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Why do we get under eye wrinkles?
As we age we lose collagen and elastin in the skin, and so the skin loses its capability to bounce back when we move and make different facial expressions. Facial expressions are important, but they do put a strain on our skin and its supporting collagen and over time can cause dynamic wrinkles.
Smoking, sun exposure, diet and genetics also influence how the skin ages.
One study shows that smoking 30 cigarettes a day will add 14 years to your skin!
There are two types of UV rays present in sunlight UVB and UVA. UVB is responsible for giving you sunburn. UVA is responsible for DNA damage and ageing of the skin.
Sugar may also contribute to premature ageing through the process of glycation. Glycation can cause damage the skin tissues over time and may make you more prone to having fine lines and wrinkles.
Genetics and our DNA can also play a role in ageing. Often if your parents and grandparents have great skin, you will too. However, if they have skin issues like big pores and acne-prone skin, you may be more susceptible to these issues too.
How to prevent wrinkles?
Avoiding smoking, limiting sun exposure and cutting down on sugar will all help to improve your skin health. Eating a healthy well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables and including oily fish, like salmon, will also improve your skin health. Vitamins and minerals from fruits and veggies will not only boost your overall health, but will give you a glow from within. Hydration is also a key part of keeping your skin healthy and clear, so make sure you are getting enough water throughout the day too.
There are also some serums and creams designed for the eye area that can help prevent more wrinkles.
The ingredients to look out for are:
- Retinol.
- Antioxidants
- Patented peptides.
- AHAs
- Hyaluronic acid / B5 serum
Find out about these ingredients, how they work and what products you can find them in here.
Which treatments can improve under eye wrinkles?
Injectable Treatments:
Botox for Dynamic Wrinkles
Most people have heard of Botox, it is great for treating what they call dynamic wrinkles, which are wrinkles caused by repetitive muscle movement. Botox works by temporarily paralysing the muscles which cause your wrinkles and fine lines to relax and soften.
This treatment is very effective at muscle relaxation (it starts working within a few days), and as long as you do your research and go to a recommended experienced medical practitioner, you won’t end up with the ‘frozen face’ you see in some celebrities.
Botox helps for dynamic wrinkles commonly known as crow’s feet, but it does not work so well if your concern is directly under the eye. This is because these lines are usually due to loss of collagen and elasticity of the skin and not just repetitive movement.
Find out more about Botox here.
Injectables That Stimulate Collagen Production.
PRP Treatment
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is an injectable treatment that can be used for the under-eye area and the upper eyelid that has the power to trigger your body’s own tissue regeneration potential. PRP is a naturally occurring component of your own blood which encourages skin rejuvenation by stimulating your body’s own regeneration system. Encouraging the growth of your own collagen and elastin and improving blood supply to improve skin tone and texture whilst also reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It can take 2-3 months following a single treatment to appreciate the results. Two to three treatments, 2-3 months apart are recommended for most people for significant results.
Treatments For Under Eye Wrinkles Non-Injectable:
Most other under-eye anti-ageing treatments involve damaging your skin to make it heal, repair and then regenerate. The results last for varying lengths of time. Generally the more aggressive the treatment, the better the results and the longer they last.
There are various ways to damage the skin surface, including Microneedling, Laser or Plasma treatments, which cause different amounts of downtime. You can also damage under the surface of the skin without causing injury to the top layer of skin by using HIFUtreatments or with the gentler heating treatments that use radiofrequency and microcurrent energy avoiding downtime.
Treatments causing surface trauma and downtime:
Microneedling
Microneedling (AKA dermarolling) involves puncturing tiny holes into your skin with a needle-covered roller or with an electronic pen to stimulate collagen production. The treatment essentially damages the skin to create newer, younger skin. A topical anaesthetic is used so there is only moderately discomfort, despite how it sounds. You can watch some videos of a full face procedure here.
The cons: It takes 24-48hrs for the redness to settle. 3-4 treatments every 6-8 weeks may be needed to see results, which include brightening, smoothing and fine-line reduction.
Laser
Resurfacing lasers create trauma to your skin. The most popular one is a CO2 laser which is often performed fractionated in small dots to reduce the amount of trauma to the skin and the downtime. There are some downsides to Laser treatments. Your skin will look and feel badly sunburned for a few days to a couple of weeks depending on the intensity of the treatment. It then goes sandpapery texture for a week or two. The results can be fantastic as long as you are prepared for the downtime. No pain no gain as they say!
Plasma
Plasma Devices use Plasma Energy to create trauma to your skin. The downside is the immediate side effects including, swelling and reddening over the treated area for at least 2-3 days. The healing process will include crusting. These cruts should be left to fall away naturally over the course of about 7-10 days. Sometimes you can be left with residual inflammation/redness of the skin for weeks after treatment. This treatment is, therefore, more popular for the upper eye area where it can be covered rather than under the eye.
Find out more about Plasma here.
Treatments unlikely to cause downtime:
Ultraformer MF2 causes injuries just under the skin using ultrasound energy. The high-intensity energy is focused at the precise depth we want to target. This technology allows us to spare damaging the visible upper layer of skin (the epidermis).
This treatment could cause some bruising if you are unlucky, it can cause a bit of redness which usually goes after an hour or two and sometimes can cause slight swelling which goes in hours or a few days if you are unlucky. This treatment usually requires a course of 3 treatments sometimes more and is currently the most popular treatment at Cheshire Lasers. The results can be seen from 1 month after your first treatment but the result of collagen remodelling, tighter, younger-looking skin can take 3 months to be fully appreciated.
Generating approximately 65.4°C into target layers induces natural coagulation and wound-healing processes to stimulate collagen renewal underneath the epidermis.
Radiofrequency Treatments
The Thermacliniceye treatment, the Endymed eye treatment uses radiofrequency technology to heat the skin to around 40 degrees Celsius, which is about the same temperature as a hot shower. The treatment heats the collagen in the dermis layer to a temperature so it will contract. This contraction brings on healing and repair. This stimulates the production of new collagen, which remodels and tightens naturally over time.
The CACI Revive Eye Lift
The CACI Eye Revive Treatment involves low-level radiofrequency technology to stimulate collagen and then ETR pads which open up the skin channels of the skin to encourage penetration of the hydrating products. The Eye Revive treatment requires a course of 10 and then monthly maintenance.
How do I know which under eye rejuvenation treatment is for me?
The Injectable treatments often cause bruising.
The more ablative treatments such as CO2 laser, Plasma andUltraformerare usual more effective requiring fewer treatments, but can be more uncomfortable.
The Ultraformer is a compromise, it is quite aggressive in the deep layers of the skin but rarely causes downtime. It can be uncomfortable, but the treatment is quick to perform so any discomfort is over quickly.
Radiofrequency is a more enjoyable treatment and some people find it relaxing/therapeutic a bit like a hot stone massage. It takes longer to perform and you need more treatments to achieve the same results. You need maintenance every 6 to 10 weeks after an initial course of 6 to 8 treatments.
If you are not ready for any of the above treatments you could try under eye products
If you would like a consultation to assess you and for us to discuss your options please let us know.
