As you age, your skin loses some of its elasticity. Environmental factors, like sun exposure and genetics, play a role in how early wrinkles and fine lines start to appear on a person’s face. The skin around your eyes is an area that’s likely to show earlier signs of aging because the area under your eyeball (the periorbital hollow) has thin skin with blood vessels.

Having lines under your eyes is a typical part of getting older. However, if wanted, you can address them through several preventive methods and home remedies, according to Healthline.

What are wrinkles?

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Wrinkles, a natural part of aging, are most prominent on sun-exposed skin, such as the face, neck, hands and forearms.

Although genetics mainly determine skin structure and texture, sun exposure is a major cause of wrinkles, especially for people with light skin. Pollutants and smoking also contribute to wrinkling.

If your wrinkles bother you, you have more options than ever to help smooth them or make them less visible. Medications, skin-resurfacing techniques, fillers, and surgery top the list of effective wrinkle treatments.

Wrinkles are the lines and creases that form on your skin. Some wrinkles can become deep crevices or furrows and may be especially noticeable around your eyes, mouth, and neck.

Types of under-eye wrinkles and their causes

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People may have one or more types of wrinkles under their eyes, each of which occurs due to a different cause.

Dynamic wrinkles

Over time, the repeated contraction of muscles underneath the skin can cause dynamic wrinkles. These tend to show up when the muscles are in use — for example when someone smiles.

Dynamic wrinkles typically develop between the eyebrows and on the forehead. Crow’s feet, which are wrinkles near the outer corners of the eyes, are also an example of dynamic wrinkles.

Static wrinkles

Skin damage causes static wrinkles, which remain visible even when the facial muscles are at rest. Over time, dynamic wrinkles can become static wrinkles.

Exposure to the sun, smoking, and poor nutrition can all contribute to static wrinkles.

Wrinkle folds

The age-related sagging of facial structures causes wrinkle folds.

These usually develop in the grooves between the nose and mouth, but they may also occur underneath the eyes.

Causes of under-eye lines and wrinkles

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The most common cause of fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes is simply aging. But other common contributing factors may be possible to avoid, like:

• UV radiation

• smoking

• repetitive movements and expressions

• environmental factors

UV radiation

Harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays break down the collagen in your skin. Collagen is the main protein in your skin tissue, and it’s key to your facial structure holding up over time.

Ultraviolet rays can come from unprotected sun exposure and sunless tanning beds. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), unprotected exposure to UV rays leads to an earlier appearance of leathery skin and wrinkles.

Smoking

Smoking exposes your skin to extra oxidative stress, damaging its collagen and elastin. This leads to wrinkles.

Smoking also constricts the blood vessels in your face, obstructing circulation to your blood vessels and depriving your skin of vitamin A.

Repetitive movements and expressions

Facial expressions, like smiling, frowning, and furrowing your brow, can cause fine lines to develop on your face.

Even your sleeping habits can cause fine lines if the same facial muscles are being pushed up against a pillow during sleep each night. Your skin loses its ability to bounce back to its original place as you grow older.

Research indicates that sleeping with your face buried in your pillow can contribute to lines under your eyes.

Environmental factors

Environmental factors, such as dry weather, wind, and pollution can also contribute to lines and wrinkles under the eyes.

Home remedies

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Lots of people turn to home remedies to improve the appearance of wrinkles underneath the eyes.

Various home remedies, such as placing slices of cucumber on the eyes or applying banana face masks, have been popular for many years, but there is little scientific evidence to confirm that these methods work.

However, research does suggest that polyphenols, a chemical compound in foods such as green tea and pomegranates, can help prevent wrinkles.

In addition, an earlier study found that using vitamin C cream might reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Cosmetic products

Hundreds of anti-aging products and eye creams are on sale in drug and grocery stores, but the evidence supporting their effectiveness varies.

The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery warns people to be wary of buying any product that promises miraculous results.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises people looking for anti-aging skincare products to:

• use moisturizers to help minimize fine lines around the eyes

• look for a product that the manufacturers have designed specifically to treat wrinkles

• avoid using more than one anti-aging product within a few days or weeks

• use products that suit their skin type

• look for products that are hypoallergenic and either noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic

Ingredients to look out for on the labels of anti-aging products include:

• broad-spectrum SPF sunscreen

• retinol

• antioxidants

• alpha-hydroxy acids

• argan oil

The AAD advises people to have realistic expectations of anti-aging skincare products, noting that these tend to provide only modest results.

Eat a balanced diet

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Vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin E are all frequently used in skincare products. By incorporating foods rich in these vitamins into your diet, you’ll help your skin (and the rest of your body) form healthy new cells.

Some researchers believe there’s a strong link between a balanced diet and firmer skin. Consider colorful citrus fruits, carrots, and pumpkin to beef up the amount of these vitamins in your diet.

Cosmetic and medical treatments

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Numerous cosmetic and medical treatments for wrinkles are available. These tend to be more effective than home remedies and beauty products, but they also have more possible side effects.

1. Incorporate a Retinol into Your Routine

Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A and is one of the most popular anti-aging ingredients. It works to reduce fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen production — something we all need for plump-looking skin. "The main causes for under-eye wrinkles are due to the weakening of collagen fibers and elasticity due to sun exposure, blinking, squinting, smiling, and facial movements, and the passage of time," says Renée Rouleau, a celebrity esthetician and founder of her eponymous skincare line.

Adding an eye cream formulated with retinol can help keep the skin under the eyes looking smoother and more youthful.

2. Exfoliate

Just like any other part of the body, dead surface skin cells can build up underneath the eyes, preventing your products from fully absorbing and targeting that area, says Rouleau. "Gentle exfoliation as well as adding moisture under the eye helps create a smoother appearance," she says.

The key is to be gentle and use an eye cream with a chemical exfoliant. You won't want to use a physical exfoliant, like a scrub, since the area is very thin and fragile. Rouleau recommends the Overnight Eye Serum from her line ($50, reneerouleau.com) because it gently exfoliates the skin to help reduce dryness, fine lines, and milia bumps. You can also apply it in addition to your eye cream for maximum moisture and hydration. "The result is a skin-plumping effect with fewer visible surface lines," she says.

You can also try chemical peels, which is an exfoliation procedure done by a professional.

3. Moisturize with an eye cream

Lack of moisture can increase the appearance of fine lines around your eyes. Look for moisturizers that are rich in ingredients shown to promote circulation and new cell growth.

Retinol (a derivative of vitamin A), peptides, and hyaluronic acid are all backed by research and aestheticians.

Under-eye products in the form of cooling gels and serums might work best to fight fine lines.

EYES, FACE, OR BODY LOTION?

Keep in mind that applying the same moisturizer that you use on your face under your eyes could irritate your eyes.

Creams that you use on the rest of your body tend to be too thick to be absorbed by the skin under your eyes, which is prone to irritation.

4. Topical vitamin C

Topical vitamin C, like that found in creams and serums, can help plump and hydrate the under-eye area, smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles.

According to an older 2009 in vivo study, vitamin C as ascorbic acid helps the skin retain moisture by decreasing transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

Vitamin C is also known to stimulate collagen production.

According to a 2020 ex vivo study of human skin explants (actual human skin placed in a culture medium), a vitamin C and squalane combination was found to increase epidermal thickness and production of collagen III, a type of collagen helpful for improving skin elasticity and hydration.

5. Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is another powerful ingredient that can help reduce wrinkles and fine lines.

In a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled 2020 study, 34 healthy women ages 40 to 65 received either a test product containing CoQ10 and collagen or a placebo for 12 weeks. The women who used the test product showed improved skin density, reduced overall eye and face wrinkles, and improved skin smoothness.

Try Body Merry Super C-22 Moisturizer or Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Face Creme.

6. Peptides

Peptides are amino acids that make up certain proteins needed by the skin. They’re another collagen-boosting ingredient.

While collagen molecules aren’t easily absorbed into the skin, peptides are. Instead of sitting on the top layer, they penetrate the skin. Once they do so, they help with elasticity, improve the skin barrier, and reduce wrinkles.

Peptides work well with vitamin C and can be found in products, like Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream and Mario Badescu Super Peptide Serum.

Cosmetic procedures to decrease lines under the eyes

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There are also ways to treat fine lines under your eyes using cosmetic procedures and facial treatments, including:

• chemical peels

• fillers

• microdermabrasion

• lasers

• micro-needling

• Botox

These should be performed by a dermatologist or trained aesthetician.

If you’re concerned about your under-eye lines and don’t already have a dermatologist, you can view doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool.

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