The COVID crisis has us looking at people with new eyes. Literally, we are looking at more eyes now than ever since the rest of our face is covered with a mask. We are noticing more wrinkles, more discoloration, more growths…. more tired and old eyes.
What causes under eye circles and wrinkles? Causes of under eye dark circles are multifactorial. Genetics, lack of sleep, lack of hydration, thinning of the skin from photo aging that may cause the vessels under your eyes to be more visible, and loss of fat can create a valley of darkness between your eyes and cheeks. An atopic history like eczema or asthma may also contribute to rubbing at the eyes to cause discoloration and more noticeable lines.
Those seeking treatments can turn to surgery to remove excessive fat and skin. This may be necessary if you have moderately severe festooning, aka “bags under your eyes.” Nonsurgical alternatives for the sunken in depression caused by loss of ligament support and fat include injections with fillers. Expectations must be set that this procedure will not give you surgical results but does improve the appearance of your under eye depressions. I recommend that you seek out a qualified provider who has experience in injecting in this high-risk area.
Dark circles can also be a cause of pigmentation and hemosiderin deposition. A good eye cream with the appropriate active ingredients will improve this condition. Lasers can also be utilized to treat pigmentation and wrinkles. Lasers can be used to specifically target pigmentation or blood vessels under your eyes or lasers can be used as a resurfacing tool to get rid of superficial skin and stimulate collagen to improve wrinkles.
Laser skin resurfacing can be divided into ablative resurfacing with an erbium or CO2 laser or non-ablative laser skin resurfacing with a variety of other lasers or devices. Non-ablative lasers and devices have the advantage of minimal downtime but will need multiple sessions. Ablative lasers can also remove unwanted growths.
Periorbital wrinkles and rejuvenation also can be improved with neuromodulators like Botox, Dysport, Xeomin or Jeuveau. These injections will help with frown lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet.
Maintenance therapy are always recommended with any procedures to maintain your results and as a preventative measure. A good eye cream is highly recommended. Eye creams should have active ingredients to help with collagen stimulation, decrease puffiness, improve pigmentation and hydration. Occasionally, you may need more than one eye cream if you have more than one concern.
Our eyes are important in how we communicate with each other and the world. It is not surprising that we have seem more inquiries regarding under eye concerns and people seeking procedures for periorbital rejuvenation. We can hide behind our masks but the eyes say it all.
Dr. Mary Pentel is a board-certified
dermatologist with Southside Dermatology & Laser Cosmetic Center
572 Jacksonville Drive
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
904-400-7772
