When it comes to determining whether a face is attractive or tired, it's the eyes that are of paramount importance. An experienced eye can immediately determine all the secrets of our life and heredity, just by looking at our eyes. In medical terms, as we age, our bodies go through a long series of changes, and it's 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 are wondering: what factors are responsible for the appearance of wrinkles and droopy eyelids, and what can be done to join the league of eye owners forever. young people.
Unraveling the mystery of aging eyes
Blepharochalasis 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 quite a common problem caused by the normal aging process, fatigue, allergies, slow lymphatic drainage or various 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 thinner 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 is stretched under the action of the fat body, which leads to visible saggy bags under the eyes. Infraorbital fat protrusion is considered a common manifestation of the aging process. In addition, aging and various other factors affect the weakening of the muscles, which only worsens the condition of the bags under the eyes.
2. Genetic causes
Researchers recently conducted a study to identify the risk factors that lead to drooping eyelids, with special attention to genetic factors. They studied two groups of people. The first group consisted of 5, 578 unrelated people. 17. 8% of the 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, her lipid barrier is worse and she is more prone to mimic wrinkle formation.
4. Skull
Prominent cheekbones and deep-set eyes. This is the cause of hollows under the eyes, the shadow of which creates the illusion that the skin under the eyes is darker, even though in fact 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, whose iron atoms 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 are separated and hemoglobin is oxidized, red blood cells turn blue. That's why dark circles appear under the eyes. If red blood cells appear through the capillaries around the eyes, enzymes in the body interfere with the movement of red blood cells and oxidize them, making them blue. When this happens, waste products are released into the bloodstream and transported 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 can indicate problems with sleep 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 area of the kidneys. Swelling and fluid retention in this area is a sign that the body has too much fluid (watery, puffy dark circles with a blue tint) or is overloaded with mucus (greasy and swollen, with a yellow tint). White or blue circles under the eyes indicate fatigue or exhaustion. A yellow tint indicates liver and gallbladder malfunction. If the gallbladder isn't up to the task of processing and breaking down fats in the body, it can contribute to milia (small yellowish-white bumps) around the eyes in some people.
7. Frequent eye movements
The skin suffers from the fact that you blink frequently and from facial expressions (for example, smiling), also called expression wrinkles.
8. Iron
Iron may be another contributing factor. Red blood cells need iron atoms to bond with oxygen molecules. When the iron content in your body is low, the red blood cells are unable to attach oxygen to themselves and hence, bluish circles appear under the eyes.
9. Lifestyle
Swollen eyes are another problem that can appear regardless of age or gender. It is caused by a diet high in salt, tobacco or alcohol. Due to an unhealthy lifestyle, dark circles and premature wrinkles also occur.
If you want to know how your eyes will change with age, look at your parents. This will give you a clear idea if you will have a big fat pad 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, too much sleep or lack of sleep, excessive use of cosmetics (remember to wash it every night), washing too often with products that dry the skin (avoid alcohol in cosmetics) and damage from sunlight - photoaging.
Currently available treatments
Wrinkles, bags, dark circles, drooping eyelids are not only unsightly, but can also cause vision problems and headaches (from constantly straining 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 dealing with. For example, the aged skin of the upper eyelids may need to be tightened due to excess skin and muscle weakness. Lower eyelids may require treatment for swelling and thinning of the skin, as well as removal of fatty bags. Dark circles under the eyes require separate treatments.
Volume and Moisture: Fillers
The easiest and most effective way to smooth the skin around your 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, adding volume and moisture to the skin.
laser skin rejuvenation
Laser surgery is a non-invasive way to tighten the skin around your eyes. CO2 or Fraxel laser rejuvenation is a very gentle way to gradually restore youthful 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 skin elasticity and texture 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 get the look you want.
The surgeon makes small incisions in the eyelid and under the eyes, removes excess fat and tightens the skin, then sews the incisions together. Removing the fat pad under the eyes significantly reduces puffiness. Surgery can also remove drooping (hanging) eyelids, but it does nothing to combat dark circles or droopy eyebrows—these issues need to be treated separately.
Blepharoplasty is the only way to remove a body of protruding fat, especially in people who are overweight (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.