They say that eyes are the windows to the soul — no matter how a person’s face may age, the eyes remain the same. Or do they? Often it’s not the eyes themselves, but the skin and tissue around the eyes that change dramatically in appearance. These changes that come with aging can make a huge impact on that all-important “first impression,” whether you’re on a date or a job interview.
Dark Circles Under The Eyes
Dark circles under your eyes can be one of the most alarming signs that your face may be aging prematurely. Even though we commonly think of gray hair, double chins, and wrinkled skin as signs of aging, dark circles — which are created by the loss of collagen and fat — are major factors that make us look ‘tired’ and ‘old’ before our time.
Dark circles can be hereditary, but they can also be caused by smoking, excessive sun exposure, or an overabundance of alcohol in the bloodstream. Stress, tiredness, and too little sleep — which can affect our adrenal glands, causing adrenal fatigue and cortisol deficiency — will also cause bags and puffiness under the eyes. And as we age, we lose fat and collagen, so our skin becomes thinner and less elastic. The loss of fat and connective tissue creates shadows that are cast underneath our eyes. This unfortunately will produce the appearance of exhaustion! All of these factors can contribute to those ugly dark circles that make us look older than we really are.
Most dark circles are a combination of fat loss, aging, wrinkles, thinning skin, and environmental factors. Only 10-20% of people have true dark circles which are caused by blood vessel leakage, a very unusual medical condition. Restylane, a natural hylaronic acid injectable filler, can be used to restore the youthful appearance to the eye area by replenishing volume, erasing the hollows and shadows that create the appearance of the dark circles. The treatment gives a very natural look and in this area of the face, Restylane lasts six to twelve months.
If you have inherited dark circles under the eyes caused by blood vessel problems, we recommend a product from Biopelle called Radiance Eye Cream. The active peptides and proteins called “growth factors”, will reduce the appearance of the circles and even your skin tone.
Wrinkles Around the Eyes, or “Crow’s Feet”
“Crow’s feet” are what many people call the wrinkles around the corners of the eyes. The older one is, the deeper the lines — and the deeper the lines, the less collagen is present. In this case, we recommend Botox or Dysport injections to bring back the appearance of youth. These injections temporarily lessen the muscle contraction in this area, which are what causes and/or worsens deep lines in the face. Botox and Dysport injections near the eyes generally last 3-4 months before needing a fresh application.
In addition, the Fraxel ReFine laser treatment can be used in conjunction with Botox and Dysport injections to provide additional improvement that resurfaces your skin to restore its glow and beauty. Unlike other more invasive lasers, a Fraxel ReFine is gentler on the skin because it is applied in a grid. The Fraxel laser only removes parts of your skin, selectively choosing the more damaged places to target and resurface.
The Fraxel ReFine laser is a non-ablative laser that helps to improve the skin texture, tighten skin, lessen sun spots, and even treat mild scars. Unlike more invasive lasers, this laser has miminal downtime and is a lot more comfortable. A series of 3 to 4 treatments completed one month apart is needed for optimal results.
Sagging or Droopy Eyelids
You may have noticed a laxity of the skin on your upper or lower eyelids, which may cause a sagging appearance around your eyes. There are several options for drooping eyelids — what will work best depends on the severity of the problem, the amount of downtime available for recovery, and of course the overall desired outcome. This very delicate skin may respond well to Aluma, an FDA-approved device that uses gentle heat to firm up areas of the skin, stimulating collagen and improving the texture of the skin. The procedure is non-surgical and can be completed in about 10 minutes.
Another nonsurgical eyelift, known as the Madonna Lift, is done with a CO2 laser. The advanced laser treats deep into the skin around your eyes, reducing the overall amount of surface area of the skin in order to tighten it. The Madonna Lift also stimulates the production of collagen, improving the overall skin texture.
Beauty From the Inside Out
At Rejuvé, we also have available medical-grade skin products that restore skin from the inside out. These products persuade newer skin cells under the surface to rise up and bloom, leaving you with a youthful appearance. Products like Retin A, which has rejuvenation and exfoliating properties, strip the skin of impurities and minor blemishes to restore a smoother surface. Regular use will enhance your skin tone and texture to remove the signs of aging.
Another medical issue that affects skin aging is the production of estrogen in the body. As estrogen levels diminish, collagen production is decreased while wrinkles and pitted skin increase. A simple blood test will confirm whether you have low estrogen production and can benefit from our custom-blended mix of estriol and green tea, which acts as antioxidant to protect skin against free radical formation.
If you have questions about your eye appearance, what’s causing wrinkles or discoloration and how to treat them, call us today at 708-740-5320 and set up an appointment with Dr. John Tang.