One of the first places that visible signs of aging begins to emerge is around the eyes. The skin around the eye contains no fatty tissue and is, therefore, very thin and susceptible to wrinkles. While it is not necessarily an indication of serious illness or extreme exhaustion, puffy eyebags, dark circles, droopy eyelids and wrinkling can be the result of a long night, stress, lifestyle, or environmental contributors.
SIGNS OF EYE AGING
It is important to recognize the signs of eye aging to be able to work on treating and preventing them. One of the very first signs of aging on the face are fine lines. Fine lines and wrinkles are not the same thing, which tends to be a common misconception. Fine lines are less noticeable and are commonly found under the eyes and on the corners of the eyes, also known as crow’s feet. Because these lines are not as deep as wrinkles, they are easier and quicker to treat.
A client may have fine lines for years before they develop into wrinkles. Keep in mind that wrinkles are a part of aging, but that does not mean their appearance cannot be reduced. There are many home remedies and antiaging treatments to help smooth wrinkles and reduce the signs of aging.
If fine lines and wrinkles were not enough, puffy eyebags and dark circles also come with aging. The combination of the two can make a client’s eyes appear tired and old. While they can happen at any age, they begin showing more in the 30s and 40s. As a client ages, the skin around the eyes produces less collagen, resulting in bluish veins that become more visible. At the same time, the eye tissue weakens, causing fat from the upper eyelid to slide down, creating the appearance of puffiness.
Discoloration is another common sign of eye aging. Darkening of the skin can be a part of the natural aging process, especially in individuals with darker skin. As a client ages, their fat and bone volume begins to decrease, resulting in shadows and hollows under the eyes. While the rate of this decrease is mostly hereditary, there are things that can be done to slow the rate of these issues.
WHY EYE AGING OCCURS
This may come as no surprise, but repetitive face movements such as blinking, smiling, laughing, squinting, frowning, and so forth can all contribute to visible wrinkles in old age. However, these are not the only reasons a client may begin seeing more wrinkles, darker under-eye bags, or droopier eyelids. Environment is another major factor that contributes to older-looking eyes.
Photoaging is one environmental factor that can contribute to eye aging. Ultraviolet rays from the sun are the primary cause of wrinkles, pigmentation, and reduced skin elasticity, causing the skin to visibly age. Further, when the sun is out, squinting the eyes is a natural reaction to the brightness, which could eventually lead to wrinkles. The skin around the eyes is so thin, wrinkling can happen around this area sooner than other parts of the body.
Fatigue is another major factor when it comes to eye aging. Sleep deprivation makes the skin appear paler, which in turn can make the dark blood vessels beneath the eyes more pronounced, leading to dark undereye circles. Fatigue can also cause fluids to build up under the eyes, making the eyes look puffy and tired. Lastly, when sleep deprived, and individual tends to rub their eyes, which – yes, you guessed it – will eventually lead to wrinkles.
If a client is a smoker, they are likely to develop more visible wrinkles under and around their eyes than someone else their age who does not smoke. Tobacco smoke contains free radicals that will damage the skin – plus, the constant smoke in the air may cause people to squint or rub their eyes more frequently. Rubbing and squinting causes the skin to wrinkle back and forth, leading to wrinkles even faster.
Another reason a client may begin to notice fine lines and wrinkles around the eye area is dehydration. Dehydration may cause the skin to appear dryer and thinner, taking on a crepey, sunken, and sallow look. When dehydrated, the skin loses its ability to hold on to moisture, causing it to look old and dull. As a client ages, their skin also naturally loses its ability to hold on to moisture. To avoid double damage, it is imperative that they stay hydrated.
Finally, some people are just more genetically predisposed to wrinkling, under eye circles, and droopy eyelids. If a client’s parents have shown early signs of eye aging, they are more likely to show them too – although, wrinkling around the eyes, dark circles, and droopy eyelids are just a natural part of aging.
PREVENTION
It is important to fight the early signs of eye aging to prevent more external damage from happening. Here are some steps clients can take to help keep their eyes looking young.
Get More Sleep: A simple solution – or so one would think. Most people can agree that they do not get enough sleep. This could be a difficult lifestyle change for some, but well worth it in the long run. When the biological sleep clock is disrupted, the inflammatory substances in blood are also disrupted, resulting in premature aging. Once a client gets into a consistent sleep schedule, they will begin to notice a change in their skin for the better, particularly around the eyes.
Drink Water: Drinking water helps to improve blood circulation, which is the root cause of puffy eyebags. By increasing water intake and avoiding salty foods, an individual can reduce water tension and the look of puffiness. It is recommended to drink at least eight glasses of water each day, which will improve hydration, eating habits, and other bodily functions.
Eat the Right Foods: In addition to avoiding salty foods, eating the right foods can help to prevent eye aging. Anything that is rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, and chili peppers, can help prevent free radicals from damaging skin. Lean proteins, like those found in chicken breasts, turkey meat, and eggs, help build collagen to prevent sagging. Lastly, foods with healthy fats, like salmon, nuts, and avocado, have a variety of antiaging factors that help to give skin a youthful appearance.
Protection: Ultraviolet exposure is a main culprit of skin aging, so wearing sunscreen and sunglasses daily is a must. Advise clients to buy a moisturizer with SPF 30 or higher in it and apply it every day, even if the sun is not shining. As squinting from the sunlight can result in wrinkling around the eyes, a good pair of sunglasses can help to minimize ultraviolet damage altogether.
Use a Silk Pillowcase: Fighting wrinkles happens to be the silk pillowcase’s main claim to fame. Silk forms a barrier against the skin to naturally hydrate and reduce wrinkles that may be caused by cotton. Because cotton is also not as smooth as silk, it can sometimes feel rough against the skin, causing unnecessary pulling and tugging on the delicate area. This is a simple switch up that can help clients get optimal beauty sleep.
Moisturize Daily: It is important to keep skin moisturized, especially during the winter months. Dryer skin will result in deeper wrinkles, so clients should look for a deeply hydrating moisturizer formulated with hyaluronic acid. When applying to the delicate skin around the eyes, clients should use their ring finger, since it is lightest to the touch, in a gentle circular motion. Remember, rubbing too hard could stretch the skin, causing more wrinkles, so advise clients to be cautious of this when applying products.
HOME REMEDIES
Sometimes, the best remedies are the natural ones. If a client is looking to reverse aged eyes, it could be as simple as reaching into their kitchen cabinet. The following are a few home remedies that may help to decrease the look of wrinkles, puffy eyebags, and dark circles.
Chilled Spoons: After putting two spoons in the refrigerator at night, in the morning, a client can pull them out and place them over the eyes. The cold sensation works as a vasoconstrictor to restrict blood flow to the area which, in turn, reduces swelling and redness.
Tea Bags: Caffeinated tea, which contains natural tannins, can help to stimulate healthy blood circulation, tighten, and soothe skin. This has been a long-used remedy by runway models for reducing eye puffiness.
Egg Whites: Egg whites are known to provide a number of beauty benefits – one of which is to tighten and tone the skin. If clients want the crinkly skin around their eyes to appear lifted, they can try beating egg whites and, then, gently apply a thin layer under their eyes, rinsing after 10 minutes.
Sliced Cucumbers: Cucumbers are filled with powerful antioxidants which can help reduce swelling and inflammation. Plus, if chilled, the cooling sensation works to decrease the flow of blood around the eyes, which, in turn, reduces redness. Applying cucumbers for four to five minutes, clients may notice a difference.
Raw Potatoes: Perhaps not as glamorous as sliced cucumbers, applying raw potatoes to the eyes is another great home remedy that works to reduce puffiness and minimize dark circles. Interested clients can simply place the potatoes in the refrigerator or under cold water, slice them up, and place them directly on their eyes – this time for 15 to 20 minutes. It is a long-time remedy that people swear by.
Soymilk: It is more common to notice tired eyes in the morning, so before doing anything else, clients may want to try soaking a cotton ball in cold, unsweetened soymilk, squeezing out the excess and holding the cotton ball to their eyes. Soy contains anti-inflammatory ingredients and antioxidants to reduce puffiness and redness but will not irritate skin because it does not contain any preservatives.
TREATING AT THE SPA
If the wrinkles, puffy eye bags, dark circles, or droopy eyelids are a big source of frustration for a client, there are several treatment options available that will work to strengthen the skin and encourage the production of collagen. It is important to think about skin type, budget, and the specific issue the client is looking to resolve before diving in to any one of these treatments. Each treatment will provide its own benefits, so keep reading to determine which option is right for the client.
A Multi-Functional Targeted Eye Treatment
In today’s world, mutli-tasking treatments are a must for busy individuals everywhere. Having one product serve two or more needs just makes sense. Consider incorporating a multi-purpose treatment that is specially formulated with tightening agents and multi-peptides to address all of the signs of eye aging. Products with a high level of emollience function to diminish the look of dry, papery, translucency of the thin skin around the eyes while working to tighten, brighten, smooth, and soothe. Light diffusing pigments can help blur imperfections while working to treat the affected eye area.
Chemical Peels
An excellent solution for treating under eye wrinkles, chemical peels employ chemical solutions, often made with glycolic acid and alpha hydroxy acid, that work to deeply exfoliate the skin and eventually cause the top layer to peel off. In addition to wrinkles, chemical peels are great for treating sagging skin, skin damage, melasma, or acne scars. Recovery time will vary depending on the type of peel given. After the peel, the client’s skin will be more susceptible to sunburn, so it is important that they wear a daily moisturizer with SPF to protect against ultraviolet rays and prevent dehydration. The only issue with chemical peels is that they typically do not work well on people with darker skin tones and are not recommended for people with rosacea, eczema, or other sensitive skin types.
Laser Treatments
There are a number of different laser treatments, all of which are becoming increasingly popular amongst skin care professionals. Eye laser treatments specifically work to smooth superficial fine lines and wrinkles, while also treating dark circles and undereye bags. Laser treatments work by poking microscopic holes into the skin using carbon dioxide lasers which stimulate elastin production and collagen. People typically see results after a single treatment which are meant to be permanent. Laser wrinkle treatments typically take less than 30 minutes and require minimal recovery time. While there are potential side effects, including blistering, itching, and swelling, laser treatments are considered safe.
Botox Injections
This invasive procedure is one of the most popular and effective under eye treatments around. During the procedure, a very small amount of botulinum toxin (Botox) is injected into targeted muscles around the delicate skin of the eyes causing the area to temporarily relax and diminish the look of wrinkles. Most people see results in just three to four days following the procedure. The procedure typically takes less than half an hour and has a short recovery period. Botox can cause some side effects, including bruising, soreness, redness, and swelling, and generally requires regular maintenance for long-term results.
An ingredients and formulary specialist with 25 years of experience in the beauty industry, Amos Lavian has set out to de-clutter the oversaturated world of antiaging skin care with Dermelect Cosmeceuticals, his line of universal, multi-tasking treatments. An innovative collection, Dermelect targets specific beauty issues and skin changes due to aging, environment, stress, hormones, menopause, and pregnancy. With Dermelect, Lavian stays true to this standard: to create products delivering achievable benefits, efficacious ingredients, clean packaging, and simple directions. With a focus on innovation, distinction, and affordability, Lavian is proud to offer women a no-nonsense approach to beauty by educating, empowering, and equipping them with the tools needed to achieve healthy skin, improved appearance, and boosted self-esteem and confidence.