Crepey Skin Under The Eyes: 5 Top Tips To Help

If you have ever used crepe paper to make streamers for a party, then you know what crepey skin looks like. Crepey skin is skin that has become overly thin and wrinkled. It can affect large areas of skin and can make it noticeably more fragile and thin. This occurs when the elastin in our skin has been damaged and reduced. As elastin is a crucial component of the skin, it is the protein that allows your skin to remain flexible, so it can spring back after movement.

Many of us experience crepey skin under our eyes. It presents itself in the form of wrinkles that are fine, but appear more noticeable because of the thinness of the skin.

Although crepey skin typically shows up after our forties, it can happen as early as our twenties. Yes, we know - no one wants to look older than their age, but crepey skin can cause superficial signs of aging, especially in areas where the skin is naturally thin, such as around the eyes.

What Causes Crepey Skin?

Crepey skin can occur as early as our twenties, and can be caused by varying factors including ultraviolet light damage. However, as we age, the risks of developing crepey skin increase.

Crepey skin can also be caused by rapid and excessive weight loss. Crepey skin caused by weight loss though, typically occurs on the inside of the upper arms. Other causes of crepey skin include:

• Certain medications

• Genetics

• Dry Skin

• Smoking

• Pollution

It’s also important to note that if you’re of a fair-complexion you’re more likely to develop crepey skin than those of us with a darker complexion. Therefore, protection from the sun is critical for the prevention of sun damage that can lead to crepey skin.

Why Is Crepey Skin So Common Under the Eyes?

Yes, our poor eyes get the brunt of it and this is because crepey skin most commonly occurs in areas where the skin is already thin. So the eye area is a prime target for the development of crepey skin tissue. Many of us suffer from weak under-eye skin. As the aging process gets into full swing and sun damage occurs, crepey eye tissue becomes commonplace. Yes, the condition is common under the eyes, but it can also occur on the eyelids.

Is Crepey Skin Permanent?

When most of us start seeing crepey skin develop, we often worry about it being permanent. Although crepey skin does not heal itself overnight, it can be drastically improved with time, the right anti-aging products, and lifestyle changes. It can take weeks or even months to see results, but it is possible.

How to Heal Crepey Skin:Top 5 Ways

1. Make skin hydration a priority! Deep moisturization is vital for ensuring your crepey skin is kept under control - particularly extra-rich creams. Using an eye cream is essential, because eye creams are a specific type of moisturizer that are meant for the sensitive eye area. It only takes a small amount of cream to treat the eye area and keep it moisturized.

2. Traditionally, ingredients like squalane, panthenol and hyaluronic acid have been known to help plump up the skin and fine lines.  Bioctive Collagen System from Orora Skin Science offers a potent collagen producing formula powered by HumaColl21 (Human Collagen Tyep 21) that shows better results at diminshing crepey skin then most traditional skincare ingredients including retinol and vitamin C.

3. Exfoliation, although not typically recommended for the eye area, can really help crepey skin. Gentle exfoliation can be used to help the skin under the eye to look younger and glowing by creating a smoother surface that better reflects light. Getting rid of the dead skin cells on the surface will allow fresh skin to take its place, making the lines and wrinkles less prominent.

4. Vitamin C is another vital ingredient in the fight against crepey skin. Using vitamin C helps to increase collagen production, which helps to add structure and thickness to areas that have become thin and crepey, such as the area under our eyes.  Generally, the higher the concentration of vitamin C, the greater the efficacy.

5. Dermatological treatments, particularly a Fractional Laser, which works exceptionally well when you have crepey skin around the eyes. Fractional lasers make micro-injuries in the skin (and may leave you red for a couple of days). However, the healing process creates collagen. For those with darker skin that is intolerant of fractional lasers, micro-needling is the way to go, as it will also trigger collagen building.
   
   In summary, ultra hydration, consistent moisturization and use of collagen producing ingredients are key.

How to Prevent Crepey Skin From Developing?

There are a few steps you can take to prevent crepey skin from developing. One of the most important things you can do is to use a high SPF protection. Sun protection is critical for preventing the breakdown of proteins in your skin. These proteins give your skin structure. And when the structure is gone, thinning occurs, which can eventually lead to crepey skin development. Consider the following for further protection.

1. Moisturize your skin daily. If you want to ease your skincare routine, choose a moisturizer that includes an SPF protection of at least thirty. Like anything else, we must also change our skincare routine as we age. Your skin at forty is no longer the skin you had at twenty and moisture is one of the most important aspects of good skincare.

2. Avoid smoking because it breaks down the proteins that are essential for strong and healthy skin. Not to mention, it also restricts the blood vessels, making it difficult for your skin to receive the blood supply it needs. If you are a smoker, avoiding crepey skin means breaking the habit!

3. Eating a healthy diet that is full of antioxidants can also help to decrease the risks of developing crepey skin. A healthy diet will even improve the appearance of crepey skin you may already have present.

Misconceptions Regarding Crepey Skin

There are a lot of misunderstandings regarding the treatment of crepey skin.

Many of us think that if we just use the right skincare products, our crepey skin will go away over night. If it were that simple, no one would have crepey skin.

Yes, of course the right skincare products will help diminish crepey skin and will definitely prevent it from getting worse, but it must part of a complete skincare and healthy lifestyle routine.

Taking daily a collagen supplement has shown to help diminish fine lines, reduce wrinkles and diminsh crepey skin. The most effective for skincare is marine (fish) collage because it offers the highest bioavailability to human DNA. It's also the most palatable because it leaves the least amount of after taste.

Many of us also feel that our crepey skin can be fully repaired if we simply start drinking large amounts of water. While drinking water is crucial for healthy skin, it will not repair the damage that has already been done.

Home Remedies for Improving Crepey Skin

In addition to skincare products If you are dealing with crepey skin under your eyes or anywhere else, there’s also a few home remedies available. No, none of these are going to work miracles, but we wanted to mention them because if you couple them with the right anti-aging products, it’s possible to start seeing results.

1. Try to avoid stress as much as possible because stress can cause skin damage over time. Learn to relax as much as you can to allow your body to work on skin repair.

2. Avoid wearing makeup too often because it can sometimes lead to skin drying and damage. If you do wear makeup, make sure to remove it thoroughly at night with a gentle cleanser.

See a Dermatologist for Severe Crepey Skin

When skin becomes severely crepey, dermatological intervention is likely going to be needed! Some procedures can be used to help reduce a crepey appearance, so consider the following if your crepey skin has become severe.

• Fractional laser therapy

• Ultrasound

• Cryolipolysis

• Dermal fillers

The above treatments can be used in conjunction with serums, exfoliants, and lifestyle changes to bring about improvements. Remember, you must consult with your dermatologist to ensure the right treatment is used for you.

Ask Our Skin Care Consultant

The truth is that crepey skin can occur just about anywhere on your body and yes, when it forms under your eyes, it can make you look much older. Thankfully, crepey skin can be treated and there are steps you can take to prevent crepey skin from occurring so you can begin to heal.

To ask specific questions about crepey skin or other skincare questions please click on the link and send us your question. One of our skin care experts will get back to you within 24 hours.

CLICK HERE TO ASK OUR CONSULTANT

About Saranghae

Saranghae (which means I love you in Korean) is one of the fastest growing K-beauty brands in North America. Formulated with powerful anti-aging botanicals such as our Sang Hwang mushroom, Saranghae's Complete 5-step System is designed to heal, regenerate and protect your radiant skin, highly effective for treating crepey under eye skin.