It is not uncommon to have wrinkles under your eyes. Lack of sleep or one glass of wine too many in the evening, combined with smoking, can make our delicate eye area look quite old. Those wrinkles that show on our face when we laugh? Yes, other people find them charming. But most of us would prefer a smoother complexion. We cannot prevent skin aging, but we can help our skin stay young and healthy – with a balanced diet, enough sleep, and the right eye care. Where do they come from and what can be done about wrinkle formation? In this report, we will go into detail about everything you need to know about eye wrinkles.
The most important facts in brief
- Eye wrinkles are more common than assumed! The first ones appear between the ages of 20 and 30.
- An unhealthy lifestyle with too little sleep, alcohol, and nicotine promotes wrinkles under the eyes.
- You cannot stop skin aging, but you can help the skin be healthier with the right lifestyle and skincare.
How do wrinkles form under the eyes?
The skin around our eyes is the thinnest on our body at 0.5 mm. This makes it delicate and prone to problems such as wrinkles, dark circles, or drooping eyelids.
Wrinkles on the face and all over the body are a normal side effect of aging. Cell metabolism or the production of collagen and elastin peaks between 20 and 30 years of age and then declines. Cell regeneration slows down, and the amount of collagen and elastin in the skin decreases. Without these two substances, the skin would lose its shape, volume, and ability to retain moisture. The skin becomes thinner, drier, and begins to sag in some areas. In these areas, the underlying structure of the skin is weakened, now causing surface wrinkles. Collagen loss is most evident under the eyes, where the skin is already thin and there is no fatty tissue to cushion it. The eyes are put through a lot every day, and with increasing age, wrinkles quickly form in this region.
What are the causes of wrinkles under the eyes?
Wrinkles under the eyes are typically the result of the combination of a number of factors. Wrinkles form as we age, but often there are many other causes that have a significant influence.
UV radiation
UV radiation is a risk factor for wrinkles under the eyes, just as it is for other types of wrinkles. UV radiation is associated with oxidative stress, which causes free radicals to damage cells. These highly reactive molecules destroy cell structures by attacking them. The skin loses its suppleness and wrinkles form under the eyes, not to mention the genetic material. In extreme situations, even DNA can be damaged, causing cells to perish.
If your skin is constantly exposed to the sun without any form of protection, such as sunscreen, then there is a risk of "photoaging." Photoaging refers to wrinkles and age spots caused by UV radiation. The more your skin is exposed to sunlight (and sunburn), the greater the risk of photoaging.
Expression lines
Facial expressions are another cause of wrinkles under the eyes. People interact not only through language but also through facial expressions and gestures. The eye area is particularly expressive and is used daily. Blinking, laughing, squinting – the facial muscles contract hundreds of times every day, causing the skin to wrinkle. This stresses the fibers and damages them by mimicking eye wrinkles.
Friction
The skin around the eyes is delicate. Wrinkles under the eyes can also be stressed by mechanisms and caused by negligent treatment. Even the regular application and removal of cosmetics stresses the thin skin around the eyes. When removing makeup, the eye area is stroked with particular force, which pulls at the delicate skin. In addition, cleansing agents dry out the skin surface. This not only damages the skin barrier through friction but also increases the susceptibility to wrinkles under the eyes – a problem that particularly often occurs in people suffering from neurodermatitis or allergies.
Lifestyle
Everyday habits such as smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol lead to an early appearance of wrinkles. Nicotine constricts blood vessels, so less oxygen and nutrients reach the skin cells. Ultimately, this causes people to age faster and leads to wrinkles and dark circles. Too little sleep can also promote wrinkles under the eyes.
An unhealthy diet that contains a lot of sugar and few vitamins can damage the skin. The skin needs nutrients to regenerate, but processes like glycation (sugaring of the skin), which are due to an unhealthy diet, actually accelerate the formation of wrinkles. This means that not only do you get wrinkles under your eyes, but dark circles or puffy eyes can also form.
Types of wrinkles under the eyes
Eye wrinkles can manifest in different ways and provide information about what has most damaged the skin.
Drooping eyelids
Excess skin on the upper eyelid, known as drooping eyelids, is a pronounced form of eye wrinkle. Although they do not appear directly under the eyes, they make the entire face and eye area appear significantly older. If drooping eyelids are excessively pronounced, they can cover the entire surface of the eyelid.
Drooping eyelids are usually hereditary and are worsened by the normal aging of the skin. The amount of collagen in the skin decreases with age, making it looser and leading to wrinkles and drooping eyelids.
Laugh lines
Laugh lines, also known as crow's feet, are the wrinkles that typically appear under your eyes. They run from the outer corners of the eyes to the temples. It is said that laugh lines give your face a more sympathetic expression because they come from frequent smiling and laughing.
The main cause of crow's feet is actually a mixture of pronounced facial expressions and natural skin aging. When laughing, for example, the eyes are slightly squinted and the skin around the eyes wrinkles. If it then loses elasticity and firmness due to age, these furrows become deeper and deeper, causing wrinkles under and around the eyes.
Crepey skin
Wrinkles appear as fine, branched lines beneath the eyes and are easy to recognize. This form of wrinkles under the eyes is usually caused by sun damage to the skin. Those who do not use sunscreen or sunglasses outdoors in summer will notice that small wrinkles form early on. Smoking and constant rubbing can also cause this wrinkled skin around the eyes.
Can I prevent wrinkles under my eyes?
To prevent wrinkles under the eyes, everyone can do a few things. A healthy diet and good skincare are important to keep the skin around the eyes looking young and refreshed. This includes using a high-quality eye cream or gel daily to moisturize the eye area and protect it from environmental damage. In general, UV rays should be avoided for good skin, and sunbathing should be done with sunscreen. Sunglasses with UV protection are also recommended for the eyes. Alcohol and especially nicotine must be avoided in all forms.
How can I combat wrinkles under my eyes?
Many of these problems can be addressed by getting at least eight hours of sleep every day, eating a healthy diet, drinking little to no alcohol, and wearing sunglasses in the summer. Especially when young. We should view the thin skin area like a glass house and give it our full attention. The application of moisturizing eye creams with hyaluronic acid can achieve immediate results, because wrinkles under the eyes usually deepen when the area around them is dry.
Combat wrinkles under the eyes with creams
The best way to prevent wrinkles is to use sunscreen. The eye area should always be protected with a high sun protection factor and sunglasses with a UV filter to avoid wrinkles under the eyes. Since the skin is so thin and has no subcutaneous fatty tissue, wrinkles quickly form in this area.
It is not only important to care for the skin under your eyes to prevent wrinkles, it is even essential. The everyday stressors that affect our delicate eye area can cause serious damage if we do not protect it in some way. Creams containing caffeine, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid are particularly good for preventing wrinkles.
Combat wrinkles under the eyes with massages
You can also use facial tools for eye wrinkles. Gua Sha stones, jade or rose quartz rollers, and vibrating rollers are a good choice. Facial massages and vibrations or ultrasonic frequencies can help relax the facial muscles and promote collagen production and blood circulation in the skin. These aids can also be used to deepen the eye care of the skin around the eyes a little.
Combat wrinkles under the eyes through a healthy lifestyle
To prevent wrinkles under the eyes and their formation, a healthy lifestyle and diet should not be neglected. In addition to good care, sufficient hydration, little stress, and enough sleep are important factors for a radiant and firm eye area. Alcohol and cigarettes should be avoided, as they promote oxidative stress, which favors wrinkle formation.
Combat wrinkles under the eyes with Botox or hyaluronic acid
Injections with hyaluronic acid or Botox can help eliminate deep wrinkles under the eye area. They not only achieve an immediate result, but hyaluronic acid also makes the skin look fuller and more radiant in the long term by sustainably boosting collagen production. Botox works by paralyzing the facial muscles, which prevents wrinkle formation. However, the effect of Botox only lasts for a few months, while hyaluronic acid lasts much longer. Often, both Botox and hyaluronic acid are used to achieve optimal results.
Are there home remedies for wrinkles under the eyes?
While there are always home remedies for wrinkles under the eyes, we bet you haven't tried this one yet! Make a mask of mashed avocado and almond oil and massage it around your eye area with your middle fingers. Leave the mask on for about 20 minutes and you will see the difference. Gently remove the mask with a cotton pad after use. The skin around your eyes will look fuller and more hydrated, and wrinkles or puffiness will be significantly reduced. Then follow your usual skincare routine.
Foods that work from within against wrinkles under the eyes
If you want to improve your eye area from the inside out, fill your grocery list with these delicious foods. These foods have an antioxidant effect:
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Lemons
- Tomatoes
- Savoy cabbage
- Oranges
- Nuts
- Pears
- Baby spinach
- Onions
- Sesame oil
