As we grow older getting under eye wrinkles is an unavoidable part of ageing. Due to the damaging rays of the sun, wrinkles are more common on sun exposed areas such as the face, the neck, hands and forearms. To a small degree our own genetic make up plays a part in how many wrinkles you will get as you get older. The largest contributor however is the daily exposure to harsh environmental conditions caused by pollution and mother nature. The greatest contributor is actually the sun, which is why using a daily sunscreen as part of your daily skin routine is such an important anti aging technique.
Everybody gets wrinkles however you may be more bothered by your wrinkles than some others. You have a wide variety of options to eliminate your wrinkles and at the very least to diminish their appearance.
When we talk about under eye wrinkles it is important to distinguish the difference between,
a) Crows feet wrinkles
b) Wrinkles on the outside and under the eye
In some circumstances, getting rid of crows feet and dealing with wrinkles under the eyes will require to different types of treatments.
What causes under eye wrinkles?
Your face is continually exposed to the elements, developing wrinkles around your face and especially around the eyes is an unavoidable part of ageing. As we get older our skin also changes, it becomes thinner and over time it is unable to stay moisturised and supple without some help. Exposure to the sun is the biggest cause of under eye wrinkles, crows feet on the other hand can be caused by the same facial expressions that we tend to use without thinking.
How can I get rid of under eye wrinkles?
There are a couple of different treatment options depending on whether you are trying to diminish the appearance of under eye wrinkles or if you are looking for a more permanent solution and remove the under eye wrinkles altogether.
Some common techniques are:
- Topical retinoids. There are some topical creams that you can apply directly on to your eye wrinkles. Tretinoin a product that is derived from vitamin A and can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Retin A as it is sometimes known, is applied directly to your wrinkles under the eye. Over time this helps to promote the production of collagen in your skin layer. Collagen is important in improving the firmness of your skin to smooth out wrinkles. If you opt for a topical product please be aware that you must use retinoids for at least half a year before you can expect any visible differences.
- Lasers. A slightly more abrasive procedure but is more effective in giving you results much quicker than any topical creams or lotions. Lasers are used to remove a thin layer of the surface of your skin. As this layer is removed it will smooth out your wrinkles. Lasers can also heat the underlying skin layer and this helps to promote production of collagen which is needed to create new skin cells.
- Chemical peels and dermabrasion. A similar technique to lasers, you can remove a fine layer of skin to promote production of a new layer of skin that will smooth out the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Chemical peels allow a dermatologist to control the burn and in doing so control how much of the top layer of skin is removed. As the your old skin is removed a more youthful and supple layer of skin regrows to take its place.
- Botox. For crows feet Botox is the recommended treatment option, it is less suitable for wrinkles directly under the eyes. For more information read the next question below.
To get rid of wrinkles around the eye you may be advised to combine a couple of cosmetic procedures. Using Botox in conjunction with some dermal fillers, chemical peels or even laser therapy you can combine the best of each treatment and reduce the presence of wrinkles and crows feet while also improving the overall suppleness and tone of your skin.
Does Botox work for under eye wrinkles?
For wrinkles around the face Botox is used. How Botox works, is that it is injected directly into the muscles of your face and paralyses them. As your muscles are paralysed they relax and in doing so any wrinkles will seem to fade away.
Unfortunately the skin directly under your eye is really thin and delicate. There is no place for Botox to be injected, there is also no muscle for the Botox to work with. Botox however is more suitable for crows feet.
If Botox is used for crows feet, once it is injected it generally takes 3 to 7 days for it to be fully effective, Botox is not a permanent solution and after 3 to 4 months you will need to go back in for another Botox injection. This means that that you will have to re-attend botox sessions in order to maintain your results. Over long term repeated use, Botox will eventually cause your facial muscles to atrophy and thin out, subsequently your Botox injections will last longer and over time fewer treatments will be necessary.
How about soft tissue fillers?
Soft tissue fillers are generally used on the lower half of your face rather than on under eye wrinkles. A dermal filler is injected to plump out the appearance of wrinkles. Normally it is used for filling out sunken cheeks and smoothing out the wrinkles that occur between the nose and the mouth.
Resources
- http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/wrinkles/DS00890/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs – General information about wrinkles from Mayo Clinic
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