Are you looking for ways to regain smooth, youthful skin and eliminate the fine lines that are starting to appear around your eyes? Here you will find effective techniques to banish those bothersome eye wrinkles and revive your overall appearance.

What Are Eye Wrinkles?

Eye wrinkles, commonly known as "crow's feet," are lines that appear around the skin surrounding the eyes. They usually form due to factors such as the aging process, exposure to sunlight, repetitive facial movements, and a decrease in collagen and elastin production.

These fine lines appear as marks at the corners of the eyes and may become more prominent over time. While they are a part of getting older, many people actively seek ways to reduce their visibility and maintain a vibrant look. There are treatments and lifestyle adjustments that can help minimize and prevent the formation of eye wrinkles.

What Causes Eye Wrinkles?

The following factors can play a role in the development of wrinkles:

  • Natural Aging: As we grow older, our skin naturally loses collagen and elastin, which are proteins that provide firmness and elasticity. This loss leads to sagging skin and wrinkles, including the ones around the eyes.[1],[2]

  • Sun Exposure: Spending long periods exposed to the sun's UV rays primarily contributes to premature aging (photoaging) and wrinkles. UV rays break down collagen and elastin, which speeds up the aging process.[3]

  • Repetitive Facial Expressions: Regularly squinting, smiling, and making expressions can gradually form fine lines around the eyes over time.

  • Smoking: Smoking harms collagen and elastin in the skin, contributing to wrinkle formation. It also narrows blood vessels, reducing blood flow and hindering the skin's ability to repair itself.[4]

  • Insufficient Skincare: Failing to take care of your skin, such as forgetting to moisturize or remove makeup before bed, can result in damaged skin, making wrinkles more noticeable.

  • Lack of Moisture: Dehydration can cause your skin to appear less supple, making wrinkles more visible.

While it may not be possible to avoid the formation of wrinkles under the eyes, you can minimize their appearance by adhering to skincare tips.

What are the Different Types of Eye Wrinkles?

1. Dynamic Wrinkles

Dynamic wrinkles are formed due to the repetitive movement of the facial muscles. A few of these facial movements include smiling, squinting, frowning, furrowing, and raising your eyebrows.

They can cause the continuous stretching of the skin, leading to its loss of firmness with time. Moreover, the compression of some facial muscles during sleep can also be a source of dynamic wrinkles.

Dynamic wrinkles include visible lines and creases when you smile, forehead wrinkles, and crow's feet. In young people, dynamic wrinkles may quickly disappear, but it is more visible in older people who have lost their skin elasticity and collagen content.

2. Static Wrinkles

Static wrinkles are permanent wrinkles visible while the face rests. They are not associated with facial movements. However, fine lines caused by dynamic wrinkling can gradually become static. Examples of static wrinkles are nasolabial folds, neck wrinkles, lateral cheek lines, tear trough lines, and marionette lines.

Static wrinkling is a part of the natural aging process facilitated by decreased collagen production. It can also result from loss of fatty pads in the face, smoking, and exposure to sun rays, constant dry skin, and facial distortion during sleep.5

Eyevage

Eye Wrinkles Prevention Tips

Fortunately, you do not have to wait until the main subject of your Google search history is "how to get rid of the wrinkles under my eyes" to take action. The following prevention tips may be valuable:

  • Safeguard your eyes from harmful UV rays by wearing sunglasses and applying sunscreen.
  • Maintain a well-moisturized skin by drinking lots of water and using a moisturizer. A well-moisturized skin is less susceptible to wrinkling.
  • Consume meals rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals since these nutrients foster collagen production.
  • Having adequate sleep to reduce stress is pivotal, as insufficient and chronic stress can speed up aging, which fosters wrinkling.
  • Be gentle when tending to the skin around your eyes by using a soft touch when applying skincare products and carefully removing makeup.
  • Consider using specialized eye creams incorporating retinol, hyaluronic acid, and peptides. These can help prevent the manifestation of under-eye creases.

Tips to Reduce Eye Wrinkles

1. Drinking more water

Drinking more water can help you get rid of wrinkles under your eyes by keeping your skin hydrated and moist. A well-hydrated skin is firm and supple, making it difficult for wrinkles and fine lines to appear.

2. Applying a moisturizer before bed

Moisturizers also hydrate the skin and eradicate dryness that may lead to wrinkling. Moisturizers are not only meant for use during the day, but you can also incorporate them into your night skincare routine.

Using a moisturizer before bed can help reduce skin dryness and ease the wrinkling effect of facial distortion caused by sleep. Infusoderm- Deep Hydration Daily Moisturizer is a good choice of moisturizer.

3. Avoiding excessive exposure to the sun

Excessive exposure to the sun's rays predisposes you to many skin disorders ranging from sunburn and wrinkling to cancers. Therefore, it is pertinent that you actively employ skin protective measures by using umbrellas and applying sunscreens such as Dermaxsol Spf30 sun protection.

4. Getting enough sleep

To reduce eye wrinkles, you might want to consider taking your beauty sleep more seriously. Sleep deprivation causes oxidative stress, which can subsequently affect the production of collagen and facilitate skin aging.[6],[7]

Although research shows that sleep can induce wrinkling because of facial distortion, you can counter this effect by using moisturizers and retinol-containing creams before bedtime.[5]

5. Eating a healthy diet

Eating healthy meals is an essential aspect of how to remove under eye wrinkles. Lisa Mejia, R.D.N., LD/N, a dietitian at Mayo Clinic, says that "to support the formation of collagen, it is also important to ensure adequate intake of foods that contain vitamin C, zinc, copper and manganese."[8]

Foods such as chicken, fish bone broth, tropical fruits, tomatoes, and leafy greens are healthy foods that can boost collagen production.

6. Use Eye Cream

Using eye creams that contain active ingredients for boosting collagen and maintaining skin firmness can help you reduce eye wrinkles.

Eye creams such as Eyevage- Anti-Aging Eye Rejuvenation Treatment contain vitamins, hyaluronic acid, and other natural ingredients. These ingredients not only provide moisture and hydration but also exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Quiz

Frequently Asked Questions

What age do eye wrinkles start?

Philip J. Miller, MD, FACS, a double board-certified plastic surgeon, notes that there is no typical age to start noticing wrinkles. However, he adds that many people show their first signs of aging in their mid-20s when the body begins to produce less collagen.[9]

Can lack of sleep cause under eye wrinkles?

Lack of sleep can cause under eye wrinkles. This can result from oxidative stress, lowering collagen production.

What are the first signs of eye wrinkles?

Fine lines, creases, dryness, and dark circles are the first signs of eye wrinkles.

Are eye wrinkles common?

Yes, especially with aging.

Do glasses prevent eye wrinkles?

Wearing large glasses or sunshades offers protection from damaging UV rays.

Conclusion

There you have it! These tips on how to remove under eye wrinkles can guide you around the problem. Dealing with eye wrinkles does not have to be a daunting task; by understanding the distinction between dynamic and static wrinkles, you can incorporate the right tips to reduce them.

Moreover, remember that prevention is often more effective than seeking how to remove under eye wrinkles. By consuming healthy meals, getting enough beauty sleep, avoiding excessive sun exposure, and using moisturizers and eye creams, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing wrinkles and enjoy youthful eyes for years to come.

References

1] Czekalla C, Schönborn KH, Döge N, et al. Impact of Body Site, Age, and Gender on the Collagen/Elastin Index by Noninvasive in vivo Vertical Two-Photon Microscopy. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology. 2017;30(5):260-267. doi:
2] Baumann L, Bernstein EF, Weiss AS, et al. Clinical Relevance of Elastin in the Structure and Function of Skin. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. 2021;3(3). doi:
3] Yale Medicine. Photoaging (Sun Damage). Yale Medicine. Published 2023.
4] Lipa K, Zając N, Owczarek W, Ciechanowicz P, Szymańska E, Walecka I. Does smoking affect your skin? ProQuest. 2021;38(3):371-376. doi:
5] Anson G, Kane MAC, Lambros V. Sleep Wrinkles: Facial Aging and Facial Distortion During Sleep. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2016;36(8):931-940. doi:
6] Hill VM, O’Connor RM, Sissoko GB, et al. A bidirectional relationship between sleep and oxidative stress in Drosophila. Taghert P, ed. PLOS Biology. 2018;16(7):e2005206. doi:
7] Papaccio F, D′Arino A, Caputo S, Bellei B. Focus on the Contribution of Oxidative Stress in Skin Aging. Antioxidants. 2022;11(6):1121. doi:
8] noble.dana. Do collagen and biotin supplements work? Mayo Clinic Press. Published June 2, 2022. Accessed October 13, 2023.
9] Miller DP. What Age is Normal to Get Wrinkles? Philip Miller MD. Published August 25, 2022. Accessed October 13, 2023.

Christine

Christine

Christine is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist with an undergraduate degree from Missouri State University. Her passion is helping others learn how strong and healthy they can become by transforming their daily habits through both training and writing. Christine spends most of her time in the gym and learning how she can influence others through positivity!

Education

  • Bachelor in General Business - Missouri State University

Certifications

  • NSCA Personal Trainer
  • ACE Fitness Nutritionist
  • ACE Weight Management Specialist

Experience

  • Personal Trainer 2018 - Present
  • Nutritionist 2019 - Present
  • Health and Wellness Writer 2020 - Present
Written by Christine

More stories

Clogged Pores - Prevention, Signs, Causes and Treatment

If your skin is looking dull or you have bumps and zits on your face, the chances are that you have clogged pores. Many people have them. Sure, por...

The 5 Best Body Care Tips to Start Following Today

The skin is your body’s biggest organ [1], and its primary function is to protect your internal organs and tissue from outside environmental agents...