It’s hard to believe it’s been over four years since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but its effects on our daily habits, and our appearance, still linger. Although masks are no longer a universal staple, many patients tell me they’ve developed a heightened awareness of their eyes and the signs of ageing around them.
We are living through an extremely stressful time with ever increasing demands which are leaving their mark, and for many, their eyes now seem to reveal more than they’d like. If you’re looking to restore that bright, youthful sparkle to your eyes, read on for my expert tips and insights.
Why the Eyes Matter More Than Ever
They say your eyes are the window to your soul. From crow’s feet (peri-orbital wrinkles) to hooded eyelids and under-eye dark circles, the delicate skin around the eyes is often the first to show signs of ageing and fatigue.
The increase in home working often results in increased screen time, plus modern life tends to rely a lot on small mobile screens. These combined stress factors can take a toll, resulting in tired, less vibrant eyes.
Everyday Eye-Care Tips
A few simple habits can make a world of difference in preserving youthful, healthy eyes.
- Stay Hydrated: Dehydrated skin is more prone to fine lines and dullness, so keep your water intake consistent.
- Use Sunscreen Every Day: Protect the delicate skin around your eyes with SPF50, even during the winter months. Sunglasses are essential in the summer to shield against UV damage.
- Limit Screen Time: Prolonged exposure to screens can strain your eyes. The 20-20-20 rule—taking a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away every 20 minutes can reduce fatigue. Use lubricating eye drops if you experience dryness.
- Prioritise Rest: Poor sleep exacerbates dark circles and puffiness. Aim for 7-8 hours per night and consider using a silk pillowcase to minimise friction on the delicate skin around your eyes.
- Gentle Skincare: Always remove makeup before bed, and apply eye serums with a light tapping motion - never rub or tug.
Quick Fixes for Tired Eyes
Even with good habits, there are days when your eyes need a little extra TLC.
- Cooling Masks: Keep a gel eye mask in the fridge for mornings when your eyes look puffy or tired.
- Hydrating Patches: Invest in under-eye patches infused with hyaluronic acid or caffeine to temporarily smooth and brighten the area.
- Moisturising Creams: Look for products with peptides to support collagen production and improve elasticity over time, but be careful about using retinol so close to the eye area.
When Eyes Need a Professional Boost: Tixel®
For those seeking more dramatic results, Tixel offers an advanced, non-invasive option to rejuvenate the eye area.
What is Tixel®?
Tixel is a state-of-the-art treatment that uses fractional thermal energy to stimulate collagen production and repair skin. This non-ablative procedure is highly effective for reducing a variety of signs of ageing, including “Fine lines and wrinkles, skin discoloration, sun damaged skin, skin tone and texture, as well as reducing age spots and acne scarring” (Ref 1).
How Tixel® Works
The Tixel device features a medical-grade titanium tip with pyramid-shaped pins that transfer thermal energy to the skin. This stimulates the body’s natural healing processes, promoting the production of new collagen.
“During treatment, the pins are introduced to the surface of the skin at a precisely controlled speed and create brief contact with the skin lasting only a few milliseconds. This enables the thermal energy stored in the pins to be transferred to the skin. The thermal transfer results in an array of tiny non-ablative coagulation sites” (Ref 2).
What to expect
- During Treatment: After a thorough consultation, your skin is numbed with a topical anaesthetic. The Tixel device is then applied to the treatment area, delivering brief pulses of heat. Patients typically describe the sensation as mild warmth.
- After Treatment: Expect some redness and sensitivity for a few days, similar to mild sunburn. Crusting may appear but resolves within a week. Makeup should be avoided for 48 hours, and SPF 50 is a must for protection during healing.
When do you see Tixel® results?
Improvements start to show after 6 weeks and continue to develop with subsequent treatments. Treatments are typically spaced 4–6 weeks apart, with most patients requiring a course of 3-6 sessions for optimal results. Research demonstrates significant wrinkle reduction in 75% of cases studied (Ref 3).
Combination treatments
A comprehensive treatment plan can be tailored to transform your eyes which could include: Tixel to lift hooded eyelids, Botox for deeper crows feet, PRP tear trough treatments for dark circles and Ultherapy for a brow lift. Whatever you concerns - we have solutions, so start your journey today with a consultation to find out what's right for you.
Author's experience:
Dr Asel has over 4 years experience in treating the eye area with Tixel, Botox, PRP and Ultherapy to achieve rejuvenated results with hundreds of patients.
Reference and resource links:
- Ref 1: Consulting Room – Tixel® (Thermo-Mechanical Ablation)
- Ref 2: novoxel.com – The Thermal Effect
- Ref 3: National Library of Medicine – Fractional Treatment of Aging Skin with Tixel®: A Clinical and Histological Evaluation, Elman, Fournier, Barnéon, Bernstein, Lask, 2016