It's not at all unusual to have wrinkles under your eyes. Lack of sleep or one too many glasses of wine in the evening combined with smoking can make our delicate eye area look pretty old. Those wrinkles that appear on our face when we laugh? Yes, other people find them adorable. But most of us would rather have a smoother complexion. We can 't prevent skin ageing, but we can help our skin to stay young and healthy - with a balanced diet, enough sleep and the right eye care. Where do they come from and what can you do to prevent wrinkles? In this report, we go into detail about everything you need to know about eye wrinkles.
The most important facts in brief
- Eye wrinkles are more common than you might think! The first wrinkles appear between the ages of 20 and 30.
- An unhealthy lifestyle with too little sleep, alcohol and nicotine promote wrinkles under the eyes.
- You cannot stop skin ageing, but you can help your skin to be healthier with the right lifestyle and skin care.
How do wrinkles form under the eyes?
At 0.5 mm, the skin around our eyes is the thinnest on our body. This makes it sensitive and susceptible 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 ageing. Cell metabolism, or the production of collagen and elastin, peaks between the ages of 20 and 30 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 and now causes surface wrinkles. The loss of collagen is most evident under the eyes, where the skin is already thin and there is no fatty tissue to cushion it. The eyes are under a lot of strain every day and wrinkles form quickly in this region as we age.
What are the causes of wrinkles under the eyes?
Wrinkles under the eyes are typically the result of a combination of a number of factors. Wrinkles develop with age, but there are often many other causes that have a significant impact.
UV radiation
UV radiation is a risk factor for wrinkles under the eyes, as well as other types of wrinkles. UV radiation is associated with oxidative stress, which causes free radicals to damage cells. These highly reactive molecules destroy cell structuresby attacking them. The skin loses its suppleness and wrinkles form under the eyes, not to mention the genetic material. In extreme situations, even the DNA can be damaged so that the cells 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 sunburns), the greater the risk of photoaging.
Facial expression wrinkles
Facial expressions are another cause of wrinkles under the eyes. People interact not only through speech, but also through facial expressions and gestures. The eye area is particularly expressive and is used on a daily basis. Blinking, laughing, squinting - the facial muscles contract hundreds of times a day, causing the skin to wrinkle. This strains the fibers and damages them by imitating eye wrinkles.
Friction
The skin around the eyes is sensitive. Wrinkles under the eyes can also be caused by mechanical stress and negligent treatment. Even the regular application and removal of cosmetics puts a strain on the thin skin around the eyes. When removing make-up, the area around the eyes is rubbed with particular force, which tugs at the sensitive skin. The cleansers also dry out the surface of the skin. This not only damages the skin barrier through friction, but also increases the susceptibility to wrinkles under the eyes - a problem that occurs particularly frequently in people who suffer from neurodermatitis or allergies.
Lifestyle
Everyday habits such as smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol lead to the early appearance of wrinkles. Nicotine constricts the blood vessels so that less oxygen and nutrients reach the skin cells. Ultimately, this causes people to age faster, leading to wrinkles and dark circles under the eyes. Too little sleep can also promote wrinkles under the eyes.
An unhealthy diet that is high in sugar and low in vitamins can damage the skin. The skin needs nutrients to regenerate itself, but processes such as glycation (saccharification of the skin) 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 bags under your eyes can also form.
Types of wrinkles under the eyes
Eye wrinkles can manifest themselves in different ways and provide information about what has damaged the skin the most.
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. When drooping eyelids are excessive, they can cover the entire surface of the eyelid.
Drooping eyelids are usually hereditary and are exacerbated by the normal ageing of the skin. The amount of collagen in the skin decreases with age, making it saggier and leading to wrinkles and drooping eyelids.
Smile lines
Smile 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 smiling and laughing frequently.
The main cause of crow's feet is actually a mixture of pronounced facial expressions and natural skin ageing. When laughing, for example, the eyes are slightly squinted and the skin around the eyes becomes wrinkled. As it loses elasticity and tone with age, these furrows become deeper and deeper, causing wrinkles under and around the eyes.
Creases
Wrinkles appear as fine, branched lines under the eyes and are easy to recognize. This type of wrinkle under the eyes is usually caused by sun damage to the skin. Anyone who does not use sun protection or sunglasses outdoors in summer will notice small wrinkles forming early on. Smoking and constant rubbing can also cause this wrinkled skin around the eyes.
Can I prevent wrinkles under the eyes?
There are a few things everyone can do to prevent wrinkles under the eyes. A healthy diet and good skin care 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 the eyes?
Many of these problems can be tackled by sleeping at least eight hours a day, eating a healthy diet, drinking little to no alcohol and wearing sunglasses in the summer. Especially at a young age. We should treat the thin skin area like a glass house and give it our full attention. Applying moisturizing eye creams with hyaluronic acid can provide immediate results, as wrinkles under the eyes usually deepen when the area around them is dry.
Combat wrinkles under the eyes with creams
The best way to avoid 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 prevent wrinkles under the eyes. Because the skin is so thin and has no subcutaneous fatty tissue, wrinkles form quickly in this area.
Not only is it important to take care of the skin under your eyes to prevent wrinkles, it's essential. The everyday stressors that affect our delicate eye area can cause serious damage if we don't protect it in some way. Creams containing caffeine, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid are particularly good at 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 good choices. Facial massages and vibrations or ultrasonic frequencies can help relax facial muscles and promote collagen formation and blood circulation in the skin. These tools can also be used to add a little extra depth to the skin around the eyes.
Combat wrinkles under the eyes with 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 skincare, adequate water intake, low stress and sufficient sleep are important factors for a radiant and firm eye area. Alcohol and cigarettes should be avoided as they promote oxidative stress, which encourages the formation of wrinkles.
Fighting wrinkles under the eyes with Botox or hyaluronic acid
Injections with hyaluronic acid or Botox can help to eliminate deep wrinkles under the eye area. Not only do they 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 wrinkles from forming. However, the effects of Botox only last a few months, whereas hyaluronic acid lasts much longer. Both Botox and hyaluronic acid are often used to achieve optimal results.
Are there home remedies for wrinkles under the eyes?
Although there are always home remedies for wrinkles under the eyes, we bet you haven't tried this one yet! Make a mask of avocado puree and almond oil and massage around your eye area with your middle fingers. Leave the mask on for about 20 minutes and you will see the difference. Remove the mask gently 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. Follow up with your usual skincare routine.
Foods that fight wrinkles under the eyes from the inside
If you want to improve your eye area from the inside out, fill your shopping 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
