Do you know how to care for your eyes?

The skin around the eye can be 1/10th as thick as the skin on the rest of the face. Due to the lesser amount of oil glands around the eyes, this part of the face is more likely to show premature signs of ageing if it is neglected. The eye area can show everyone your lack of sleep, overindulgence of food and alcohol and just how good you’re feeling or not. It is therefore necessary to pay special attention to the eye area and treat it diligently and consistently.

Laugh lines-crows feet

Laugh lines-crows feetLaugh lines commonly called crow’s feet, are caused by the breakdown of collagen in the skin, a direct result of sun exposure and extrinsic ageing, just like other wrinkles on the face. Since skin around the eyes is much thinner than that of the face, wrinkles may appear prematurely.

Using an eye cream twice daily will soften the look of fine lines and deeply moisturise the delicate skin around the eyes. Adding a serum containing Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid, will keep skin firm, moist and plump. Apply a few drops under your eye cream twice daily. Avoiding excessive sun exposure and using eye creams are the keys to preventing signs of aging around the eyes.

Puffiness and bags

Lack of sleep, meals high in salt, high blood pressure, alcohol, and stress can all result in puffy eyes, particularly in the morning when the periorbital area retains fluid. Most often this is not a serious condition and usually improves as the day goes by mainly because being in a vertical position helps redistribute the fluid around the skin.

Using an eye gel directly from the refrigerator works as a soothing, cooling morning treatment for tired, puffy eyes. In some cases the puffiness is not caused by the skin retaining fluid but by the protrusion of the fatty pad under the eye. Your dermatologist or a plastic surgeon can recommend treatment options in this case.

Dark circles

Dark circles are caused by blood vessels showing through the delicate skin around the eye area giving the under eye area a bluish, purple cast, often a hereditary condition. Fluid and hemoglobin from leaky capillaries can pool under the eyes giving a bruised effect and nasal congestion dilates and darkens the veins that drain from the eyes to the nose. Dark circles can also be caused by anemia. The thinner the skin and the more deep set the eyes are, the worse the condition can appear. Skin can appear more pale due to lack of sleep, hormonal changes and pregnancy, which intensify the look of the dark circles though these factors do not actually cause dark circles.

How you can minimise the look of dark circles and puffiness:

• Use an eye cream rich in antioxidants like Vitamins A, E and C which can help strengthen capillary walls.
• Avoid over indulging in salty foods and alcohol which cause the skin to retain fluids, resulting in a shadowy look under the eyes.
• Getting enough rest will minimise the look of dark circles.
• Place cold cucumber slices, an ice mask or tea bags over the eyes to alleviate swelling.
• Rinse your face quickly with ice cold water to reduce swelling.