How to get rid of crepey skin under eyes

What causes crepey skin under eyes?

Crepey skin is thin skin with a network of fine lines that resembles crepe paper. Sun damage is a common cause: ultraviolet rays break down elastin, the fibers that let skin stretch and spring back. Dryness, aging, weight changes and certain medicines, including long term prednisone, can also contribute.1

Aging also makes skin thinner and reduces the fat beneath it, leaving it less plump and smooth. That is different from a crease caused by repeated facial movement, although both can appear around the eyes. Family history, sunlight and smoking also influence wrinkles.145

How to moisturize crepey under eye skin

Look for moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides. The skin around the eyes is particularly thin and easily irritated; hydration makes it plumper, so wrinkles look less visible. Avoid strongly scented eye creams, which can irritate and dry this delicate area.3

1. 1Test a new product on your inner forearm twice daily for 4 to 5 days before using it on your face. No reaction makes facial use more likely to be safe.
2. 2After cleansing, gently pat a small amount of eye cream around the eyes. Use a finger, such as your ring finger, without pulling or tugging.
3. 3Apply eye cream before your moisturizer, and follow the product's directions for the amount and frequency.
4. 4Use broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day on exposed skin. You can use your facial sunscreen around the eyes or choose one designed for that area.

Can skincare improve crepey skin?

Retinol, a form of vitamin A, stimulates collagen, the protein that gives skin structure, to reduce lines and wrinkles. Peptides are another option for crepey eye skin because they increase collagen and elastin. Choose an eye cream aimed at your main concern rather than adding several antiaging products at once.3

An expensive eye cream is not automatically more effective, even if the jar looks ready for its own dressing room.3

Moisturizer can plump fine lines immediately. Most other antiaging products take at least six weeks to work, and sometimes three months. These are general skincare timelines, not a deadline for eliminating under eye crepiness. Retinol can initially make skin feel drier and flakier before it improves.12

How to reduce the look of under eye creases?

Keep the routine simple: irritation makes signs of aging more noticeable. Stop a nonprescription product if it stings or burns. If a dermatologist prescribed the product, follow their instructions, since some prescribed treatments cause these sensations. Applying more than directed can cause unwanted effects rather than better results.2

For persistent texture or loose skin, a dermatologist can discuss treatments such as laser resurfacing or eyelid surgery. Fractionated lasers improve surface texture as treated skin heals. Surgery can remove excess skin but leaves a scar. Creams can help mildly crepey skin, but a jar is not an eyelid lift.1

Arrange an assessment if wrinkling seems unusually early or is progressing faster than expected for your age, or if you want cosmetic treatment. A clinician can examine the skin and discuss nonsurgical or surgical options rather than treating every under eye crease as the same problem.5