Face and Body

Reduce eye wrinkles: Easy ways that actually work

19 November, 2021 . 0

How diet and lifestyle tweaks could be the trick to reducing the visible effects of ageing – especially those fine lines and eye wrinkles.

We all accept the fine lines and varying degrees of eye wrinkles are inevitable but some experts say they can be greatly minimised, if not entirely prevented.

Dermatologist and Enrich Dermatology owner Dr Michael Rich says the most sensitive skin on our bodies is under the eyes.

“It’s not abnormal to have lines under the eyes because even newborn babies have them,” Dr Rich says.

“But with time, contour variation develops and that comes with sun damage, loss of collagen and genetic disposition.

“But the other cause is putting anything on the skin that can irritate it which leads you to rub the area, often with a knuckle, which can cause changes in the texture of the skin, causing it to thicken and become wrinkled.”

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Easy actions to reduce eye wrinkles

Aside from suggesting people stop rubbing their eyes and eliminating any possible causes of allergies and irritations, Dr Rich also says it’s crucial to use sun protection constantly.

“If you only do one thing for anti-ageing, make sure it’s 50+ sunblock,” he says.

Naturopath Kylie Sartori says poor quality sleep and dehydration can have a major impact on the appearance of fine lines, so addressing these factors can help enormously.

“Hydration keeps your body lubricated, it keeps your organs functioning, flushes toxins from your body and helps sleep quality and cognition,” Kylie says.

“When the skin stays hydrated, it can help prevent fine lines developing.

“Aside from drinking at least two litres of water a day, rosehip oil is good because it keeps the oil in the skin.”

Kylie says tools such as quartz rollers and gua sha (a tradtional Chinese healing method) can be used to stimulate collagen production and smooth out fine lines.

“They’re a great way to apply something like rosehip oil, too.”

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How cosmetic treatments address eye wrinkles

There are plenty of cosmetic procedures that can treat under-eye lines including fillers and anti-wrinkle injections, laser, and ultrasound devices that cause the skin to contract.

Which is best for you all depends on the patient’s situation and tightening requirements, according to Dr Rich.

Dr Rich’s preferred treatment for skin tightening around the eye is the Portrait (plasma nitrogen), which he says heats and tightens the skin to great effect.

He says creams with mild levels of retinoic acid, alpha hydroxy acid and beta hydroxy acid can be used but only if they don’t irritate.

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Why minimising stress can help reduce eye wrinkles

Stress is a significant cause of ageing because it increases cortisol levels, which speeds up the process, impacting your immune system and the amount of toxins in your body.

A diet rich in antioxidants (primarily plant-derived) can help remove these toxins, known as free radicals, from your body and reduce the oxidative stress that causes ageing.

“There are some great supplements for this, too, such as Co-Q10 and resveratrol, while foods such as turmeric, green tea, olive oil, salmon, collagen-rich bone broth and red grapes will help,” Kylie says.

She says other foods that are helpful include yogurt, citrus fruits, seeds and nuts, but emphasises good quality sleep can make a world of difference in ironing out fine lines.