There are plenty of perks and benefits that come with getting older, but unfortunately, those dreaded crinkles that begin to develop under your eyes most definitely are not one of them. Wrinkles in the under-eye area automatically age a person, causing them to look older (and most likely feel older as a result). But there’s hope! Knowing what causes wrinkles, how to prevent them, and the skin care treatments available to help reduce their appearance can help your skin stay youthful-looking and smooth.
THE CAUSES OF UNDER EYE WRINKLES
This may come as no surprise, but wrinkles are the result of repetitive movements your face engages in on a daily basis. Whether it’s a smile, a laugh, squinting, furrowing brows, or frowning, they’re all expressions that can contribute to visible crinkles in old age. However, facial expressions are not the only contributor to wrinkles—environmental factors like the sun or smoke are also major factors. The skin under your eyes is exceptionally sensitive, which means it’s likely an area that’s prone to developing wrinkles. While genetics and exhibiting facial features cannot be easily changed in an effort to avoid the appearance of these wrinkles, environmental factors certainly can be.
SUN
Let’s face it—squinting is instinctual. When the sun is out, we can’t help but squint as a natural reaction to all that brightness. The bad news is that all of this squinting eventually leads to permanent wrinkles. As a double whammy, that bright sunlight that’s causing you to squint is also causing your skin to visibly age. Plus, since the skin around the eyes is so thin, aging can happen sooner here than other areas of your body.
SMOKE
Tobacco smoke contains free radicals that damage the skin, which explains why smokers tend to develop more visible wrinkles under their eyes. All of this smoke in the air can also cause people to squint or rub their eyes; all this rubbing causes the skin to wrinkle back and forth, and constant rubbing can lead to crinkles even faster.
SLEEP
Don’t worry, we know sleep is necessary—but how you sleep makes all the difference when it comes to visible wrinkles. Sleeping on your stomach can increase the appearance of wrinkles under your eyes, since the side of your face is basically squished up against your pillow for hours at a time. This constant squishing causes creasing, which—you guessed it—eventually leads to wrinkles.
REDUCING UNDER EYE WRINKLES
Reducing and preventing those pesky under eye wrinkles can actually be quite simple, especially if you follow the four suggestions below:
- Sleep and drink smartly. Sleeping at least 8 hours each night and drinking plenty of water through the day can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses are your skin’s best friend. Use an eye cream (or even a regular facial cream) with an SPF 30 or greater, and always wear sunglasses when stepping out into bright outdoor conditions.
- Set yourself up for skin-saving sleep. Purchase a humidifier for your bedroom, and remember to sleep on your side or back to prevent any unnecessary creasing on your face from a pillow.
- Don’t rub! Rubbing your eyes can be a habit (especially when you’re tired), but try your best to avoid this when you can. Rubbing the delicate skin under your eyes causes them to wrinkle, and the same thing can happen when removing your makeup too roughly.
There are plenty of skin care products out there that can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles under the eyes, while some can also help lift, firm, and brighten the skin such as High Potency Eye Lift or Cold Plasma Anti-Aging Eye Treatment. While some of the natural causes for wrinkles (such as facial expressions) are hard to control and prevent, many other causes of these pesky little signs of aging are easily preventable and able to be reduced to help you stay looking forever young.
