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, which is responsible for giving you sunburn and UVA. It is the UVA rays that are responsible for DNA damage and ageing of the skin.
Sugar may also contribute to premature aging 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 cause by repetitive muscle movement. Botox works by temporarily paralysing the muscles causes your wrinkles and fine lines to relax and soften.
Botox 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.
The following treatments all stimulate collagen in the skin to improve skin texture and elasticity. They all involve a course of treatments, they are not always as popular as the multiple under eye injections, often cause some bruising which can last 1-2 weeks.
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.
Redermalisation:
Xela Redermalization is an injectable treatment that introduces hyaluronic acid and succinate into your skin cells and provides a powerful collagen stimulation effect and also reduces pigmentation. 2-3 sessions are usual required 2 weeks apart. View more about this treatment and view some before and after images here.
RRS® Mesotherapy:
RRS Mesotherapy is a prescription-only injectable treatment designed to improve skin quality by plumping and lifting the skin and boosting collagen. It is also used to treat pigmentation, dark circles and fine lines under the eyes which can enhance your other treatments. Usually the result can be seen after two treatments but it may be necessary to do 4 to 6 treatments, one every week. View more about this treatment and view some before and after images here.
PRP with Redermalization
In 2016, a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology looked at varying degrees of facial ageing signs in 94 female patients, who were treated with PRP and Rederm. Compared to the baseline, the PRP and rederm injections in combination provided clinically visible improvement on skin.
Treatments For Under Eye Wrinkles Non Injectable:
Most other under eye anti-aging treatments involve damaging your skin to make it heal, repair and then regenerate. The results last for varied 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 down time. You can also damage under the skins surface without causing injury to the top layer of skin by using HIFU treatments or with the gentler heating treatments that use radiofrequency and micro current energy avoiding down time.
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. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic so is only moderately irritating, 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 this is often performed fractionated in small dots to reduce the amount of trauma to the skin and the down time. 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 (which 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 down time:
Ultraformer MF2 causes injuries just under the skin using ultrasound energy. The high intensity energy can be focused at the depth we want, causing injury to the collagen and structures supporting the skin but not damaging the visible upper layer of skin cells known as 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 Thermaclinic eye treatment, the Endymed eye treatment use radiofrequency technology to heat the skin to around 40 degrees Celsius, which is about the same temperature as a hot shower. The collagen in the dermis layer of the skin is heated to a level where it will contract .This brings on healing and repair, leading to the production of new collagen, which re-models and tightens naturally over time.
The CACI Eye Lift
The CACI Eye Lift Treatment which 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 CACI 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 and Ultraformer are usual more effective requiring less treatments, but can be more uncomfortable.
The Ultraformer is a compromise as it is quite aggressive in the deep layers of the skin, but rarely causes any down time. 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 for the face. It takes longer to perform and more treatments are required, maintenance is recommended every 6 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.
Cheshire Lasers 