The skin around our eyes is some of the most sensitive and fragile skin we have. And since it’s so thin and doesn’t produce its own moisture, it is prone to dehydration and crepeyness. But is surgical Blepharoplasty your only choice when it comes to reversing the changes? Or can non-surgical tweakments tighten this area effectively? Read on to understand what causes the skin on your upper eyelids to wrinkle, as well as the best ways to treat eyelid laxity and prevent its future development.

Understanding droopy, crepey eyelids

Droopy, crepey eyelids are characterised by thin, delicate skin that has lost its elasticity and appears wrinkled, similar to crepe paper. It may even start to droop and hang over the eyes, leading to a tired, aged appearance.

So, what causes crepey skin on the eyelids? Every time we laugh or cry, our lids crease, like folding a piece of paper until the crease becomes permanent—an eyelid wrinkle.  As we age, collagen breaks down, and the effects of UV damage that have accumulated over the years begin to catch up with us. Over time, the paper-thin skin on our eyelids loses its elasticity and settles into folds and creases.  Eyeshadow no longer goes on smoothly, and eyeliner stops looking as sharp as it once did.

Is it possible to prevent crepey eyelids? 

Skin loses elasticity over time, and although we can’t stop the ageing process, there are some things we can do to alleviate upper eyelid crepeyness.

Use a good quality eye cream

This is the most important thing we can do to support the skin around the eyes. A good quality eye cream will keep the area well hydrated, without overloading it. Look for skincare products that contain hyaluronic acid, peptides, vitamin C or caffeine. Vitamin C helps boost collagen production – combined with hyaluronic acid, and your skin should feel plumped and fresher. It’s well worth investing in a good-quality, targeted eye cream. The SkinBetter Science EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream contains a patented combination of a retinoid and an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), in an optimised formulation to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles around the delicate eye area.

Don’t forget SPF

Given that sun exposure is the primary culprit of crepey skin, applying a high-SPF broad-spectrum sunscreen daily is essential to prevent and minimise it. So many people are worried about applying SPF onto their eyelids, if you’re using a well-formulated sunscreen, you shouldn’t experience any irritation.

Use a gentle eye makeup remover and avoid tugging

While it may be tempting to rub your eyes while removing your eye makeup, this can cause some serious distress to your lids. Finding a gentle, but effective makeup remover that doesn’t strip the eyelid skin of natural oils or require manual scrubbing to be effective is important.

Treating, droopy, crepey eyelids non-surgically

Luckily, there are a variety of treatments that can offset the appearance of crepey skin and lift droopy eyelids in the right candidate.

Sofwave

I am a huge fan of energy-based treatments like Sofwave ultrasound which works to lift the brows and upper eyelids. Sofwave is a clinically proven treatment utilising proprietary Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam SUPERB technology. Ultrasound energy passes through the skin’s surface, heating the mid-dermal tissue at a depth of 1.5mm and a temperature of 60-70 degrees C to rejuvenate collagen and elastin fibres and improve the overall appearance of the skin. It delivers a very impressive result around the eyes – with up to a 5mm lift!

Fillers

By placing very small, strategic amounts of hyaluronic acid filler in the upper lid/brow region and in the temple, we can subtly reflate a deflating periorbital frame and give support to a drooping brow.

Botox

We focus on lifting the eye area by treating around the eye area and the frown with muscle-relaxing injections. Fine lines and wrinkles will also be softened. The results are subtle but in the right candidate, it can be very effective.

When is blepharoplasty the better choice?

If someone has very heavy upper eyelids or severe undereye bags, then no treatment is as effective as blepharoplasty. However, most patients are along a spectrum and can achieve great results using one or a combination of the above modalities. To establish what’s right for you, a consultation is always the best place to start. If I feel that blepharoplasty is going to be the most effective solution, I will happily refer you to an oculoplastic surgeon.

If you’d like to discuss the options, click here to enquire or to book a consultation.