We tend to associate beauty with youth. Aging, on the other hand, is associated with loss of beauty. Aging makes women feel losing their social value – the reason why the anti-aging skincare market thrives. If you look in the mirror and spot aging signs, don’t fret or lose confidence. While you can’t stop the biological clock, you can partially reverse the appearance of aging signs on your skin by taking special care suggested by dermatologists and estheticians.
When do aging signs start to appear? They may begin once we hit our 20s. Usually, aging signs start to appear around the eyes first. Without any sebaceous glands and collagen fibers, the skin around our eyes is paper-thin and breaks down easily. Fine lines, wrinkles, crow’s feet, dark circles, puffiness, sagging skin, and dark spots are the most common signs of aging around the eyes.
Before we discuss how to reverse these aging signs, we need to know what causes them. That way, it would be easier to combat these signs.
Common Signs of Aging Around the Eyes and Ways to Combat Them
- Wrinkles and lines – Different types of wrinkles appear around the eye area. With aging, the body produces less collagen and elastin, causing the development of wrinkles and fine lines. Excessive sun exposure is also harmful to the fragile skin beneath the eyes. Sun exposure thickens the skin’s lower layers and blocks collagen and elastin from performing skin renewal activities.
The habit of smoking also damages the skin’s youthful appearance. Nicotine shrinks the blood vessels and minimizes the flow of nutrients to the dermis. The oxidative stress of nicotine also plays a role in wrinkle formation that degrades structural protein.
- Dark circles – There are different reasons why dark circles under the eye appear. Dehydration is one of the reasons you get those pesky dark rings under your eyes. Inadequate sleep, sun damage, pigmentation, and day-to-day struggles may cause dark circles. A nasty allergy or sinus congestion can give you dark circles too. Heredity or genetics could play a role. So, it is crucial to know the reason.
If dehydration is the reason for your dark circles, drinking eight cups of water may help your skin with hydration. When it comes to taking care of the under-eye area, hydration is one of the essential factors to consider.
There are many other ways you can diminish dark circles from the eye area. Investing in the best anti-aging eye creams could be one. For wrinkles, many dermatologists suggest using retinol as it triggers collagen production and prompts skin cell metabolism. A well-formulated retinol-infused product may help reduce multiple aging signs, including wrinkles, spots, photodamage, and large pores.
Plexaderm, a rapid reduction serum, contains Propylene Glycol, a humectant, and keeps the skin hydrated and soft. It could be a good option for reducing dark circles.
Additionally, consider making small changes to your lifestyle with 8 hours of sleep, banishing stress, avoiding tobacco and alcohol as much as you can, and keeping blue lights from digital devices out from your bedroom to get rid of dark circles under the eyes.
- Puffiness – Under-eye bags are particularly ugly and bothersome. If you notice their appearance or are struggling with them, check if you are eating a high-salt diet. Eating salty foods results in water retention and causes swelling.
Certain allergies release histamines responsible for itchiness and redness in the eyes. Rubbing eyes or irritation may make the appearance of dark shadows more prominent. Check if you have allergies or medical conditions that are causing them.
Genetics could be a factor too. Aging also contributes to under-eye puffiness. If you need a rapid result to get rid of the puffiness, Plexaderm claims to shrink them rapidly within minutes of application.
If you want a natural remedy to depuff your under-eye region, Aloe Vera is a good option too. Caffeine is also an effective vasoconstrictor that may help reduce puffiness. Alternatively, use eye-rollers to improve lymphatic drainage in the area. If at-home methods don’t give you satisfactory results, consider visiting a board-certified dermatologist.
Follow these Derm-Approved Tips to Brighten and Revitalize the Under Eye Area
What do you do when you see the first appearance of aging signs on your taut, baby soft skin? Don’t lose your sleep, and follow these tips to keep your eye areas looking firm and young.
- Moisturize the Skin Around the Eyes – Dehydrated skin is more prone to lines and wrinkles. The eye area being 40% thinner than the other parts of the face, the common signs of aging – lines, dark circles, bags – appear more prominent. Dermatologists suggest investing in eye serums and creams that contain hyaluronic acid and glycerin. These ingredients keep the epidermis well-hydrated and help minimize the appearance of wrinkles.
- Drink Water – When your skin is dehydrated, wrinkles and pores look more prominent, making it appear duller. Science informs that our skin is 64% water. So it is crucial to hydrate the skin from the inside. As this study reveals, drinking more than 2L of water daily can significantly impact skin physiology. It makes sense you drink water more often to make your skin appear healthier and plumper.
- Switch to An Anti-aging Diet – Your diet plays a role in how you look. Eating foods rich in vitamins and minerals may work better than the best anti-aging eye creams available on the market. Dermatologists recommend foods rich in vitamin C as they minimize the appearance of aging signs.
Eating foods that promote collagen production in your body is also a good strategy to prevent skin aging. Why? Because collagen is a vital structural protein that gives the skin a youthful and plump appearance and maintains skin elasticity. With age, the body makes less amount of collagen. Certain foods can amp up the body’s collagen production and help improve the skin’s density, elasticity, and hydration. Dermatologists suggest including the following in the diet for immediate skin improvements.
Salmon – Rich in omega-3, salmon is considered a superfood and is highly beneficial for improving skin health. Eating salmon gives you good fat that makes your skin look radiant. Astaxanthin found in salmon can significantly improve skin conditions, according to a study.
Broccoli – If you are struggling with dark circles, eating broccoli may help improve them. Broccoli is a powerful antioxidant, loaded with skin-benefiting vitamins, and promotes collagen production.
Walnut – A skin-healthy diet is incomplete without walnuts. A powerhouse of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and melatonin, walnuts keep the skin hydrated and prevent free radical damage.
Dark Chocolate – Eating a moderate amount of dark chocolate may help you look younger. Cocoa beans, the main ingredient of dark chocolates, contain a blend of phytochemicals and have anti-aging benefits. Some research shows that dark chocolates may prevent UV-induced wrinkles. Also, they may block the breakdown of the dermal matrix.
Pomegranate – Pomegranate is another derm-recommended fruit that is rich in polyphenols. The protective effect of pomegranate and its cell regeneration ability has been proven. It also promotes collagen production.
Orange – Eating oranges may help you with glowing skin. Orange is full of vitamin C that triggers the skin’s collagen production. Additionally, vitamin C also prevents free radical damage to the skin.
- Start a Daily Eyecare Routine – Can topicals reduce dark circles completely? No, but with a daily skincare routine in place, you may slow down the aging process and protect the skin from the damages caused by external stressors. Cleansing the eye area is as important as the rest of the face. It is crucial to handle the extremely delicate skin very gently.
Invest in an eye serum. Serums tend to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin and are more efficient than creams. Serums with ingredients, such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid or glycerine, caffeine, vitamins E and C, and coconut oil, are recommended by dermatologists. After applying serum, you need to massage the area lightly to boost blood flow. Finish with a super-rich moisturizer and lock it in with oil to retain hydration throughout the night. You can also use undereye patches though not meant for everyday use.
- Use SPF – Sun damage is one of the reasons your under-eye area looks dark, puffy, and lined. Some of the best anti-aging eye creams come with SPF. You can also shop for multitasking products with broad-spectrum coverage. Sunscreen formulations for the under-eye area are also available and safe and effective. Finally, protect the fragile and delicate eye area with polarized sunglasses covering the entire eye area and blocking UVA and UVB rays.
References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18489334/
https://www.pagepress.org/journals/index.php/dr/article/view/dr.2011.e36
Author Bio:
Sophia Anthony is a freelance writer and blogger, covering health and fitness topics through visual representation. She is very passionate about general health and beauty. Apart from work she likes dancing and listening to music. You can also contact her on Facebook, and Instagram.