(Creative Commons) Treating and maintaining the skin around the eyes is important for an overall youthful look*
Aging leads to skin becoming thinner and looking less radiant and youthful. The loss of elasticity and reduced collagen production leads to sagging and wrinkles. Volume loss is another main problem. In particular, the area around the eyes is especially susceptible to the signs of aging. For this reason, consulting with a dermatologist to decide on an anti-aging regimen is necessary.
Until recently, surgery was the only effective method to improve appearance. However, preventative measures for aging are simple, such as lifestyle adjustments. Cosmetic treatments with dermal fillers, pharmaceutical injectable and laser treatments can also turn back the clock and improve your overall facial appearance.
In the first article three “Tips for Youthful Eyes” blogs in our Anti-Aging Regimen series, we discussed the importance moisturizing the eye area, getting a minimum of six hours of quality sleep per night, plus eyelid tightening treatments with Thermage. We also also explored the Fraxel family of lasers for a variety of skin rejuvenation treatments, as well as how Radiesse, Juvéderm, Restalyne and Belotero can add volume to under the eyes and eradicate wrinkles.
The following lifestyle changes and cosmetic treatments can assist with an anti-aging regimen to make your eyes look refreshed and less tired.
AN ANTI-AGING REGIMEN FOR EYES
7. Avoid Excessive Ultraviolet (UV) Light Exposure & Wear Sunscreen
Ultraviolet (UV) light is a main culprit for causing skin wrinkles, age spots, melasma and photoaging all over the body and face. UV light is invisible radiation present in sun’s rays and other devices such as such as tanning beds. If you excessively exposure yourself to these rays, your skin’s texture will change for the worse. Excessive UV exposure will also cause premature aging with it highly visible around the eyes. Another important factor to consider is that UV ray exposure may lead to skin cancer and cataracts.
If anti-aging regimen for prevention is too late, advanced wrinkle treatments can correct signs of sun damage around the eyes.
PHOTOAGING AND SUNBURN
Sunburn, also known as erythema, results from excessive exposure to UV light. Since individuals have different skin tones, how long it takes you to burn depends on a number of factors such as your skin tone, genetic and sunscreen use. Skin appears in different shade of pink and red since the skin cells are damaged. To repair the damage, your body is sending extra blood to affected skin.
Exposure to UV light also causes photoaging. Like aging, UV light contributes to the appearance of age spots, loss of skin elasticity and wrinkles. What’s worse is that chronic exposure also leads to premature aging with a leather-like appearance in addition to wrinkles. Since you skin around the eyes is so delicate and thin, chronic exposure wrecks havoc in the area.
Fortunately, protection from UV light can prevent the adverse affects from exposure and need for extensive wrinkle treatment. Sunburns develop when the amount of UV rays exceed the ability of melanin to absorb them.
You should apply SPF 30+ sunscreen daily to the face and areas of the body exposed to sun as part of your anti-aging regimen. You will also need to reapply sunscreen every two hours when doing activities that generate a lot of sweat, if you a doing water sports or if you are in continuous direct sunlight.
You should also wear a hat, avoid direct sunlight for more than two hours, seek shade often and wear protective clothing wheneven possible to protect your body and face from sun damage. Even on cloudy days, you should still wear sunglasses since UV rays can still do damage. Another option is to install UV protective film in your car’s windows.
8. Protect Your Eyes with Sunglasses
Facial wrinkles result from repetitive facial expressions and/or aging. Environmental and emotional reactions processed in the brain are expressed in movement of the body and face. The brain triggers nerve fibers to create motion or contraction in muscles. With common, repetitive facial expressions, the skin creases. Over time, the creases become permanent wrinkles. Age also plays a factor since skin gradually loses its firmness and elasticity.
The simple act of wearing sunglasses daily, even when it’s cloudy, is a simple anti-aging regimen technique. Not only do they prevent you excessive and repetitive squinting, sunglasses protect eye skin that is the most susceptible to harmful UV rays. Choose sunglasses with 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB ray protection.
Though sunscreen and other protective factors such as sunglasses cannot prevent all damage and wrinkles from UV exposure, preventive measure are very important to an anti-aging regimen.
Dr. Sanusi Umar is a board certified dermatologist and surgical dermatologist who is an expert in skin rejuvenation. He offers consultations at his clinic, FineTouch Dermatology, with a Redondo Beach and Beverly Hills office.
For more information concerning your eyes, read An Anti-Aging Regimen: Tips for Youthful Eyes, Part Five.