Fine lines and wrinkles under the eyes are the first physical signs of aging. Although aging is inevitable, eye wrinkles are not and can be prevented.
In addition to aging, many factors can contribute to the appearance of eye wrinkles, such as frequent exposure to sunlight and smoking.
Signs of aging eyes include puffy eyelids, sagging skin, and under-eye bags. To prevent or reverse these symptoms, Dr. Anthony Youn, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Michigan, offers four simple tips:
wear sunglasses
“Not only will wearing sunglasses protect your delicate eyelid skin from the sun’s UV rays, but it will also prevent you from squinting, which can lead to crow’s feet,” Yoon explained in a TikTok video last month that has garnered 23,700 views.
When choosing sunglasses, the American Cancer Society recommends looking for a label that says “meets ANSI UV requirements” or “UV absorption up to 400nm,” which means the glasses block at least 99% of UV rays.
Eat low amounts of ultra-processed foods.
Ultra-processed foods can increase your risk of heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes and obesity.
It can also increase the amount of puffiness around the eyes because it's full of salt and other inflammatory components, Yoon says.
Allergy control
Many people suffer from seasonal allergies, which can cause puffiness and wrinkles around the eyes. “Try to control the allergies and avoid rubbing your eyelids too hard,” explains Yoon. “The skin on the eyelid is the thinnest skin on the body, and rubbing it too hard can stretch it.”
Use retinol eye cream
“Retinol has been shown to increase collagen in the skin and can help prevent skin from becoming thin and wrinkled,” says Yoon.
Self magazine recommends starting with a lower concentration cream, between 0.1% and 0.5%, or products containing encapsulated retinol, which tend to be gentler, to keep skin looking plump and prevent wrinkles.