How to Identify the Source of Your Tired-Looking Eyes

At what point in your life did the woman staring back at you in the mirror look so old? You don’t feel any older, so why is it reflected in those tired eyes? You might think all you need is to get more sleep, but according to New York dermatologist Charlotte Clark, even a full-night’s sleep isn’t enough to get your anti-ageing wellness back on track. While sleeping more is good for your wellbeing, and may help to diminish the appearance of tired eyes a little, to truly target tired eyes you need to first consider their source.

 

So why do you get tired-looking eyes? Anti-ageing wellness expert Jolene Edgar explains, ‘Genetics are the biggest culprit. If you inherit fair or thin skin under the eyes, it’s more obvious when blood pools there (often because of slower circulation from lack of sleep). This accumulation causes fragile capillaries to stretch and leak. Age is another factor. Over time, skin loses collagen and thins, so veins show through more prominently. Sunbathing speeds up this process by breaking down collagen and mottling skin colour.’ Your eyes may suffer even more if you have seasonal allergies. Ranella Hirsch, a dermatologist in Boston, points out that seasonal allergies ‘trigger the release of histamines in the body, which in turn inflame blood vessels and cause swelling.’

 

But how do you workout your individual source of tired-looking eyes? ‘To determine why your circles happen, gently stretch the skin under your eyes,’ Edgar advises. ‘If that area becomes darker, the circles are probably due to genetics or ageing. If the colour doesn’t change, UV rays or allergies are probably the cause.’ Once you’ve found out the culprit behind your tired-looking eyes, you can then move on to treating them. Luckily, we’ve got the solutions you need:

 

1. Vascular Issues: ‘If your circles are the result of vascular issues, double up on pillows at night to stop blood from building up under your eyes,’ recommends Edgar. ‘In the morning, apply a cold compress for about five minutes to constrict the blood vessels…Use an eye cream with caffeine, which helps constrict vessels (try Lancôme Rénergie Microlift R.A.R.E. Intense Repositioning Eye Lifter; $72, lancome-usa.com for info). Other smart alternatives: Arnica-based creams (found at health-food stores), which are considered to have anti-inflammatory properties, may reduce the appearance of darkness. And eye creams with green tea or grape seed oil help strengthen capillary walls (try Replenix Intensive Eye Lightening Serum, $59, dermstore.com). You can tweak your diet, too. Flavonol-rich dark chocolate (an ounce a day) and foods full of omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, walnuts) may improve blood flow to the skin.’

 

2. Seasonal Allergies: Edgar suggests, ‘For allergy-induced circles, consider taking an over-the-counter antihistamine before allergies begin to abate shadows.’

 

3. Thin Skin: Using a collagen-building cream can help to conquer your thin skin issue. Hirsch notes, ‘One of my top go-to ingredients is retinol. It helps increase collagen production.’ For this, you might like to try ROC Multi-Correxion Eye Treatment. Edgar adds, ‘Vitamin C also encourages production and can help brighten skin tone (find it in a product such as Renée Rouleau Vitamin C Eye Serum). And wear sunscreen daily…or you’ll cancel out the benefits from any of these treatments.’

 

Once you’ve got these foundations in place, don’t forget to conceal any under-eye problems with clever make-up! Edgar comments, ‘For quick circle camouflage, apply eye cream and let it dry for a few minutes. Then pat on a creamy concealer that matches your skin tone. Top with a layer of loose powder, which helps prevent makeup from caking in creases.’

Categories: ageing wellness, allergies, anti ageing, blood vessels, Eye Cream, eyes, seasonal allergies, skin tone, thin skin, tired eyes, vascular issues

Healthy Ageing: Are Your Wrinkles Telling You Something?

When your anti-ageing wellness goes awry, you may think it’s nothing more than a sign you’re growing older. However, those facial lines, tired eyes, or unwanted body hairs could indicate something is amiss with your overall wellbeing, and could, in fact, signal some serious underlying health concerns. According to integrative medicine specialist Molly M. Roberts, MD, president of the American Holistic Medical Association, ‘It’ll start by whispering, then it’ll start talking, and, if you don’t pay attention, it’ll start yelling and shouting, and then you’ve got an illness.’ So which beauty signs indicate a major wellness warning?

1. Swollen feet: If your shoes feel a little snug these days, it may indicate a physical injury, sprain or strain. Other conditions, such as infections, pregnancy, obesity, and certain medications may also cause fluid retention in your lower extremities, causing them to balloon. However, the serious condition to watch out for is heart failure, as your heart’s poor pumping action may be causing your feet, legs and ankles to retaining fluid and swell.

2. Tired eyes: Typically, those under-eye bags and dark circles indicate nothing more than a few too may late nights. However, if you’re sleeping like a log but your eyes indicate you’re working like a dog (cue the “Hard Day’s Night” melody in your head) you might want to take a look at your diet. In the thin, loose skin that sits below your bottom eyelid, fluid build-up can cause eye bags and puffiness. This can occur due to a plethora of factors, from allergies to crying, but one of the main culprits is salt, especially if you have a high quantity in your diet. Foods that are high in sodium encourage your body to retain water, especially in the sensitive under-eye area.

3. Dry skin: You usually have nothing to worry about with dry skin. Everyone gets it at some point from the wintry air or an overly hot shower, and it’s nothing more than a minor nuisance. In some cases, though, dry and brittle skin is a sign that you’re dehydrated or have an underlying health problem. If you have a poor diet or an eating disorder, the nutrient deficiency this causes can leach moisture from your skin, as can health conditions like hyperthyroidism or diabetes. If your skin is dry particularly on your feet, legs and shins, it may be a sign of atherosclerosis – the narrowing of arteries that leads to heart disease. This is because the tiny arteries that carry blood to your extremities become blocked, which deprives your skin of oxygen and thereby produces dry, shiny patches.

4. Body hair: I don’t know of many women who want body hair on their face, chest, stomach, back, hands, or feet, but the problem is more than an aesthetic embarrassment. Hair where you don’t want it can be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women of childbearing age. More than 70% of PCOS sufferers have hirsutism, or excess hair growth, and many women with PCOS are at risk of becoming infertile or having infrequent, irregular, or absent periods.

5. Wrinkles: Again, no one wants wrinkles – though they are inevitable – but surprising new research suggests that wrinkles may be a sign of osteoporosis. If you’re brow is furrowed and you’ve spotted grooves around your mouth, the study showed an association between wrinkles and bone health in early-menopausal women. The worse your wrinkles are, the greater your risk is for a low bone density. Excessive exposure to cigarette smoke or the sun can speed the wrinkling process along, so avoid these things to avoid fine lines and possible bone loss.

 

Categories: body hair, Dry Skin, eye bags, feet legs, sign, skin, Swollen Feet, tired eyes, underlying health, Wrinkles