The skin around our eyes may be the thinnest, making it sensitive to any external or internal change. It is critical to understand the causes of wrinkles under the eyes in order to prevent them from forming in the first place.
The under-eye area frequently reacts negatively to changes by displaying fine lines or wrinkles, dark circles, pigmentation or under-eye swelling and puffiness. This happens because we develop habits in our daily lives that can have a negative impact on the area under our eyes. Stay with us and learn about the causes and how to prevent under-eye wrinkles.
Table Of Contents
What Causes Under-Eye Wrinkles?
Under-eye wrinkles develop when the skin around the eyes thins and loses elasticity, but there are some other factors that can accelerate under-eye wrinkles.
Exercise Bike If you have wrinkles on your forehead too, check here to see what the causes could be.
Sun Exposure
When you don’t wear adequate eye protection, the sun’s UV rays begin to break down the collagen in your skin, causing lines and under-eye wrinkles. Sun exposure can even make the skin around your eyes leathery and rough.
No matter what season it is, protect the skin under your eyes every time you go out during the day. Wear sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat to protect your eyes.
Aging
Because the skin around your eyes is thinner than the rest of your face, the area under your eyes will age first. As you get older, your body’s production of elastin and collagen decreases. Low levels cause fine lines on your skin, including those under your eyes. Your skin struggles to create new cells and retain shape when collagen and elastin levels are low. That is why wrinkles appear gradually as you age. Fine lines and static wrinkles appear first in this area and age is the most common cause.
Facial Expressions
Muscles contract when you make some facial expressions like frown, squint or raise your brows constantly. These facial expressions cause wrinkles, particularly under the eyes, because the skin here is thin and constant movements cause deep wrinkles under the eyes.
Rubbing Your Eyes
If you have the habit of rubbing your eyes when you’re tired, make an effort to stop. Keep in mind that the skin around the eyes is thin and delicate. Rubbing the area around your eyes on a regular basis can stretch the skin too much, causing elastin breakdown and the formation of lines.
While this does not guarantee that you will have permanent under-eye wrinkles after a few intense “rubbing sessions”, it can eventually cause permanent wrinkling if you make a habit.
Smoking
Smoking exposes your under-eye skin to additional oxidative stress, damaging collagen and elastin production. Smoking prevents nutrients from reaching your face because blood vessels narrow and blood circulation is reduced, resulting in wrinkles.
Sleeping Positions
Not only facial expressions can cause weincles under your eyes, but also your sleeping habits as the facial muscles are pushed up against a pillow each night. As you get older, your skin loses its ability to return to its original position. If you sleep on your stomach, your cheeks may become pressed to a pillow, crinkling the skin around your eyes and causing wrinkles.
Tip: Sleeping on your back with your face up is the best position for anti-aging.
Skin Dehydration
Dehydrated skin is a short-term condition caused by a lack of water. Along with flakiness and tightness, more pronounced lines are another common symptom of dehydrated skin, particularly around the eyes.
Drinking more water every day will make your skin plumper and your wrinkles less visible.
Air Pollution
Air pollution is a very important factor in skin wrinkling and overall health. Polluted city air frequently contains harmful PMs particles, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and other chemicals such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). That PM particles have a significant effect on how well your skin ages.
Genetics
Your genes can influence the onset and severity of physical aging. However, it is important to note that under-eye skin that is frequently exposed to the outside world is often more influenced by extrinsic and environmental factors.
How To Prevent Under-Eye Wrinkles
The area around your eyes is usually the place where you will see first signs of aging due to the thin skin and blood vessels under your eyes. Certain homemade remedies, lifestyle changes and skin care products can lessen the appearance of fine lines under your eyes.
Visit our blog to learn how to get rid of neck lines too.
Sunscreen
As UV rays are one of the main causes of eye wrinkles – sunscreen is logically the best prevention. Whether you are wearing makeup or not, whether it is sunny outside or it seems like there is no sun, always wear sunscreen. It is proven that sunscreen will lessen skin aging by at least 24% and, at the same time, it will keep you safe from the other damages that sun exposure can cause.
Use at least SPF 30 every day.
Hydration
If you don’t get enough water, your skin will undoubtedly seem tight, flaky and lifeless. Your face and the skin under your eyes appear more wrinkled when you’re dehydrated. Your skin will appear plumper and your wrinkles will be less noticeable if you begin to drink more water each day.
Healthy Habits
Skin products, especially made for eye wrinkles, will definitely be helpful in getting rid of lines under your eyes, but changing some lifestyle habits will provide the best results for you. You can simply follow the list of factors which can cause eye wrinkles and try to eliminate as much as possible.
- If you smoke, you can start by cutting back on it, if not completely quitting.
- Any healthy diet will be effective too. Adding whole grains, fruits and vegetables to your menu, while lowering your intake of sugar, will provide much more vitamins and help your skin and whole body.
- Nowadays, we are under stress on a daily basis, so it is really important to learn how to manage the stress we face. When you are under stress, your body goes through oxidative processes. These processes inhibit the collagen production and elastin while facilitating their breakdown. Stress also has an additive effect on the other general effects of aging. That’s why you should focus more on spending time in nature or with people you love. But also, talking with a professional therapist or writing a journal can help you manage it.
- Reduce your alcohol consumption. Because alcohol has diuretic properties, it not only dehydrates the skin but can also cause periocular edema or puffiness around the eyes.
- Try not to use your phone or computer so often. Long-term exposure to the blue light they emit can cause skin damage on the face and eyes, as well as sudden wrinkles under the eyes. When reading emails and long messages on small screens like our phones, we tend to squint our eyes. Squinting causes deep wrinkles under the eyes over time.
- Sleep is a beauty potion. When you sleep, your body regenerates and repairs itself. You should aim for at least 8 hours of sleep each night.
Silk Pillowcases & Sleeping On Your Back
By sleeping on your back, you will avoid the pressure on your face that happens when your cheeks are pressed against your pillow. In the long term, this pressure results in wrinkles on your face because your skin will lose the ability to return to the original position as you get older. If you still want to sleep on your stomach or change positions during the night, it’s recommended to use a silk or satin pillowcase.
The less your skin grips your pillowcase, the less probable it is that your sleeping posture will leave you with permanent fine lines.
Exfoliation & Moisturization
To encourage the creation of new cells, you can gently exfoliate any dry skin that develops beneath your eyes. Use only products designed specifically to massage and exfoliate the skin underneath your eyes and moisturize the area with the right cream. The appearance of fine lines around your eyes can worsen when there is a lack of moisture. Look for moisturizers with lots of chemicals that encourage blood flow and new cell growth.
The best under-eye products to use are cooling gels and serums.
Face Rollers
Face rollers are very popular and in use these days. It may look like a funny tool, but the truth is that it has many benefits and it works against several different issues. Using a face roller can increase blood flow to your face, making your skin appear brighter. Rolling may also aid in the reduction of puffiness, such as under-eye bags, by stimulating lymphatic drainage. If you use it every day, the face roller can encourage the synthesis of collagen, which will help to fill up the under-eye lines by giving the tissue strength and buoyancy.
Facial Yoga
Yoga can reduce stress, relax clenched jaws and furrowed brows and naturally smooth away wrinkles. Furthermore, it aids in enhancing and maintaining of skin glow by reducing oxidative stress, which reduces skin elasticity.
If you’re looking for some other solutions to slow down the aging process, read our LightStim for wrinkles review.
How To Get Rid Of Under-Eye Wrinkles: Best Treatments & Procedures
There are numerous cosmetic and medical wrinkle treatments available. These are more effective than home remedies and cosmetics, but they also have more potential side effects.
- Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are injected into the skin under the eyes to give them a younger appearance and reduce wrinkles. This treatment has mostly plumping and volume-restoring properties and can treat any gaunt or darkening under eyes, refresh the eye area and soften fine lines.
The effects of the treatment are visible for six months to two years.
- Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are used to remove dead skin cells and promote the growth of new cells. When a chemical solution is applied to the skin, it exfoliates and eventually peels off. The new, regenerated skin is typically smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin.
Although chemical peels cannot treat deep wrinkles or tighten sagging skin, they may be able to reduce the appearance of fine lines around the eyes.
- Botox
Botox injections, perhaps the most popular treatment right now, relax the skin and muscles under the eyes, reducing wrinkles and fine lines. Botox can help to smooth out fine lines, smile lines and dynamic wrinkles. It works to relax overactive muscles around the eyes and restore a younger, more youthful appearance.
The effects are noticeable in a week or less and can last for several months.
- Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is non-invasive and does not require injections like dermal fillers. A diamond-tipped hand-held instrument is moved over your skin to remove dead skin cells and improve blood circulation to the area, reducing the appearance of under-eye wrinkles.
Microdermabrasion removes dull, dead skin cells and increases circulation to the area of skin being treated, but be aware of microdermabrasion side effects.
If you decide on this option, you should know which ones are the best microdermabrasion machines.
- Microneedling
This treatment, also known as collagen induction therapy, punctures fine, tiny holes in the skin to stimulate skin cell renewal and the body’s natural healing response. Microneedling uses very small needles to create holes in the skin, after which a skin serum is applied.
While the skin heals, it will stimulate collagen production, which reduces fine lines around the eyes.
- Laser resurfacing
This treatment has a variety of options for removing wrinkles under the eyes. Lasers create tiny holes in the skin, which promote and induce the production of elastin and collagen. As a result, lines and wrinkles are reduced.
Check our blog to find out more about getting rid of eye wrinkles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do I Have Under-Eye Wrinkles At 25?
You have under-eye wrinkles at 25 because of environmental factors, not so good habits and possibly genetics. The most common cause of under-eye wrinkles is sun exposure without any protection. UV rays break down your collagen, causing lines and wrinkles. Additionally, habits like rubbing your eyes, sleeping on your stomach or smoking will increase the chances of getting premature under-eye wrinkles.
How Can I Tighten The Skin Under My Eyes?
You can tighten the skin under your eyes by using some products for the under-eye area. The sunscreen will keep you safe whenever you are out and exposed to the sun and the cooling gels or serums will be perfect for home care. When applying the product, use your fingers or a face roller to massage the area.
Is Vaseline Good For The Skin Under My Eyes?
Yes, vaseline is good for the skin under your eyes. It is truly important to keep this sensitive area moisturized. In order to achieve that, you can use vaseline. Applying it around the eyes is a tried-and-true method to lock in moisture, maintaining soft, elastic skin around the eyes and revitalizing skin that seems dry and worn out.
Can You Reverse Under-Eye Wrinkles?
Yes, you can reverse under-eye wrinkles. With some proper skincare treatments, it is possible to lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in the under-eye area. Using specific products and taking care of your health will result in fewer wrinkles under your eyes and fewer possibilities to form new ones.
If you’re looking for the best cream, you can check out our wrinkle cream reviews.
Conclusion
After a certain age, it may be impossible to fully remove fine lines and wrinkles under your eyes. But if you know the causes of wrinkles under eyes, you can minimize them with the right mix of active ingredients. By being aware of your daily routine and approaching skincare in a comprehensive way, you can manage and stop new wrinkles from appearing.