With the right tips, tricks and treatments turning back the clock can be as easy as simple as opening your makeup bag or a visit to your dermatologist for the latest skincare treatment – and it all starts with your eyes. They say the eyes have it. But is the skin around your eyes revealing something more, like your age? Most people at some point start to age, it’s inevitable, and unfortunately for some it comes sooner than hoped. Crows feet, dark circles and under eye puffiness show up to let us know we are not getting any younger. We deal with stress, environmental factors such as sun exposure and pollutants; and even our lifestyle and diet can contribute to poor skin as we age.
“More than any other facial feature, your eyes reveal the most about how you feel,” says Dr. Gregory Nikolaidis, a board certified dermatologist in Austin. “My patients complain of puffy, swollen eyes all the time. We have the thinnest skin around our eyes, so it's the area that's most influenced by the in-and-out flow of fluids," notes Dr. Nikolaidis. “A salty diet or excessive crying can also cause morning-after puffiness.” According to Dr. Nikolaidis the reason is osmosis. Water always travels from areas in the body where there's low salt concentration to tissues where there's more salt.
Causes of Puffiness Around Your Eyes
Most people find that there’s more than one cause for their puffy or tired-looking eyes. Here are some of the most common:
Aging. According to Dr. Nikolaidis, “As you get older, the skin and muscles around your eyes begin to weaken, making it easier for the fatty tissue beneath the skin to redistribute and for the skin to sag.”
Allergies. Itchy, swollen eyes are a common allergic reaction.
Fluid retention. Hormonal shifts, a lack of sleep, or even just eating salty foods can cause you to retain fluid, leading to puffy eyes.
Heredity. “If your parents had puffiness under their eyes, you may be more prone to developing the same condition,” says Dr. Nikolaidis.
Don’t Let Brows Age You
If you've never given much thought to your arches beyond the occasional tweezing now is probably a good time to start. “Like your skin and hair, your brows can start to show their age,” says eyebrow guru and founder of Billion Dollar Brows Natalie Plain. “They can thin out, become coarse and unruly, or turn gray. And just as a new hairstyle can trim away the years, a well-groomed, well-defined brow can lend your face a years-younger look.”
Dark Circles, Crow’s Feet…Oh My!
Dermatologists agree on the importance of protecting the delicate area around the eye; and the goal to having younger, more vibrant looking eyes is diminishing the appearance of deep lines, lightening dark circles and repairing the damage time has left behind. Houston board certified dermatologist Dr. Paul Friedman reveals the latest beauty treatments to combat aging eyes.
How to get rid of dark circles? Dr. Friedman recommends the Pulsed Dye Laser for dark circles that are caused by broken blood vessels. For dark circles caused by excess pigment, Dr. Friedman recommends the Fraxel Laser for his patients.
How to get rid of wrinkles around eyes/crow's feet? “I utilize Botulinium toxins to relax muscle movement, fillers to restore volume loss, and laser peels such as the Fraxel Laser for resurfacing the skin and stimulating collagen. We also use radiofrequency and ultrasound devices such as Ultherapy and Thermage for skin tightening in this area,” says Dr. Friedman.
Your Eyelashes Can Make You Look Old
Dr. Baxt has seen great results on her patients after using Latisse, the FDA-approved lash grower. “It’s safe and helps grow lashes longer, lusher and fuller so you don’t even need mascara.”
Article from IN WITH SKIN