When it comes to determining whether a face is attractive or tired, it is the eyes that are of primary importance. An experienced eye can immediately determine all the secrets of our life and heritage, looking only into our eyes. In medical terms, as we age, our bodies go through a long series of changes, and it is the delicate areas around the eyes that are the first to show signs of these changes.
For some, these signs appear earlier, for others - later, but many of us wonder: what factors are responsible for the appearance of wrinkles and drooping eyelids, and what can be done to join the league of owners of eternally young eyes? .
Unraveling the mystery of aging eyes
Blepharochalasia is not only a strange and difficult word to pronounce, but also a medical term for the appearance of excess skin around the eyes or the effect of heavy eyelids. This is a fairly common problem caused by the normal aging process, fatigue, allergies, slow lymphatic drainage, or other medical conditions.
What is the peculiarity of the skin around the eyes and why is it so delicate?
1. Aging
The skin around the eyes is seven to ten times finer and more delicate than the skin on the rest of the face and body in general. As we age, the skin becomes even thinner due to the loss of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid (which keeps the skin hydrated). The delicate skin stretches under the action of the fatty body, which leads to visible bags under the eyes. Infraorbital fat protrusion is considered a common manifestation of the aging process. In addition, aging and a number of other factors affect the weakening of the muscles, which only worsens the condition of bags under the eyes.
2. Genetic causes
Researchers recently conducted a study to identify the risk factors that lead to droopy eyelids, with a focus on genetic factors. They studied two groups of people. The first group consisted of 5, 578 unrelated people. 17. 8% of group participants had moderate to severe drooping eyelids. In the second group, there were 2, 186 people who were twins, and 61% of the participants in this group had inherited droopy eyelids. These findings support the fact that the most common cause of droopy eyelids is heredity.
3. Sebaceous glands
The periorbital area is drier because there are fewer sebaceous glands compared to the skin on the rest of the face. Therefore, its lipid barrier is worse and it is more prone to the formation of mimic wrinkles.
4. Skull
Prominent cheekbones and deep-set eyes. This is the cause of the hollows under the eyes, the shade of which creates the illusion that the skin under the eyes is darker, although in reality it is not. As we age, the facial bones of the skull change and this situation only gets worse.
5. Translucent capillaries
Dark circles under the eyes are actually the result of hemoglobin oxidation. Hemoglobin is the main component of red blood cells, it contains a heme group, the iron atoms of which bind to oxygen molecules.
In this way, red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body and remove all waste products for destruction. When oxygen molecules bind to the heme group, red blood cells turn red. When oxygen molecules break apart and hemoglobin oxidizes, red blood cells turn blue. That is why dark circles appear under the eyes. If red blood cells are seen through the capillaries around the eyes, enzymes in the body interfere with the movement of red blood cells and oxidize them, turning them blue. When this happens, the waste is released into the bloodstream and carried throughout the body. Translucent capillaries can also cause swelling or fluid retention in the body, making the face look puffy.
6. Toxins in the body
Dark circles under the eyes may indicate trouble sleeping or the presence of toxins in the kidneys or liver. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the top of the eye and the area just below the eyes is the kidney area. Swelling and fluid retention in this area is a sign that the body has too much fluid (watery, puffy circles under the eyes, with a blue tint) or is overloaded with mucus (oily and swollen, with a yellow tint). White or blue circles under the eyes indicate fatigue or exhaustion. A yellow tint indicates malfunction of the liver and gallbladder. If the gallbladder is not up to the task of processing and breaking down fats in the body, this can contribute to the appearance of milia (small, yellowish-white bumps) around the eyes in some people.
7. Frequent eye movements
The skin suffers from frequent blinking and facial expressions (for example, smiling), also called expression wrinkles.
8. Iron
Iron may be another contributing factor. Red blood cells need iron atoms to bind to oxygen molecules. When the iron content in your body is low, red blood cells are unable to bind oxygen and thus bluish circles appear under the eyes.
9. Lifestyle
Puffy eyes are another problem that can appear regardless of age or gender. It is caused by a diet rich in salt, tobacco or alcohol. Due to an unhealthy lifestyle, dark circles under the eyes and early wrinkles also occur.
If you want to know how your eyes will change as you age, look at your parents. This will give you a clear idea of whether you will have a large pad of fat under your eyes. But you can try to change the genetic plan with the help of aesthetic medicine.
Other causes of skin deterioration in the periorbital area can be: stress, malnutrition or malnutrition, excessive sleep or lack of sleep, excessive use of cosmetics (remember to wash it every night), washing too frequently with products that dry the skin (avoid alcohol in cosmetics) and damage by sunlight - photoaging.
Treatments currently available
Wrinkles, puffiness, dark circles, and drooping eyelids are not only unsightly, they can also cause vision problems and headaches (from the constant effort to keep your eyes open). There are many surgical and non-surgical treatments available for tired, sagging or aging eyelid skin.
The choice of eye area rejuvenation method depends on the type of disorder we are treating. For example, aging skin on the upper eyelids may need to be tightened due to excess skin and muscle weakness. The lower eyelids may require treatment for swelling and thinning of the skin, as well as removal of fat pockets. Dark circles under the eyes require separate treatments.
Volume and Moisture: Fillers
The easiest and most effective way to smooth the skin around the eyes is with injectable fillers. They provide a natural look to the skin and help combat sunken eyes. Fillers also improve the condition of dark circles by 15-20%, but they are practically useless in the fight against body fat. There are several types of specially formulated hyaluronic acid gels that reduce wrinkles around the eyes, plumping and hydrating the skin.
laser skin rejuvenation
Laser surgery is a non-invasive way to tighten the skin around the eyes. CO2 or Fraxel laser resurfacing is a very gentle way to gradually restore youth to the eyelid skin, which can be used in parallel with fillers or surgical techniques.
Lasers at the microscopic level cause thermal injury to the skin, to which the skin reacts with rapid healing and shedding of old damaged cells. Old cells are replaced by new, younger cells. The CO2 laser can also improve the elasticity and texture of the skin and reduce fine or deep wrinkles, acne scars, and freckles.
Surgical methods: blepharoplasty
If non-surgical methods do not provide the desired result, blepharoplasty (or eyelid reduction surgery) is used. This procedure is a very effective way to achieve the desired look.
The surgeon makes small incisions in the eyelids and under the eyes, removes excess fat and tightens the skin, and then closes the incisions with sutures. Removal of the fat pad under the eyes significantly reduces puffiness. Surgery can also remove droopy (drooping) eyelids, but it does nothing to combat dark circles or drooping brows; these issues need to be addressed separately.
Blepharoplasty is the only way to remove protruding body fat, especially in overweight people (excess fat accumulates under the eyes in these patients). But non-surgical methods do an excellent job of tightening the skin, wrinkles and hollows under the eyes.