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How to Care for the Sensitive Skin Under Your Eyes

how to care for thin sensitive under eye skin

Skin care for skin under your eyes is important because the eye area skin is unique compared to the rest of the skin on your body. Yes, the skin below your eyes has its own set of skin care "rules." It's uncommonly sensitive, thin, and for better or worse, is often a window into your overall vitality for others to see. Have you had someone say to you "Are you okay? You look tired today," just because the skin under your eyes is a little puffy or the under-eye circles are darker than normal for some reason?

Have you ever applied products to your face to find it burns or stings on your under-eye skin?

Do you know how to care for your under-eye skin?

Why do you need special skin care for the skin under your eyes?

Understanding how to care for the skin under your eyes is important for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that the area is so noticeable. It's also important to prevent this sensitive skin from becoming damaged from sub-par skin care products, from improper practices, or from sun exposure.

The unique properties of under-eye skin require subtle differences in moisturizers, products, and product application techniques.

I recommend you use gentle products that are appropriate for this unique eye area such as a gentle skin cleanser, rich but hypoallergenic moisturizer and mineral zinc oxide sun screens. If you want to address eye area skin aging or dark circles, I recommend a specific eye cream instead of products formulated for the thicker skin of your face. 

The Best Skin Care Products for the Sensitive Skin Under Your Eyes:

 

best skin cleanser for sensitive skin under eyes
Extremely Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser (pH balanced)

 

 

best skin cream for sensitive skin under eyes
Daily Moisturizing Face Cream (with squalane, glycerin, ceramides and antioxidants)

 

Sheer Strength Pure Physical Tinted or Invisible Sunscreen (mineral zinc oxide based SPF)

 

best tinted eye area sunscreenbest eye sunscreen

 

best eye cream to fight skin aging and puffiness
Advanced Corrective Eye Cream (retinol, niacinamide, peptides and vitamin K in the right amount to target eye area problems

 

I want to help you understand the unique aspects of the skin around your eyes and provide basic guidelines so that you can take good care of this important area of your complexion. 

Why is the skin under your eyes different?

The eyes are important sensory organs. Naturally the design of the body accommodates special requirements and protection for organs essential for our survival. For this reason, the surrounding eye skin is much more photosensitive and environmentally sensitive compared to the skin on other parts of the body due to its thinner nature and proximity to an area designed to collect light.

The skin under your eyes is thin

skin care for thin skin under your eyes

The skin under your eyes is thinned to provide room to cover tiny fat pads that cushion and protect your precious eyeballs from trauma or force injury. This lower eyelid skin is not as mobile as our upper eyelids; thus, the underlying muscles are not as thick and developed in your lower eyelids.

The skin on the rest of your body is much thicker than the skin around your eyes. Thicker skin is more resistant to harsh chemicals, harsh weather, and UV sun rays. It means your eyelid skin is often "the canary in the mine shaft" for allergic reactions or irritation from skin care product ingredients.

Eye area skin also thins and wrinkles faster from sun damage than anywhere else on your body.

The wrinkles, called 'crow's feet' are often the first sign of early skin wrinkling that brings patients to the dermatologist looking for wrinkle prevention advice.

In contrast to your eyelid skin, have you noticed that your skin is thickest in areas where the most pressure and use occurs (hands, feet, elbows, etc.)? The body's adaptation is really fascinating to me, but I digress.

The bottom line is that the lack of adaptation for pressure and use, the thinness, and underlying protective fat pad behind your lower lids result in a unique skin type that requires different care compared to the skin covering the rest of your body. 

What are the most common skin problems of the skin under your eyes?

Skin under the eyes shows early signs that you are not feeling well

thin skin under your eyes shows when you are not well

The thin aspect of the skin under your eyes makes it more susceptible to overall issues occurring in the body. If you are dehydrated, sleep deprived, fighting a cold, etc., often your under-eye skin appears dark and puffy. The blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients are smaller in thin skin, so if you are dehydrated or not well (e.g. lacking sleep, are ill, etc.), the thinnest parts of your skin will start to show it first. It is important to maintain adequate hydration, good sleep hygiene, and general health to nourish your skin so that being "under the weather" doesn't show right through your under-eye skin.

The under-eye skin is also one of the first areas of your skin to show the signs of aging.

The thin skin loses its elasticity faster and the fat deposits underneath start to shrink, creating that puffy and "sunken eye" look. This is why it's important to protect this skin from sun damage to prevent thinning. It's also important to target one or more of the skin care methods to boost the strength of your skin and promote collagen growth to retain the structural integrity. Check out Dr. Bailey's original blog for treating under-eyelid issues.

The under-eye skin will show early allergy to products or contact with other allergens.

Lastly, the location and nature of the under-eye skin makes it very sensitive. It will be easily irritated by harsh cleansers, anti-wrinkle creams, and beauty products.

Is the skin under your eyes burning?

It could be irritation or allergy to skin care products that you apply to your eye area or that migrate and melt there. It is always important to read the labels of each product to determine if it is safe for application around the eyes, because in most cases, it is not. Skin care manufactures develop products specifically designed to treat and to care for under-eye skin for this reason; it is difficult to create a beauty product that can effectively treat all the different skin types of your face.  

Now for some practical skin care tips for treating the thin and delicate skin under your eyes 

care for the thin sensitive under eye skin

Tips on How to Care for Your Under-Eye Skin

1. Avoid harsh cleansers and skin care products around the eyes.

  • Even be cautious with hypoallergenic skin products.
  • Choose products designed for eye skin or that indicate on the label it is safe for eye use.
  • Apply new products sparingly at first, such as once, a day to see if irritation develops.

2. Protect the under-eye skin with sunscreen designed for sensitive skin and that does not migrate easily when it warms to skin temperature.

  • The under-eye skin is thin and photosensitive, making it more prone to sun damage.
  • Zinc oxide sunscreens generally do not irritate the eyes. Great options include my Sheer Strength Pure Physical SPF 50+ sunscreens, either the Matte Tinted (I wear this daily) or the Invisible. For extremely sweaty or wet activities, Raw Elements Eco Stick provides excellent protection and will not migrate into the eyes to cause stinging.  

3. Wear broad spectrum sunglasses for all-day outdoor activities.

  • Choose sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays to protect both your eyes and surrounding skin, especially during all-day physical activities.  Glasses that wrap around the sides of your eyes are the best.

4. Maintain Healthy Life Habits.

  • Exercise.
  • Practice good sleep hygiene.
  • Eat healthy foods and keep your body well hydrated.

To see Dr. Bailey's recommended products for the eye area, click here.

    Originally written by Angela

    Angela is a nursing student that is just few months away from getting her RN license! In her previous life, she was a chemical engineer, and (like Dr. Bailey) is a bit of a nerd when it comes to science. She has been part of the Dr. Bailey Skin Care Team for the past two years and is very passionate about the field of dermatology and skin care. Currently she works on a Burn ICU learning how to treat severe trauma to the skin. If she manages to take a break from her hectic school/work schedule, she enjoys knitting fancy scarves and hats for her friends, camping or backpacking in the great outdoors, and finding new local restaurants and microbrews to satisfy her inner “foodie.”

     

    Photo: Thanks and Gratitude to © Brüderchen & Schwesterchen GmbH/Corbis

    References:

    Lewis, Sharon L., RN, PhD, FAAN, Shannon Dirksen, RN, PhD, FAAN, Margaret Heitkemper, RN, PhD, FAAN, Linda Bucher, RN, PhD, CEN, CNE, and Mariann M. Harding, RN. PhD, CNE. Medical- Surgical Nursing: Assessment and Management of Clinical Problems. Ninth ed. St. Louis: Elsevier, Mosby, 2014. Print.