Ageing changes our body in many ways but the most visible of those changes is the change in our skin. The first changes to the skin are usually the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Over time, the skin also loses its elastin and collagen levels, meaning that it is less elastic and starts to sag.
These changes are especially visible on the facial skin, around the eyes, and the neck. The neck is actually the first area where signs of ageing start to occur. Eyes come a close second. The sensitive and thin skin around the eyes, when affected, has prominent lines and wrinkles that can affect the aesthetics of the face. In this blog we’ll discuss solutions to reduce wrinkles under the eyes.
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What Causes Under-Eye Wrinkles?
Before discussing the treatment of under-eye wrinkles, it is important to understand what causes them. It is not just the effect of ageing, in fact, many other things can cause under-eye wrinkles. Looking into all of them helps us understand better how to prevent and/or get rid of them.
Some of the common causes of under-eye wrinkles are:
UV radiation
UV radiation affects the skin in the same way as ageing. When exposed to UV radiation, collagen in the skin begins to decrease due to the breakdown of collagen by UV. As collagen is important for the structural integrity of the skin, the lack of it can make the skin develop deep lines and sag. It is important to keep our skin protected from UV radiation, not just for its effect on the collagen in the skin, but also to protect ourselves from melanoma and other skin cancers. A high-SPF lotion is highly recommended to protect you from the effects of radiation
Repetitive muscle contractions
Mothers always tell their kids when they make a funny face that it would get stuck like that. Turns out, they are telling the truth. Repetitive facial expressions and motions with muscle contraction can cause wrinkles. If you frown quite a bit, then you may have noticed the development of fine lines on your forehead. Or if you squint a lot, then you may notice fine lines by your eye known as crow’s feet
Genetics
The texture and strength of the skin, to an extent, is determined by the genetics of a person. This means that some people with specific genetic features may have delayed development of under-eye lines and wrinkles than those without those genetics
Smoking
Smoking also causes your skin to lose its elastin and collagen levels as it exposes the skin to oxidative stress. The stress of any kind is not good for the body and oxidative stress is harmful to the skin. Excessive smoking or being in the presence of second-hand smoke throughout the day can alter the protein content of your skin. Once altered, the integrity of the skin will be compromised and this results in the development of lines and wrinkles. Around the eye, you will begin to see the under-eye wrinkles and even crow’s feet
Environmental Changes
Environmental changes such as pollution during the commute to work or working outdoors where your skin is exposed to large amounts of dust and allergens destroys the integrity of your skin. These changes often present as enlarged and visible pores, wrinkles, and textured skin. It is important to use necessary precautions to prevent the development of textured and wrinkled skin as these changes are very hard to treat
Prevention of Under-Eye Wrinkles
Eating a balanced diet with appropriate water consumption: a balanced diet provides the skin with the necessary nutrients that combined with proper hydration of the skin, can decrease and prevent the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Getting enough sleep: this allows the skin to rejuvenate and repair itself during the night
Wearing sunscreen regularly: this helps reduce UV exposure and the consequent damage to the skin
Using a moisturiser: this hydrates the skin and enhances the restoration properties of the skin
Appropriate exfoliation of the skin to remove dead skin cells
Home Remedies to Get Rid of Under-Eye Wrinkles
These remedies are not scientifically proven to be beneficial in the treatment of permanent and deep fine lines around the eye but they may be useful in treating early signs of crow’s feet and under-eye wrinkles. These remedies include:
Egg whites mask applied over the under-eye lines and wrinkles. Egg whites are a natural source of protein and using an egg white mask has several benefits including a reduction in the size of facial pores and a tightening of the skin. This tightening of the skin is made possible by the high content of proteins in this particular mask
Homemade mask of yoghurt, honey, lemon, and a Vitamin E capsule: Yogurt is a great base ingredient for a face mask as it contains lactic acid, which is an alpha hydroxy acid that works wonders on the skin by eliminating dead skin cells and rejuvenating the skin to avoid premature ageing. This, combined with the benefits of honey, lemon, and Vitamin E, is bound to give the skin a smooth and wrinkle-free appearance
Night time application of coconut oil on fine lines and wrinkles: The use of coconut oil is highly recommended as it can smoothen the skin and give hair a nice shine. Coconut oil also improves the protectıve barrier of the skin, making it difficult for harmful UV rays to penetrate and disturb the skin structure and composition
Night time application of sweet almond oil over under-eye lines: Sweet almond oil is rich in omega 3 fatty acids and zinc, both of which boost the protective layer of the skin and block the risk factors that can age the skin, hence, preventing premature ageing and wrinkling of the skin
Eating flaxseed oil two to three times a day: Flaxseed oil works wonders on the skin by hydrating the skin and reducing inflammation of the skin, resulting in younger-looking skin, free of wrinkles and fine lines
Homemade Avocado mask: Avocados are rich in Vitamin A, D, and E, all of which are great for hydration and rejuvenation of the skin. Avocados are a great homemade remedy for the treatment of under-eye lines because they boost collagen metabolism and improve the protective features of the skin
It is important to keep in mind any specific allergies that you may have before applying or consuming any of the natural ingredients mentioned above.
Topical Treatments to Get Rid of Under-Eye Wrinkles
Under-eye wrinkles can be a pain to handle and there are many treatments for them that can be applied topically. As the wrinkles are close to the eye, utmost care should be taken to avoid contact of these products with the eye.
Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid has multiple roles in the cosmetic industry as it regulates various processes in the human body like skin repair, wound healing, tissue regeneration, and immune modulation. It is available in form of topical creams, lotions, gels, serums, and even fillers, all ready to use. The high demand for hyaluronic acid as an ingredient in the cosmetic and skincare industry is mainly due to its anti-wrinkle and anti-ageing features. Hyaluronic acid stimulates the production of elastin and collagen in the skin while also hydrating the skin, which altogether results in facial volume restoration and reduction in the appearance of facial wrinkles like frown lines. Moreover, hyaluronic acid also promotes wound healing and tissue regeneration which allows the skin to restore its protective barrier and prevent any further damage from sun exposure or stress
Retinol, a form of Vitamin A
Retinol is a popular ingredient in the cosmetic industry due to its effects on collagen regulation and skin epidermal thickness. Retinol upregulates the genes responsible for the production and expression of different types of collagen in the skin, resulting in a significant reduction of wrinkles and fine lines along with improved integrity of the skin.
Regular use of retinol for 12 weeks itself has been found to have a significant anti-ageing effect
Niacinamide
Niacinamide or Vitamin B3 is an important ingredient of many topical agents as it is generally well tolerated by the skin. It has anti-pruritic, photo-protective, anti-microbial, and lightening properties that make it a perfect base for various types of topical creams and lotions. Niacinamide is important to reduce the effects of photoageing or UV exposure to the skin like wrinkles, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation. Not only does niacinamide treat and reverse these adverse effects, but it also prevents them from occurring in the future
Vitamin C
Vitamin C or ascorbic acid has three main functions which make it a crucial ingredient in topical agents that aim to treat under-eye lines. It stimulates collagen synthesis, provides antioxidant protection against UV rays, and improves skin barrier function. These functions of vitamin c result in improved appearance of the skin as they reverse the signs of ageing and photo ageing while preventing any further signs from becoming apparent. The improved skin barrier prevents UV rays from penetrating the skin. When combined with the antioxidant properties of the vitamin results in smooth and impenetrable skin, safe from UV rays
Using Injectables to Get Rid of Under-Eye Wrinkles
An efficient treatment for under-eye wrinkles, or most wrinkles around the eye area, is injectables. These injectables work by refreshing and rejuvenating the skin.
BOTOX
Injectables are a frequently used treatment for under-eye wrinkles with BOTOX injections being the most common option. BOTOX injections use botulinum toxin which tightens the skin by inhibiting the overactive facial muscles, hence reducing the appearance of any fine lines and wrinkles.
Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
Injectable fillers made up of hyaluronic acid, a natural component of the skin is another injectable treatment for under-eye wrinkles. These dermal fillers last for about six months and completely eradicate under-eye wrinkles during this period. Other ingredients used in dermal fillers include collagen, hydroxylapatite, and Poly-L-Lactic acid. All of these ingredients work similarly by enhancing wound healing and collagen production in the skin, resulting in a decreased appearance of fine lines. It is important to note that these injections should only be injected by a medical professional.
These treatments help get rid of the under-eye wrinkles temporarily. It is important to continue with the preventative methods while undergoing treatment to avoid the deepening of the under-eye wrinkles or the risk of them becoming permanent.
FAQs about How to Get Rid of Under Eye Wrinkles
How do you get rid of wrinkles under the eyes?
· There are many remedies that can be used to get rid of under-eye wrinkles. A range of topical solutions are available to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. However, they are not that efficient against deep lines. Injectables are the best bet against those.
Can you reverse under-eye wrinkles?
· Reversing of under-eye wrinkles that are still in the process of developing is possible with topical agents that tighten the skin and plump it while also locking the moisture in. However, the deep wrinkles and lines are hard to reverse without injectables. Once injectables have done their work, using the topicals can help prevent the development of new wrinkles.
Why are my eyes so wrinkled?
· There are many reasons why we get wrinkles under the eyes, with the major reason being ageing. Ageing reduces the collagen and elastin content of the skin, making it lose its elasticity and tightness. Some of the other common causes are pollution, smoking, and poor hydration of the skin.
How can I get rid of wrinkles under my eyes naturally?
· Getting rid of under-eye wrinkles naturally is a possibility when they are still in the early phases of development. Prevention is a much better option with homemade masks that hydrate the skin and plump it. Eating foods rich in collagen can also prevent and treat early fine lines under the eye. However, once the wrinkles have formed, it is going to be hard to treat them naturally.
About Mr Mark Gittos FRACS (Plast) – London Plastic Surgeons
Practice locations in London & Essex, UK and Auckland, New Zealand.
Mr Mark Gittos offers high quality, natural-looking cosmetic surgery results and is highly experienced in Breast, Body and Face Surgery having performed over 4000 Surgeries in the last 26 years.
Mr Mark Gittos is a leading Specialist Plastic Surgeon and operates a practice in London UK and Auckland New Zealand. His practice focuses on both surgical and non-surgical procedures, each designed to help restore, improve or change a physical characteristic or problem. The first step in every case is to talk through your personal requirements and explore all the options, before deciding on the most effective solution.
Naturally, before any treatment is begun, we will explain clearly the advantages and risk factors; so that you have the information you need to make an informed decision that is best for you. Visit the practice to find out more.
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