Under Eye Aging Solutions
Are you dealing with dark circles, bags, or crepey skin around the eyes? Your racoon-like appearance may suggest you’ve gone a few too many nights on too little sleep. But what if you’re sleeping just fine and the circles and bags aren’t budging? If you’re slathering on the concealer - you are not alone. Under eye skin issues are common, and a concern I treat routinely at my medspa!
Why Are Under Eyes Problems So Common and Problematic?
These issues plague A LOT of people. The skin below your eyes is very delicate, more so than the rest of your face. As you age, the tissue weakens and thins even more. Collagen production slows, and you lose that baby fat you once took for granted! All of this leads to loss of elasticity, tone, and texture.
Dark circles, bags, and other under eye concerns can really take a toll on your appearance - adding years to your face. This area is also front and center and what many people notice (especially now with masks)!
While concealers and color correcting makeup can help – there are other treatment interventions that do more than just cover up the problem. From home remedies to cosmetic treatments, I have several ideas and recommendations for you to try!
Dark Circles and Hollows
You may correlate dark circles to a late night out, but what if you got plenty of sleep and still notice them?
While lack of sleep can worsen dark circles, sometimes no matter how much beauty sleep you get they just don’t budge. They’re probably caused by two things you don’t have control over: aging and genetics! The skin under your eyes is thin and translucent – making it easy to see the veins underneath. This vasculature gives off a blue or purplish hue, which can look like dark rings. This can be more of a problem for people with fair skin, and those who are thin and don’t have much subcutaneous fat tissue on the face.
A prominent ‘tear trough’ can also play a big role. This is the area from the inner corner of your eye, extending out towards the cheekbone. It causes shadowing and makes dark circles more pronounced. Tear troughs deepen with age as you lose that baby fat.
So what can you do to reduce the appearance of dark circles and hollows around the eyes?
Dermal fillers injected to tear trough to correct dark circles and hollows
If you want to try something at home first – cold compresses can help. Also - cucumbers! You might have thought they’re just for show, but cucumbers can soothe, hydrate, and the vitamin K can help lighten your skin. Slice them up, stick them in the fridge, then apply for 10 minutes.
If you’re interested in a cosmetic treatment - dermal filler is a great option. Getting a hyaluronic dermal filler in this area, referred to as ‘tear trough filler’ can help plump up this soft tissue, eliminating the hollows and shadows. The filler draws moisture to the area, plumping it up and smoothing it out. Results are immediate, with the full effect setting in in about a week. They can last 6-12 months!
Dark circles can also be lightened with a topical retinol. By encouraging cell turnover and new cell growth, the skin thickens. This helps make your skin less translucent so the underlying purple and blue vasculature is less visible (see more skincare info below).
Bags and Puffiness
Handbags can be fun to add to your collection. Under eye bags - not so much. These pouches appear as part of the aging process. The tissue below your eye weakens, as well as the muscles that support this delicate skin. This causes the skin to start to sag and the bags to form.
At home, you can try cool compresses or an eye mask to reduce puffiness. Some people take cold black tea bags (which contain caffeine and antioxidants) and apply to the area for 10-20 minutes. This helps stimulate blood circulation, and reduces fluid retention under the skin. Worth a shot!
Another intervention worth trying - gentle massage. Gently massage this area from the nose outward, with your fingers or a cold metal facial roller. It helps stimulate circulation and move fluids out. Don’t have a facial roller? Try a frozen spoon.
You may also want to consider changing up your sleeping position and sleeping on your back – or even adding an extra pillow to elevate your head. This helps keep fluid from accumulating and allows it to drain from the area.
From a cosmetic intervention standpoint, dermal fillers can also help raise the skin and smooth out the appearance of bags and hollows.
Getting started with medical grade skincare products can also help tighten up the skin and minimize the appearance of bags.
Lines, Wrinkles, and Crepey Skin- OH MY!
Lines and that ‘crepey’ look start to set in due to volume loss, aging, and repeated sun exposure.
My top recommendation? Microneedling with PRP! (Platelet Rich Plasma) or PRF (Platelet Rich Fibrin).
This is my favorite treatment and is what I personally do to help keep lines and wrinkles away! Microneedling boosts collagen production in the area by triggering your body’s natural healing response. This strengthens the skin and tightens it up. Adding PRP, which is rich in growth factors, speeds up the healing process. This treatment also helps your skincare products work even better by allowing them to penetrate deeper into your skin.
And speaking of great skincare...
Skincare Solutions for Under Eye Problems
A great non-invasive way to both treat and prevent under eye problems is medical grade skincare. My favorite line – the one I recommend to my patients and use personally - is ZO Skin Health. There are 3 products designed specifically for the eye region. Let me quick summarize these for you:
Intense Eye Crème – With just a whisper of retinol, this product is formulated to visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. You can expect an improvement in your complexion and skin texture.
Eye Brightening Crème – Also a retinol product, this creme helps with lines and wrinkles - as well as dark circles, bags, and puffiness. This product improves skin elasticity and boosts collagen production.
Growth Factor Eye Serum – I use this one currently! It’s formulated for hollows, lines, and wrinkles. No retinol in this one but it can be layered with the retinol eye creams to really rev up your results. The cool application tip works on contact to move fluid out away from the eye - decreasing puffiness and bags. This product also increases circulation to the area. This eye serum is very hydrating, with an instant plumping and filler-like effect.
General Lifestyle Considerations for Better Under Eye Skin
There are so many factors that play a role in skin health. Here are some more generalized tips to keep your under eyes (and skin in general) looking as healthy as possible:
Watch your diet. This delicate skin around the eyes is prone to puffiness and water retention. Going overboard on the sweets or salty food can make these problems worse.
Wear sunscreen (and sunglasses!). Too much sun exposure increases melanin – which contributes to darker pigment around the eyes. Not to mention lines and wrinkles.
Sleep – get your rest (I know, easier said than done) but it’s so important and impacts the health of your skin.
Don’t smoke - smoking breaks down essential skin proteins and restricts blood flow – impeding the flow of nutrients to your skin.
Be gentle - Don’t rub your eyes too much! It’s so prone to redness and irritation, making problems worse. Be gentle when removing your makeup.
Consider allergies - these may be contributing to your eye issues, so check this out with your provider if you think allergies could be a culprit.
Interested in improving the appearance of your skin? Book an appointment with me at Polished Med Spa! I can help you make a personalized plan to improve the appearance of this tricky area. Let’s put your best face forward in 2021!
XO, Lauren