Six Tips for Healthy Skin Around the Eyes | National Healthy Skin Month

When it comes to maintaining good vision and healthy eyes, the skin around your eyes may not be the first thing you think about, but one of the first places we show our age is the skin around our eyes. Plus, if the skin becomes too loose or saggy, it can have an effect on vision and your self-esteem.

November is National Healthy Skin Month. We can all use a few tips to keep the skin around our eyes looking good! 
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How the skin around the eye changes

As we age, our skin changes. The skin around your eyes is thinner than other areas of the body. So, the changes may be noticeable there even quicker than other parts of the face.

The area around the eyes can lose tone and start to sag. Fat may also shift, which can make the eyes look sunken in more. Fluid may also pool under the eyes, which makes the area look puffy. The thinning skin may also make it easier to see shadows under the eyes, which creates dark circles. 

Although the above may sound depressing, there are plenty of things you can do to slow the signs of aging under the eyes and keep the skin healthy. 
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Six ways to keep the skin around the eyes healthy 

We might not be able to prevent all the signs of aging, but we can do several things to keep the skin as healthy as possible. Consider the following tips.

Be gentle: The skin under the eyes is delicate. Avoid vigorous rubbing, which can potentially injure the skin. While it is important to take off eye makeup at the end of the day, be gentle when removing makeup and cleaning the skin. A little TLC will help your undereye area stay healthy. 

Use sunscreen around the eyes: Not only does too much sun exposure increase your risk of wrinkles and lines under the eyes, but it can also increase your risk of skin cancer. Use sunscreen every time you go outside during the day. Wear sunglasses as well for added protection.

Sleep on your back: Sleeping facedown can cause the fluid to pool under the eyes. Try to sleep on your back as much as possible to decrease puffiness. But what is more important is making sure you get enough sleep. Try to get seven or eight hours of sleep a night. Too little sleep can make your cortisol levels increase. When this occurs, blood vessels may expand, which can make dark circles look worse. 

Combat puffiness: Puffy eyes can be a problem at any age, but it seems to get worse as we get older. To combat puffiness, use a cold compress under the eyes for a few minutes each morning. The cold may help decrease fluid retention and ease puffiness. There are also many products on the market that help reduce puffy eyes. Look for eye creams that contain green tea or caffeine, which both help. 

Moisturize: The area under your eyes can become dry, which makes lines and wrinkles look worse. Hydrate under the eyes with a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid helps your skin hold onto more water and plumps up the lines to improve its appearance.

Consider professional treatments: If the skin above your eyes is interfering with your vision, consider professional treatment. Blepharoplasty is a procedure that removes excess skin from the eyelids. It is done for cosmetic purposes to look better, but it can also help if the eyelid skin is limiting vision.

If you have any questions about keeping your eyes healthy or if you would like to ask whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time, call our office at 508-746-8600.