around your eyes can become damaged due to the rubbing that can occur. By receiving allergy treatment you can help eliminate your symptoms and prevent the eye rubbing that is done.
Lasers
The use of lasers on the under eye area is much like when it is used on the rest of the body. There are a number of different lasers that may be used but the general result is an increase in the production of collagen in your skin.
How can Botox help with under eye wrinkles?
How does Botox work?
Botox is an injectable treatment option that contains a form of botulinum toxin that is used to relax the muscles underneath the skin to help create a smooth, refreshed, and youthful appearance.
Is Botox painful?
People who receive Botox injections describe it as a mild pinch, similar to a bug bite. The needle is very fine so as not to cause any pain, bruising, or swelling.
Will you need downtime after Botox?
Botox is a simple procedure that requires little to no downtime. You may experience some mild swelling or redness but this should subside fairly quickly.
Will Botox help my under eye wrinkles?
If you are wondering how to get rid of wrinkles around your eyes, Botox may be the answer for you. Botox helps to relax the muscles around the eyes, which in turn can help prevent or reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.