Usually first becoming visible in your 20s or early 30s, fine lines and wrinkles under the eye are a common concern. The skin under the eyes is thinner than the rest of the face and more susceptible to external factors that can increase signs of ageing. As collagen and elastin start to decline from your mid-twenties, your skin cells lose their ability to renew themselves, and wrinkles begin to become visible – particularly if you have an expressive face. As you continue to age and collagen and elastin levels continue to decline, the skin under the eyes becomes noticeably more fragile and thin, leading to a crepey appearance.

The good news is, there’s a lot you can do to improve the appearance of crepey skin, especially if you are up for trying the latest and most effective skincare, supplements and tweakments.

Why does skin get crepey?

Crepey skin is very thin, fragile, and finely wrinkled—resembling crepe paper. In some cases, it also looks loose or saggy. Crepey skin has one primary cause: sun damage, which breaks down the collagen and elastin that ordinarily keep skin supple and firm. Intrinsic ageing is another factor since the body’s collagen and elastin production slows down over time. Pollution and smoking can also break down collagen, and significant weight gain or loss can contribute to this common concern.

Can it be prevented?

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. Cover up in strong sunlight and avoid using tanning beds. Using retinol will help to increase collagen production to add structure and thickness to this naturally thin area of skin. Medical grade eye creams, especially those designed to stimulate collagen and hydrate the skin, such as SkinBetter AlphaRet Eye Max are also helpful.

Top treatments for crepey skin under the eyes

Crepey skin can be trickier to treat than fine lines and wrinkles, but there are a few in-clinic procedures that are very effective for minimising the appearance of crepey under-eyes.

Fillers

Injectable fillers can treat crepey skin in two ways. As you’d expect, they add volume that immediately plumps and smoothes skin. But research also shows that certain types of hyaluronic acid facial fillers can stimulate your body’s natural production of collagen to some extent.

Under the eyes, fillers plump up and smooth the skin, reducing the appearance of hollows, and minimising shadows under your eyes, restoring a fresh and youthful appearance.

LightEyes Ultra

LightEyes Ultra is a type of mesotherapy formulated especially for the delicate eye area, and it’s the perfect treatment for injecting hydration into the skin to diminish fine lines and crepey skin.

The formulation contains Hyaluronic Acid, Ruscus, Vitamin C, antioxidants and botanical extracts to improve microcirculation, skin elasticity, puffiness, dark circles and periocular drainage, whilst protecting against oxidative stress.

Sofwave

Sofwave is a clinically proven, non-invasive approach to remodelling collagen within the skin, improving lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. Using 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 can be used up to the lash lines, making it an excellent option for tightening skin under the eyes and smoothing under-eye crepiness.

Skin Peels

Chemical peels use specially formulated natural acids such as glycolic and lactic acid to exfoliate away damaged top layers of skin and encourage cell turnover. One of the benefits of a peel is a significant improvement it can achieve for skin texture. Once the old, damaged skin cells disappear, you’ll see brighter, smoother skin.

Will collagen supplements help my crepey skin?

It is well worth trying one of the collagen supplements with decent data to show that it can improve the firmness and elasticity of the skin from the inside out. I’m a big fan of both ZENii Skin Fusion and Dose & Co.

Want to find out more about any of these solutions? Click here to book a consultation with an expert practitioner.