What’s the Best Treatment for Under Eye Wrinkles? An Expert Guide to Refreshed, Smoother Eyes 

Explore the best treatments for under eye wrinkles with medical-aesthetic experts.

Under eye skin is the thinnest on your body. This, unfortunately, makes it one of the first places to show signs of ageing... but seeing as you’re here you may know that already and are experiencing it first hand; perhaps you’re looking for an under-eye wrinkle treatment to help soften those unwanted changes.

If you’ve noticed crepey eyelids, fine lines and wrinkle under eyes, perhaps some hollowness or saggy skin around eyes, you’re certainly not alone. These signs of ageing, both around and under the eyes, are incredibly common and natural. However, if they’re making you feel tired looking (especially when you’re not) or less like yourself, there are clinically proven, non-surgical treatments that can help.

In this expert-led guide, our Hertfordshire-based aesthetic experts explore the best treatments for under eye wrinkles and other common complaints noticed around the delicate eye area. We’ll learn how the treatments work and what you need to know to help you choose the right option for your skin. No matter if you’re looking to restore lost volume points to tear trough hollows, smooth creases, tighten saggy skin, or brighten the area, each solution can be tailored to your unique needs.

What Causes Wrinkles Under the Eyes?

So, the skin under your eyes is delicate and thin making it especially vulnerable. There can also be lots of movement around the eyes which can contribute to concerns such as wrinkles in this area. However, there are more factors at play here which can be ageing your eyes:

Collagen and elastin loss: Collagen is a protein naturally found in the body which helps to keep the skin smooth. Elastin, another natural protein, gives your skin the ability to snap back into place; loss of elastin can contribute to sagging skin. Collagen and elastin decline is a natural part of the ageing process.

Volume loss: Again, facial volume loss can be a natural part of the ageing process. It can also be the result of weight loss. When we talk about volume loss, often we’re referring to the shrinkage of fat pads found on the face. With age, not only do they shrink, but they can also move south which leads to a loss of definition and a heavy looking lower face. In terms of how this impacts your eye area, volume loss can lead to the eyes looking hollow, or you may hear about this being called the ‘tear trough’.

Sun exposure: Sun exposure can speed up skin ageing as it can damage the collagen and elastin fibres. This can lead to premature ageing which can show up as wrinkles, crepiness, thin skin, sagging skin, and sunspots (hyperpigmentation).

Lifestyle: Genetics obviously plays a role in how our skin and body age, but lifestyle is an important factor. Things like stress levels, smoking, drinking, sun exposure, diet, skin care, and even the side on which you sleep will all impact how your skin ages.

Facial expression: Repeat movement is a big one for wrinkles around the eyes. Squinting and smiling create dynamic lines (ones that appear during one of these expressions) and these expressions can eventually cause those wrinkles to be static (visible, even when the muscles are at rest).

The Best Treatments for Under Eye Wrinkles

From regenerative skin boosters through to energy-based treatments, these are some of the most loved eye treatments at our St. Albans skin clinic; and, as with all the treatments we offer at our CQC regulated clinic, they are backed by science and data.

Tear Trough Fillers: Restore Volume, Reduce Shadows

Under eye filler is a popular choice for treating hollowness in this area. It is an advanced technique that allows our medical practitioners to strategically place a hyaluronic acid filler (designed especially for this area) to subtly re-volumise the under eye.

It’s worth noting that whilst you might be experiencing under eye hollowness, the best strategy may not be to directly fill this area. Tear troughs may be caused by loss of volume in the mid-face area (like the cheeks) and therefore may be improved by treating this, seemingly, indirect area.

Expert Insight: “Tear trough fillers can be ideal for those experiencing volume loss directly under the eyes which can make the area look dark and hollow.” Says Nurse Natalia, Medical Aesthetic Nurse at Skin to Love Clinic. “The results can be immediate and look beautifully natural, allowing you to look less tired and more refreshed.”

Polynucleotides: Regenerate and Repair Skin

Polynucleotide treatments, such as PhilArt Eye, use biocompatible DNA fragments to stimulate fibroblast activity in the skin. Fibroblasts stimulate the skin to regenerate itself on a cellular level. But that’s not all polynucleotides do; they hydrate, reduce inflammation (another factor which contributes to skin ageing), and improves collagen and elastin production, making them ideal for crepy skin, loss of firmness around the eye, wrinkle under eyes and to the sides of eyes, and for improving thinning and dehydrated skin.

Expert Insight: “I love using polynucleotides under and around the eyes. They a gentle yet powerful skin treatment. Clients notice an improvement in the quality, firmness, and texture of their skin, perfect for tackling signs of ageing whilst offering a very natural look” says Skin to Love’s Nurse Joanne.

Thermage: Tighten and Smooth Without Surgery

Thermage uses radiofrequency (RF) energy to stimulate collagen production deep within the skin. Not only can it be used safely around the eyes, but it can be used on the eyelids themselves, to tighten saggy skin around eyes and heavy, hooded eyelids; smooth and firm crepiness; and soften wrinkles under eyes. All with no downtime.

Expert Insight: “Thermage can be the perfect non-surgical treatment for those who want to tighten and subtly lift the eye area without injectable treatments or surgery. It’s particularly useful to help clients who are noticing that their eyelids are starting to become heavy where the skin is becoming lax,” says Nurse Jane, Founder of Skin to Love and previous UK, European, and Middle Eastern trainer for Thermage. “It can be safely used around the eye area to gradually build long-lasting results, all with no downtime. It has been a firm favourite with our clients since we opened back in 2013.”

Radiofrequency (RF) Microneedling: Targeted Skin Firming and Smoothing

RF microneedling combines two excellent skin treatments into one; microneedling and radiofrequency (you may have guessed from the name!). At our Hertfordshire skin clinic, we use the Neo Elegance system which can be precisely tailored for use around the eyes to rejuvenate the delicate skin. This dual-action treatment boosts your skins collagen to improve wrinkles, firmness, crepiness, and improve overall skin texture.

Expert Insight: “Neo Elegance RF microneedling allows us to treat that very delicate skin around the eyes with control and precision. [It’s a] good option for crepey texture and wrinkles around the eyes.” states Nurse Natalia, “It’s a powerful combination of two technologies in one convenient treatment.”

Wrinkle Relaxing Injections: Soften Movement Lines

We discussed that one of the factors that often contribute to wrinkles around the eyes and, in particular, to the side of the eyes is repeat muscle movement.

Wrinkle relaxing injections, which you may know more commonly by one of the many brand names, Botox, is especially effective for these dynamic lines that appear from muscle movement.

Wrinkle relaxing works by relaxing the muscles that cause these strong movements and therefore softening the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes.

Expert Insight: “This treatment is brilliant for softening wrinkles caused by muscle movement. Its results are subtle, treatment is quick, and it can really impact how refreshed we look.” says Nurse Natalia. “Our approach to wrinkle relaxing is just that, relaxing, rather than freezing. Our clients often want to maintain some gentle moment, so that they look natural, but enough to still be effective at softening those targeted wrinkles. Our clients often see a super result when they combine wrinkle relaxing to target the cause of their eye wrinkles, with a treatment that regenerates the skin and builds collagen such as polynucleotides, RF microneedling, or Thermage.”