 You know the feeling. You wake up in the morning feeling great after a good night's sleep, head to the bathroom, turn on the light, look in the mirror only to find a panda bear with floatation devices under its eyes staring back at you. Ugh! No amount of concealer is going to fix these eyes. I feel your pain, but don't worry, I've got you. First, let me break down what's causing the puffiness and dark circles, and then I'll tell you how to fight them. Understanding the Skin Around the Eye AreaWith the skin surrounding the eye area being the thinnest on the entire body, it is common to see the signs of collagen breakdown and aging here first- mainly since we use our eyes to express ourselves so frequently. Puffiness or under-eye "bags" result from collagen and fatty tissue breakdown around the eye area. As we age, the muscles around the eye area can lose their hold on the fatty tissues surrounding the eyes, creating under-eye "bags." This can be hereditary, a result of sun exposure or of normal aging. Dark circles, puffiness, and redness around the eyes can often be caused by alcohol or caffeine and other stimulants like NSAIDs (ibuprofen and aspirin). Lack of sleep, allergens, excess pollution, and smoking can also be the internal culprits of dark circles and puffiness on the lower eyelids. What Can You Do? Before we can treat these eye area concerns, we must pinpoint any lifestyle factors affecting them. How much alcohol, salt or caffeine, and water do you consume daily? Do you suffer from seasonal allergies or sinus congestion? What medications are you taking? How much sleep do you get each night? Is it genetics - do you get it from your momma (or dad)? How much UV damage have you been exposed to? Is it just part of the normal aging process? The good news is that once you can identify some of the culprits contributing to your eye area concerns, you can improve the health of your skin under the eye area with just a few tweaks in your daily habits. Here is a cheat sheet of simple things you can do now!  I know you may be thinking - no margaritas or venti caramel macchiatos - no more fun stuff! Just remember, everything in moderation. If you suspect you have allergies, seasonal or otherwise, an allergist can help you figure out what is going on and may recommend an antihistamine or allergy medicine. Ibuprofen and Aspirin, as well as other medications, have also been known to contribute to the appearance of the skin around the eyes. If you take either of these often you might want to consult with your doctor about finding an alternative. Always consult with your physician before adding or discontinuing any medications. At Home Facial ProductsChoosing home care products with some of the following ingredients is a great way to create changes by treating the breakdown of collagen surrounding the eye area. Loss of collagen volume is often what leads to transparency and hollowness around the eyes, creating the appearance of darkness. Ingredients to look for: Vitamin A (Retinoids): Activates collagen production, the connective tissue that helps our skin stay plump and youthful. Vitamin C: Stimulates collagen synthesis, brightens hyperpigmentation to even out skin tone, strengthens capillary walls. Caffeine: Used for skin firming, tightening and reducing puffiness. Peptides: Help to plump, even out irregular texture and firm the skin by activating collagen renewal. AHAs: Reduces fine lines and wrinkles. Niacinamide: Vitamin B3 minimizes fine lines and wrinkles, reduces inflammation, enhances skin tone and radiance. It also has added UV protection benefits. Hyaluronic Acid: Draws in hydration and helps the skin retain water- plumping the skin.  SPF: 80% of aging is a result of sun exposure. UV radiation triggers pigmentation, breaks down collagen and produces free radical damage - resulting in DNA damage. SPF prevents and protects you from UV radiation. Professional OptionsWhat you do every single day makes a difference to your skin. Receiving professional treatments will enhance and build on the results you achieve through home care products and lifestyle changes.  Non-Invasive: Facial Massage such as Gua Sha to increase circulation and help with lymphatic drainage (monthly) Superficial Peels such as Lite Refresh Peel, SWiCH, or the Facial Infusion Invasive: Fillers: Professionally administered fillers can help to rejuvenate the appearance of the eyes by plumping the hollow under eye circles. Surgery (blepharoplasty): Reshaping of the eyes. Many people who seek this procedure either have pockets of fat or heavy skin on their eyelids- upper or lower. You don't have to live with puffiness under your eyes and dark circles, but you may have to pay attention to what could possibly be contributing factors. The solution that is best for you will likely be a combination of both lifestyle changes and a targeted treatment.
Need help choosing the right treatment to minimize puffiness and dark circles? I'd love to help you find your personalized solution! Leave me a comment below or send me an email and let's connect. 1/26/2023 10:24:08 am
Thank you, for this article. It was very helpful and much needed, as I also wanted to cure my dark circles, so it helped me and I got rid of them. Thanks again Comments are closed.
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