The Eyes Have It
The summer sun is shining more frequently and intensely. As we spend more time outdoors here at home or are traveling to beautiful, tropical places, it is important to remember to protect our eyes – an easily forgotten, taken for granted body part. This delicate area, known as the periorbital region, is unique and needs extra attention in our skin care routine. The skin under the eye is to cover the fat pads that cushion and protect our eyes from injury, but this tissue is susceptible to environmental pollutants and is much more photosensitive. Due to these factors and UV exposure, the skin in the eye area thins and wrinkles at an accelerated rate in comparison to the rest of the skin on our bodies.
As part of our natural aging process skin loses elasticity and the fat deposits under the eye begin to shrink. The loss of collagen leads to crow’s feet. The blood vessels that supply nutrients and oxygen to the eye are smaller and capillaries are so teeny that red blood cells can only fit through one at a time. Our lifestyle choices including lack of sleep, specific food ingredients, stress and fatigue can exacerbate the look of dark circles, ‘sunken eye’ and puffiness. The combinations of all these components facilitate the degradation of collagen harming the eye area causing crow’s feet, which showcases the telltale signs of aging often before anywhere else on our body does.
The good news is that we do have control over many of these changes that occur. Through conscious healthy choices we can repair superficial lines and prevent further damage or deeper wrinkles. Following these steps can lead to healthier skin around the eyes:
Use sunscreen year-round. The eyes are susceptible every day from direct and indirect UV rays. Sunscreens with Zinc Oxide are generally non-irritating.
Wear sunglasses when you are outdoors or exposed through glass for extended periods.
Cleanse your skin- especially at night to remove the dirt, debris, lotion, or makeup from the day. Your skin is repairing and healing at night. Let it breathe.
Use a gentle cleanser and appropriate moisturizer to comfort and soothe skin.
Consider a vitamin supplement like Lutein, which just like in the eyes, helps filter UV light damage reducing oxidative stress in the skin, protecting against signs of aging.
Reduce or eliminate salt intake.
Drink water- stay hydrated throughout the day. Room temperature water allows faster absorption in our bodies.
Invest in products formulated specifically for the Eyes- peptides, hyaluronic acid, retinol, vitamins B, C and K are excellent ingredients to look for
Get as much peaceful, restful sleep as consistently as you can.