Wrinkles under the eyes are among the most common signs of aging. It’s an entirely natural process, but what if they show up too early? This guide will discuss the causes of these fine lines appearing sooner than you hope. You’ll discover what you can do to remove wrinkles and how to prevent or postpone their appearance!
What Causes Early Wrinkles Under Your Eyes?
Dynamic wrinkles appear when your muscles are in use, such as when you frown, lift eyebrows, or smile. As time passes, these might turn into static wrinkles, which stay visible even if your muscles don’t move.
The most common causes of early wrinkles include:
- Smoking: As you inhale, you also crinkle your eyes. That can lead to crow’s feet, those fine lines below your eyes. Additionally, harmful cigarette effects limit blood flow, which causes wrinkles.
- Sun exposure: Spending too much time under direct sunlight can age your skin prematurely. UV rays break down the collagen, leading to wrinkles and fine lines on your skin. It also affects your skin plumpness and leads to early wrinkles.
- Bad personal habits: An unhealthy diet can cause oxidative stress, which may cause your skin to age prematurely. Not getting enough sleep can also contribute to early wrinkles.
Can You Improve How Wrinkles Under the Eyes Look?
There are treatments that could reduce wrinkles under the eyes and make them less visible. Here are some suggestions:
- Face masks: Face masks that contain vitamin C polyphenols may help prevent the development of premature wrinkles.
- Anti-aging cosmetic products: Start your day with moisturizers that contain sunscreen to ensure optimal moisture and protection. Then, find day and night cosmetic solutions that focus on wrinkles and suit your skin tone. Don’t forget to cleanse your skin at night to get rid of the day’s oils and makeup.
- Medical and cosmetic treatments: Facial rejuvenation via Botox injections and dermal and soft tissue fillers are common treatments for fine lines.
Tips to Prevent Wrinkles Under the Eyes
Prevention is the best medicine for under-eye wrinkles. But, even if they have already appeared, you can use these tips to postpone or stop their progress.
Use Sunscreen When Under Direct Sunlight
Sunglasses and hats provide the best protection alongside sunscreen. It’s important to use a high SPF and to protect your skin. You may need to reapply the sunscreen every couple of hours, depending on the instructions and brand.
Allow Your Eyes to Rest and Limit Screen Time
Screens are big enemies of our eyes and can lead to eyestrain, poor vision, and other issues. If you feel strain in your eyes, it might urge you to rub them. You’ll also start crinkling, and all that helps wrinkles form. Allow your eyes to rest whenever necessary, and use a cooling mask to reduce irritation and puffiness.
Find a Skincare Routine Suitable for Your Age
In your 20s, you should focus on exfoliation and cleansing your skin. You are in a defensive mode, so use sunscreens, formulas with antioxidants, and other anti-aging ingredients. In your 30s, you need to upgrade skin hydration and introduce growth factors that help repair the skin. After you enter your 40s, you may want to use more specialized products to maintain a youthful skin appearance.
Use Health Supplements and Develop Good Habits
Getting all the nutrients that you need from the food you consume is challenging. That’s why you should consider taking supplements or getting IV therapy for better absorption of vitamins and minerals.
Adopting positive habits could be vital to preventing under-eye wrinkles but also for your overall health. For example, giving up smoking will reduce eye crinkling and decrease the negative cigarette effects on your health, especially in the long run.
References:
- V L Ernster, D Grady, R Miike, D Black, J Selby, and K Kerlikowske, 1995: Facial wrinkling in men and women, by smoking status. American Journal of Public Health 85, 78_82, https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.85.1.78
- Suminori Akiba, Reiko Shinkura, Kukizo Miyamoto, Greg Hillebrand, Naohito Yamaguchi, Masamitsu Ichihashi, Influence of Chronic UV Exposure and Lifestyle on Facial Skin Photo-Aging –Results from a Pilot Study, Journal of Epidemiology, 1999, Volume 9, Issue 6sup, Pages 136-142, Released on J-STAGE November 30, 2007, Online ISSN 1349-9092, Print ISSN 0917-5040, https://doi.org/10.2188/jea.9.6sup_136, https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jea1991/9/6sup/9_6sup_136/_article/-char/en
- Silke K. Schagen, Vasiliki A. Zampeli, Evgenia Makrantonaki & Christos C. Zouboulis (2012) Discovering the link between nutrition and skin aging, Dermato-Endocrinology, 4:3, 298-307, DOI: 10.4161/derm.22876
