Amongst the many concerns that we usually have, our eyes most commonly sit highest on that list, especially now more so than ever before.
Due to the worldwide pandemic and the frequent wearing of masks, this has forced us to focus more on the areas that are frequently on display and less on the areas that we can cover up.
The reason for it, is that we tell a story through our eyes. They show when we’ve been sad by the puffiness from crying, the happy moments had through laugh lines and a lifetime full of wisdom and experience. Our eyes make us vulnerable and wanting to seek out solutions to hide the flaws. I have therefore put together this list of the most common eye concerns that you may have and share with others.
PUFFINESS
which is also known as ‘oedema’ under the eye area is mostly caused by a build up of bodily fluids. As the skin under the eyes is incredibly thin we tend to see more activity in this area than the rest of the face. There are many factors that contribute to excess fluids around the eyes such as allergies, medications, health conditions, lack of sleep and a diet high in salt intake.
Most people usually wake up with puffy eyes because whilst we sleep our eyes are closed and all of the body fluids are at one equal level and once you get up and start moving your body and blinking, the excess fluid will drain from around the eyes. There are the unfortunate few that constantly suffer from puffy eyes due to an inherited facial feature, which in most cases cosmetic surgery may be needed to correct it.
As you get older the fat that once provided protection around the eyes begins to push up through a thinned membrane that once used to hold the fat in place, but has now herniated and allowed the excess fat to lift up and fill the space beneath, creating puffy bags underneath the eyes.
TREATMENT
It is recommended before seeking treatment to first figure out what the cause is to better determine which treatment will be most effective and deliver the best results. The following treatments have been found to be effective in improving the appearance of puffy eyes:
Carbon Dioxide Therapy: Creates oxygen deficit to increase new blood circulation.
Lymphatic Drainage: Assist in removing excess fluids
Cold Teaspoon/Gel pack: Reduces excess fluids and constricts blood vessels.
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WHAT CAUSES SAGGING SKIN?
There are two primary factors that play a huge role in the firmness and thickness of the skin which is commonly known as collagen and elastin. As the skin around the eyes is much thinner, it will struggle to produce the same amount than that of the rest of the face. The skin over time will lose its firmness due to cellular ageing and constant movement. Fatty deposits and facial bone structure that once gave the eye area its support are now lost through age, causing the skin that sat above it to now hang and sag.
The treatment of sagging skin around the eyes, includes a few factors. Firstly, it is important to restore and stimulate new collagen and elastin production to get the overall health of the skin to function at its best which will contribute to the overall success of the treatment. Secondly, the loss of structure and fullness underneath the skin will need to be replaced.
Sagging skin around the eyes is very common, we treat this concern on daily basis at Dermology. There is definitely options to consider, before opting for surgery.
TREATMENT
Profractional XC: Creates micro injuries to the skin to stimulate collagen and elastin. Additional heat can be added to the treatment to increase the ‘tightening’ effect of the skin.
BBL Skintyte: Contracts existing collagen and stimulates production of the new.
Micro Laser Peels: Smooths and even out the skins texture.
Filler: A Hyaluronic based ingredient used to replace lost facial fat deposits to lift and plump up the skin.
Carbon Dioxide Therapy: Stimulates blood circulation to the area for healthy skin functioning.
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ANOTHER COMMON CONCERN
This concern amongst the others I would have to say is the most common at our clinic. Dark eyes give off an appearance to others of constantly being tired and physically drained. There are many different factors that can contribute to darkness under the eyes such as:
•Lack of/poor sleeping patterns.
•Poor blood circulation.
•Low iron levels.
•Shadowing created from the hollow space under the eyes.
•Pigmentation from constantly rubbing the eyes due to allergies.
Another condition that can cause the “look” of dark circles is sagging skin. Think of a balloon, if you stretch the balloon the color goes lighter, but if you relax the balloon the color goes darker.
This makes it incredibly difficult to pin point exactly what could be the cause, but best case would be to use a process of elimination to determine what exactly the cause could be.
TREATMENT
As we have little control of what is going on in the inside we can then focus our attention to improving the colour, blood circulation and overall health of the skin surrounding the eyes using the following available treatment options:
Carbon Dioxide Therapy: Creates oxygen deficit to increase blood circulation.
Micro-needling: Infuse de-pigmenting ingredients to brighten the eye area.
Peels: Specialised peel suitable for the eye area to remove dead skin and pigmentation.
Fillers: Hyaluronic based ingredients to fill the hollow tear trough below the eyes.
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SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH
As a natural part of the ageing process the structure of the skin changes.
It is less thick, not as firm as what it once was due to the constant battle against gravity and free radical damage. This aids in the development of fine lines which will turn into deeper wrinkles.
By this point the quality of the collagen and elastin that is being produced is poor, which means that in order to move forward we have to break down the existing structures in order to produce new. The best way for us to do this will be to create controlled injury to the skin to train and restore what the skin would naturally do on its own.
At Dermology we offer a wide range of specialized procedures to target these concerns. We use world class equipment to create longterm results.
Laser Resurfacing combined with Chemical Peels and Light Therapy is always a good option, but sometimes we also combine injectable procedures performed by our Medical Doctor. Combining procedures, expertly put together, often ensures for the best possible outcome.
Let’s have a look at some of these options.
TREATMENT
When we get the skins natural healing mechanism to function on its own, this will ultimately help you to achieve the best possible results. Depending on the severity of the visible signs of ageing will determine how extreme one would have to go with treatment:
BBL Forever Young: Removal of superficial discoloration and hyper-pigmentation.
BBL Skintyte: Deep heating within the dermis to stimulate collagen production.
Profractional XC: Creates micro injuries to the skin to stimulate collagen and elastin. Additional heat can be added to the treatment to increase the ‘tightening’ effect on the skin.
Micro-laser peels: Smooth and even out skins texture.
Contour TRL resurfacing laser: Complete resurfacing of the skin to the base of where the wrinkle lies (Preparation is key with this procedure as it is invasive and requires time for healing post treatment).
Botox: Inhibits muscle contractions which limits movement of the skin.
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The following concerns are considered to more a condition of the skin that is visible and therefore becomes more cosmetically disturbing for those that suffer from them. Luckily there are effective and successful ways for treating the following concerns:
SYRINGOMAS
What are they?
Syringomas are benign skin tumours that are caused by an over production of the sweat glands. They are most commonly found around the eyes but can occur on other areas of the body as well. As they do not cause any reason for concern, they are often left alone and the longer they are left, the larger they tend to grow in number and in size. They appear as ‘skin coloured lumps’ with a slightly yellow tinge.
How do you treat it?
There are multiple treatment options that one could use to treat Syringomas. At Dermology we pride ourselves with working with state of the art equipment, making laser our first choice to safely and effectively burn and flatten down the raised bumps on the surface of the skin. If you are prone to Syringomas, understand that maintenance treatments will be needed again in the future as they are known to make a comeback after some time.
XANTHELASMA
What is Xanthelasma?
Xanthelasma looks like yellow plaques on the surface of the inner top and bottom eyelids due to high levels of fat in a persons blood stream associated with certain conditions of high cholesterol and dyslipidemia which is a lipid (fat) disorder. As with syringomas, the reason for treatment would be more cosmetic to improve the overall appearance of the skin on the eyes.
How do you treat it?
All skin affected by the xanthelasma would need to be destroyed and the best course of treatment would be to incorporate laser to burn off any discoloured areas of skin. The plaques created are only a by-product of an existing underlying condition which will require internal treatment to create best results on the outside. Maintenance treatments will be needed from time to time to keep the skin in tip top shape.
MILIA
What is Milia?
Milia (Milium) most commonly occur in newborns but can affect adults due to a build up on dead skin that collects in pores and develops a small cyst. The cyst appears as a tiny white bump on the skin which is completely harmless and if left untreated will eventually grow. Many of our patients are frustrated by these tiny bumps because no matter how hard you squeeze or pick, they don’t budge.
How do you treat it?
Milia cannot be squeezed out like your ordinary black/white heads because they are comfortably ‘snug’ under a thin layer of skin that needs to be broken either using a blood lancet (Small needle) to create an opening on the side of the milia or laser to gently ‘chip off’ layers of skin until the milia presents itself and can then be squeezed out. Milia can prevented through regular exfoliation and by not using products that are too rich/oily for your skin that would cause your pores to be blocked.
Why cant I use my other face products around my eyes?
You could most definitely apply your face products to your eyes but not without running into a few unwanted reactions or complications. The key ingredients found in eye serums have been carefully formulated to be used safely around the eyes without causing irritation. They are usually made up of a small molecular size to be quickly absorbed into the skin to target and treat specific concerns.
What is correct way to apply eye cream?
Your probably thinking “How could there possibly be a wrong way to apply my eye cream, what could go wrong”. To answer that question the best way would be to explain that the area surrounding your eyes is incredibly thin and delicate and should be treated in the same way. We cannot apply heavy pressure or use too much product that would leave your eyes smothered and you half blinded by the blur.
A PRO TIP is always to apply your skincare products from lightest to heaviest. The lighter can be absorbed first before the heavier product is applied over. I personally like to use my ‘active’ eye product during the day and a more hydrating eye fluid at night so that I don’t wake up with puffy eyes caused by the potency of the ‘active’ eye ingredients.
The application of eye products is pretty simple by following these easy steps:
•Ensure that your hands and skin are clean and make-up free.
•Apply a small amount of your eye product to your ring finger. (The muscles are slightly weakened which will use less pressure when applying product).
•A pea size amount is needed for this area. Touch your ring fingers together to get product on each of them.
•Use the bone around your eyes as a guideline to follow around by gently patting the product into the skin.
•Follow the bone under, to the sides and on the brow bone. The product will travel up to the eye without you having to put it there directly.
•Never apply product to the eye lid itself (The soft skin covering your eye ball).
•Ensure you focus on those ‘problem’ areas that you want to improve.
•If you have lots of product left over, you probably used too much but can still apply any excess to your lips as an extra treatment.
The eyes are the windows to the soul and so they should be treated that way. They do so much for us on a daily basis, allowing us to broaden our sight and senses, making it a priority for us to give back to them in ways to help them function and look better too.
