What Causes Thin Skin Under the Eyes & How To Treat It

It's often said that the eyes are one of the first features people look at when they see someone's face, which is why it can be a little disheartening when this area starts to show signs of skin aging such as dark circles, wrinkles, puffiness, and sagging. Factors like genetics, aging, and lifestyle choices can all contribute to thin skin under the eyes, but with the right skincare treatments, you can get back to that refreshed, awake look from the comfort of home.

What Causes Thin Skin?

Thin skin under the eyes is characterized by a reduced thickness of the dermis and epidermis, making the area more susceptible to visible signs of aging and external damage. Several factors can contribute to the development of thin skin under the eyes:

• Genetics: Your genetic makeup plays a role in determining the thickness of your skin, not just around the eyes but throughout your whole body. If thin skin runs in your family, you may be more prone to having thin skin under your eyes, even if it only thins as you age.
• Aging: As we age, collagen production decreases, leading to thinner, less elastic skin. This natural process can make the skin under the eyes more fragile and sensitive, especially since the skin around the eyes is thinner and more delicate to begin with.
• Environmental Factors: Exposure to UV rays, pollution, and harsh weather conditions can accelerate skin aging and contribute to thinning skin under the eyes.
• Lifestyle Choices: Habits such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can have a severe impact on skin health and appearance, leading to thinner skin and more pronounced signs of skin aging in the face and hands, in particular.

What Does Thin Skin Under the Eyes Look Like?

Thin skin under the eyes often presents as more pronounced versions of the signs of skin aging:

• Appearance of Fine Lines and Wrinkles: The reduced thickness of the skin makes it more prone to developing fine lines and wrinkles, especially around the delicate eye area. These lines can become more pronounced over time, giving the skin a creased or sagging appearance.
• Increased Visibility of Blood Vessels: Thin skin can make the blood vessels under the eyes more noticeable, contributing to a bluish or purplish tint. This increased visibility can give the under-eye area a tired or aged look, even when you are well-rested.
• Dark Circles: The combination of visible blood vessels and pigmentation changes can lead to the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. These dark circles can be made worse by factors such as lack of sleep, stress, and dehydration, making the eyes look shadowed and dull.
• Puffiness: Thin skin is more susceptible to fluid retention, which can cause puffiness and bags under the eyes. This puffiness can be more noticeable in the morning or after consuming salty foods, and it can contribute to a swollen, tired appearance.

How To Treat Thin Skin Under the Eyes

Because the skin under the eyes is so thin, it requires targeted products and ingredients that are gentle but still effective. Here are a few recommendations for tweaking your skincare routine to help nourish and rejuvenate the skin under your eyes:

Use Hydrating Products

Keeping the skin well-hydrated is crucial for maintaining its elasticity and resilience. Look for products containing hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and other humectants that draw moisture into the skin, helping to plump and smooth the under-eye area. Hydrated skin appears fuller and healthier, which can reduce the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles.

Our Glowing Skin Set includes a hydrating cleanser, nourishing moisturizer, plumping serum, and refreshing mist to help you hydrate and nourish your skin at every step of the skincare routine!

Eye Creams with Peptides and Antioxidants

Eye creams formulated with peptides can help support collagen production, which is essential for maintaining skin thickness and firmness. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that signal the skin to produce more collagen, helping to strengthen the skin's structure. Antioxidants like vitamin C and E can help protect the skin from environmental damage caused by free radicals. These ingredients work together to improve skin texture, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and brighten the under-eye area. Applying an eye cream both morning and night can provide continuous protection and rejuvenation.

It's worth noting that there are also prescription eye creams available with ingredients such as retinoids, which can help improve the appearance of thin skin under the eyes. Retinoids promote cell turnover and collagen production, which can strengthen the skin and reduce the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles. It is essential to use prescription-strength retinoids and other topical skin medications under the guidance of a skincare professional, as they can be potent and may cause irritation if not used correctly.

Red Light Therapy

Red Light Therapy is an innovative, gentle, effective treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate collagen production, ultimately working to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and rejuvenate the skin.

The Eye Recovery Pro Red Light Therapy Mask is designed to deliver targeted Red Light Therapy to the under-eye area. Utilizing four forms of Light Therapy (Red, Deep Red, Amber, and Near-Infrared), this eye mask helps to target multiple signs of skin aging in the eye area, including crow's feet, 11s, uneven tone, dark circles, puffiness, and sagging.

Our Red Light Therapy devices are powerful, but they're gentle enough to be added into your regular skincare routine. We recommend Light Therapy after cleansing and drying your skin to ensure optimal delivery. When your treatment is done, you can continue with the rest of your routine!

Sunscreen To Protect Delicate Skin

Protecting the under-eye area from UV damage is vital for preventing further thinning and pigmentation changes. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 daily, even on cloudy days, to shield the skin from harmful UV rays. Sunscreen helps prevent the breakdown of collagen and elastin fibers, which can lead to thinner skin and more pronounced signs of aging. Opt for a sunscreen that is gentle and specifically formulated for the face to avoid irritation. Applying sunscreen as the final step in your morning skincare routine ensures that your skin is protected from excessive sun exposure throughout the day.

In-Clinic Cosmetic Procedures

For those seeking more intensive solutions, there are in-clinic treatments that are administered by licensed professionals, which may help improve the appearance of thin skin under the eyes.

Dermal fillers, typically composed of hyaluronic acid, can be injected into the under-eye area to add volume and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. This treatment can provide immediate results, making the skin appear fuller and more youthful. Dermal fillers can also help reduce the visibility of dark circles by adding volume to the area, thereby masking the underlying blood vessels. However, this procedure typically causes temporary swelling, bruising, and the risk of uneven results if not administered by an experienced professional.

Microneedling involves using tiny needles to create micro-injuries in the skin, stimulating the body's natural healing process and promoting collagen production. This treatment can improve skin texture, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and enhance overall skin tone. Microneedling can be particularly effective for addressing thin skin under the eyes, as it encourages the skin to thicken and become more resilient over time. On the downside, microneedling can cause temporary redness, irritation, and discomfort, and it may require multiple sessions to achieve noticeable results.

Lifestyle Tips To Support Healthier-Looking Eyes

In addition to skincare treatments, adopting healthy lifestyle habits can help make your eye area look more awake and refreshed:

• Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water throughout the day helps maintain skin elasticity and reduces the appearance of puffiness and dark circles. Aim for at least eight glasses of water daily to keep your skin hydrated and glowing.
• Get Enough Quality Sleep: Try to get 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night so your skin gets a chance to repair itself. Plus, poor sleep can cause blood vessels under the thin skin to dilate, leading to more pronounced dark circles and puffiness.
• Practice Stress Management Techniques: Chronic stress can negatively impact your skin, leading to premature aging and the exacerbation of under-eye concerns. Incorporate stress management techniques such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises into your daily routine to promote overall well-being and healthier-looking skin.

Conclusion

The skin under the eyes is delicate to start with, but factors such as genetics, environmental damage, or poor sleep and stress can make the thin skin under the eyes even more susceptible to wrinkling, darkening, and more pronounced signs of skin aging. That said, you can combat this fragility by being intentional with which skincare products and treatments you choose. Opt for skin-restoring ingredients like peptides, hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, and protective ingredients like vitamins C and E.

Red Light Therapy also makes an excellent addition to an anti-aging skincare routine, as it helps target visible signs of skin aging around the eyes and throughout the entire face, including wrinkles, fine lines, dark circles, puffiness, creasing, and uneven tone.

Want to see the results of Red Light Therapy for yourself? Check out our Red Light Therapy Before & After Results here. 

Sources:

1. Dark Circles Under The Eyes: Causes & Treatments 
2. Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safety - PMC 
3. Anti-aging and Sunscreens: Paradigm Shift in Cosmetics - PMC 
4. Evaluating hyaluronic acid dermal fillers: A critique of current characterization methods - PMC 
5. Feeling stressed? It can show in your skin, hair, and nails