Eye bags and dark eye circles
Recognize the dark circles and what you can do with eye bags. We strive to look energized, youthful and fresh, but one of the first places to show signs of aging is the skin around the eyes. The sensitive skin in this area is extremely thin, only 0.05 mm thick and contains few sebaceous glands and subcutaneous fatty tissue.
Causes of wrinkles
During aging, skin cells divide more slowly and the dermis, in which the connective tissue and collagen fibers lie, becomes thinner. We lose the elastic and collagen fibers, which causes a loss of support and elasticity.
The skin becomes less and less able to retain moisture. This makes it duller and drier. This together contributes to the development of wrinkles.
Few sebaceous glands around the eyes means faster wrinkle formation
The amount of sebaceous glands around the eyes is lower than on the other parts of the face. A Japanese study showed a relationship between the amount of sebaceous glands and wrinkle depth. As a result, there are relatively more deeper lines around the eyes
Causes of eye bags
Bags under the eyes can be caused by fat bulge, fluid accumulation or loss of volume.
Fat bulge comes from a weaker m. orbicularis oculi muscle (sphincter muscle around the eye) this causes fat to bulge through tears from the fat compartment behind. Often several family members suffer from this.
Fluid accumulation under the lower eyelids is caused by disturbed lymphatic drainage, too much salt in the diet, stress or insufficient sleep.
Loss of volume due to aging, the transition from the lower eyelid to the cheek becomes larger. The tear trough, also called the tear trough, gets deeper.
The tear through, also called the tear through, gets deeper. This causes the superficial fat compartments to move downwards, creating the ‘groove’.
Causes of eye circles
Dark circles under the lower eyelids is also a challenging cosmetic problem. cDark circles under the lower eyelids is also a challenging cosmetic problem.
Dark circles under the lower eyelids is also a challenging cosmetic problem.
Causes of dark circles are diverse:
- dermal melanin (pigment) deposition
- post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after eczema or allergy
- sunlight
- lifestyle
- the combination of a thinner translucent lower eyelid skin and superficial capillaries in that area and volume deficiency (genetically determined) and volume loss (aging) due to a deep-lying eye socket
Brown, blue or blue-gray or purple circles
Different shades of color suggest the cause of the dark circles.
Dermal pigment deposits (sunlight, nevus of Ota, medication, melasma) in the lower eyelid give a brown, gray or blue-gray discoloration.
The lower eyelid muscle, orbicular oculi muscle, lies just under the skin. Due to the superficial blood vessels and thinner skin, a blue-purple blurry discoloration can occur, especially at the inner corner of the eye.
A handy trick to easily determine whether dark circles under the eyes are caused by pigmentation or shining blood vessels is to gently pull up the skin of the lower eyelid with your thumb and index finger. If the color disappears, the dark circles are caused by blood vessels; if the color persists, pigment is the cause.
What can you do?
Many people think of a surgical procedure for these ailments and this often puts them off. Sometimes a lifestyle change is already effective. Sufficient rest, water, tea, juices. Limit alcoholic drinks and quit smoking.
Cosmeceutics & camouflage
There are many products on the market that can do something about dark circles, puffiness and wrinkles to a certain extent.
Tretinoin/retinol
And well-known anti-aging ingredient. Good against fine lines, skin discoloration and for improving your skin texture. The biggest drawback of its use is skin irritation such as redness, burning and flaking. Because of this, there is often reluctance to use vitamin A around the eyes.
An alternative to retinol is Bakuchiol. Bakuchiol shows similar improvements to retinol, but without its side effects. Moreover, bakuchiol is one of the few ingredients that is suitable for people with sensitive skin.
Read more about Bakuchiol
Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E
Antioxidants neutralize the reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are unstable and reactive molecules in the skin that can develop under the influence of ultraviolet light, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. These ROS molecules damage cells in the body.
Vitamin C also plays an important role in the biostimulation of collagen in the skin, has anti-inflammatory effect and has a skin whitening effect by inhibiting tyrosinase (a substance involved in pigment formation).
Vitamin E is a lipophilic antioxidant. One study showed an improvement in wrinkles around the eyes and reduction in UV damage after 4 months. The combination of vitamins C and E have a synergistic effect, another study showed a doubled photoprotection of the combined vitamins C and E due to the addition of a plant hormone ferulic acid.
Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) has a broad effect on the skin. It stimulates the production of ceramide and free fatty acids needed to strengthen the skin’s barrier function, it also has anti-inflammatory and pigment-reducing properties from 4%.
Hyaluronic acid and ceramides are naturally present in the skin. As we age, production decreases, making the skin drier and more wrinkly. Both hyaluronic acid and ceramides provide hydration, maintain your skin barrier, resulting in less transepidermal water loss.
- Other ingredients that are often used to treat puffiness, dark circles and fine wrinkles are: caffeine, green tea, arbutin and growth factors.
- Optical concealers/camouflage is a simple way to hide dark circles.
Injectables
A volume loss or deficiency gives a shadow under the eyes. This cannot be eliminated with creams and camouflage. It is possible to fill it up with a filler treatment.
Filler is a clear gel based on a biodegradable hyaluronic acid. It is injected into the skin with a fine needle to reduce wrinkles and folds. The results are long-lasting, but not permanent, as the body slowly breaks down the hyaluronic acid. Another option is filling it with body fat.
Fractionated CO2 laser
This laser can be used to strengthen sagging eyelids by selectively evaporating the connective tissue to a certain depth. However, not all drooping eyelids are eligible for laser. In this case, a surgical correction of the lower and upper eyelids can be performed.
Pigment lasers such as Q-switched ruby, alexandrite and Nd-YAG laser are suitable for dark pigment spots.
A pulsed dye laser is a possibility for combined pigment spots with fine blood vessels.
