Wrinkles under your eyes mark the earlier symptoms of aging on the face because the skin around your eyes is thinner and more sensitive than the rest of your face.  Additionally, it lacks oil-producing glands which make it susceptible to wrinkles. Under eye wrinkles makes a person appear old and exhausted. By clearly understanding the common causes and available treatments, you can get rid of under eye wrinkles.

SUN EXPOSURE.  Studies have shown that the sun is the leading cause of wrinkles. Darrick Antell, MD, a plastic surgeon Based in New York City, studied identical twins and found out that sun exposure was even more important to wrinkle formation than heredity. Relatives with limited sun exposure develop fewer wrinkles and look more youthful compared to those who get unlimited exposure to the sunlight.

POOR SLEEPING POSITION.  Sleeping in certain positions at night can lead to "sleep lines" - wrinkles that form on the surface of the skin and don't disappear even if you wake up, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). If you sleep on your side, you are more likely to form wrinkles on your cheek s or chin and on the face if you sleep facing down. AAD says you can reduce wrinkle formation by sleeping on your back.

SMOKING.  Though studies are still controversial, emerging research are showing a strong link between smoking and early wrinkles formation. There are confirmations that smoking speeds up skin aging by releasing an enzyme that breaks down elastin and collagen which determine the texture of the skin. In reference to a Sibling studies conducted at the Twin Research Unit at St. Thomas Hospital in London, it was observed that a brother or a sister who smoked tended to have a more wrinkled skin than the non-smoker.  Time to put out those cigs for good ladies!

PROTEIN DEFICIENCIES.  Protein happens to be one of the building blocks of a great skin. Supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids are essential to help nourish your skin and keep it supple and plump. Additionally, it keeps the skin young looking while reducing the formation of wrinkles. Soy, on the other hand, has healing and protective properties for your skin. In reference to a study published in the European Journal of Nutrition, researchers reported that soy-based supplements improved skin's structure and firmness after six months of continuous use.

OVER WASHING YOUR FACE.  In reference to dermatologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center, regular cleansing of the face, especially using tap water, strips the skin off its natural barrier oils and moisture that protect wrinkle formation.  Instead of using a soap that doesn't contain moisturizers, use a cleanser.

Fortunately, there are plenty of products, services and simple practices you can incorporate in you skin care regimen and avert the formation of wrinkles under your eyes as well as in other areas of you skin. You can try topical treatments which contain ingredients that have been scientifically proven to reduce wrinkles. Ingredients to look for include Alpa-hydroxy acids (AHAs), Retinoids, vitamin C, and peptides among others. Treatments for wrinkle can be purchased over the counter or prescribed by skin health experts. Alternative treatments include Botox, wrinkle fillers, laser/light resurfacing such as Radio Frequency, chemical peels and dermabrasion. However, considering the sensitive nature of the skin under your eyes, noninvasive treatments for wrinkles around these areas are the best.

How many times have you heard "No pain, no gain"?  When it comes to laser hair removal that's almost everyone's mantra.  But it doesn't have to be painful thanks to a variety of techniques and numbing creams on the market.   So, we took the time to do the research and let you know which methods and tips are most effective!

Keep in mind that the ‘snapping hot elastic band’ sensation only lasts for a millisecond while the laser is making contact with the skin and is produced at regular intervals.  The duration of the treatment depends on the size of the area which can range from a matter of seconds up to 30 minutes.  After the treatment, you may experience some general soreness over the entire area that won’t last long.  Try several of the above methods if you can to prevent any pain.  The more comfortable you are, the more you will enjoy your laser hair removal experience.

The sun is coming out later and going away sooner. We’re hanging up our tank tops and shorts for a pair of jeans and a light sweater. Just as we are beginning to settled into Fall, our skin also needs to acclimate to this transition and renew itself for the next summer season.  

With this change in temperature, sunlight, and moisture, it’s important to adapt your skin care routine.  Changing up your skin care regimen can support Fall skin that may be feeling damaged, dry and in need of repair.

We would love to share some of our favorite tips to keep your skin looking refreshed; getting rid of sunscreen and other build up that may be clogging your pores; treating skin that may have suffered from some inevitable sun damage; and correcting the dull and dehydrated appearance of your skin, so it will be glowing once again

Nothing beats getting a great work-out and sweating to expel toxins from your body. Think about how great your skin always looks post a workout. If you really got your workout on and broke a huge sweat it is a good idea to do a cleanse right after, especially if you are prone to oily and acneic skin.  A great place to cleanse your skin is the Russian bath house!  It’s a great way to get rid of all the dirt, dead skin and sunscreen build up that is clogging your pores.

We can’t mention exercise without mentioning the huge benefits of getting enough water daily.  Dryness of the skin can sneak up on you during this time of year. Even with all the rain, between the cooler temperatures, dry and gusty winds, and the heat turned up at home, your skin can dry out, making it itchy, tight, and irritated. During the fall, hydration is one of the major keys for proper skin care.  Making sure to drink plenty of liquids every day is an easy way to maintain skin hydration and elasticity (not to mention just being healthy for you in general).

We cannot stress enough the importance that diet plays on our skin. It can really promote beautiful skin that is glowing literally from the inside out, or it can lead to dull, grey looking skin that looks like it needs some TLC. Eat as many fruits and veggies as possible.

Nothing can replace the benefits of food and all of the nutritional value that they bring to our wholeness and well being. They are our first defense against aging and what our bodies need to look vibrant. Grab seasonal fruits and vegetables and eat according to the season. Shop at your local framer’s market for the best options and prices!

It is important to incorporate a purifying cleanser that can exfoliate the dead skin and stimulate collagen production. We love Neutrogena’s Deep Clean Cleanser this time of year. It contains Hydroxy acid which is an awesome exfoliator that gets rid of oil, dirt and make up.

Also consider a peel to fall proof your skin such as the Pumpkin, Chemical Peel treatment. The aroma of pumpkin always gets us excited during this season. A good exfoliation treatment really unclogs the pores and prepares the skin to receive the benefits of an active moisturizer by allowing it to really penetrate deep into the skin. Just as important it is to exfoliate, it is equally important to not over exfoliate because that can add to more dryness, sensitivity and depletion of you skin’s natural moisture barrier.  An over the counter gentle exfoliator should be used no more than 2-3x’s a week, again depending on your age, skin type and condition. Basically the drier, thinner and more irritable your skin is, the less you want to topically irritate it with over exfoliation, less is best.

Skin needs more TLC during the fall because the transition from warmer to colder weather can be extremely drying. There’s less humidity in the air now than in the summer, so you’ll need to step up your moisturizing regimen to preserve the natural oils in your skin. Dry skin is fragile, therefore, it requires you to do more to protect your lipid layer. Remember to moisturize in the a.m. with a moisturizer that contains SPF. Just because the temperature has dropped it doesn’t mean that the sun is not present.  You need SPF 365 days of the year. Also, summer sun and pollution can cause stress to the skin so fall is the perfect time to repair any damage with an intensive moisturizer. Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid and antioxidants are the active ingredients you want to be incorporating into your daily regimen via your moisturizers and serums. They help to deliver and retain moisture and hydration to the skin while supporting youthful skin structure and function.  This time of year a lot of heaters are working overtime and that can also lead to more dehydration, so pull out a humidifier for extra skin support.

Chapped lips are an all-too-common problem in the fall, so make sure to pay special attention to your lips. You lose ten times more moisture through your lips than from the rest of your skin combined. Apply a petroleum-based lip balm before applying lipstick.

Summer can often leave many of us with sun-damaged skin, leaving behind spots or even fine lines and wrinkles. As we prepare ourselves again for work or school this fall, we all want to look our best. A minimally invasive laser or Radio Frequency treatments can help add the finishing touch to your look for the new season with little to no downtime. We recommend to combine our RF and Candela MAX Pro treatments that work to tackle the various problems that the skin faces, such as sun spots, lines and wrinkles that may have set in or worsened over the summer season.  

How experienced the technician is.  The technician has to have at least half a year experience. Inexperienced technicians are more likely to burn your skin resulting in pigment spots and discoloration of the skin which would eventually go away.  But you better off avoiding this in the first place.  Sometimes, the burns can be very severe causing permanent scarring.  This is very rare. Darker skin types are more prone to laser burns as the skin is more sensitive.  During your consultation, which may take 15 to 30 minutes depending on questions you may have, an experienced laser technician should evaluate your skin type and identify the appropriate treatment procedure.   The laser technician should describe the treatment process and what to expect during and after your treatment. 

If the technician is certified.  Technicians that are not certified have never taken the required courses to learn how to use the machine properly and how to administer the best possible treatments in order to achieve the best results.

What kind of machine do they use.  A lot of machines on the market are outdated and are less effective and generally less painful than the newer ones.  Look for the newest machines out there. We recommend Candela GMAX Pro W/DCD - it is the latest on the market and is equipped with Dynamic Cooling Device (a device that releases Cryogen - a cooling liquid that shoots out after every laser shot that effectively cools off the treated area and minimizes the discomfort).  GMAX Pro is also best for both dark and light skin types.

Make sure you sign all the required forms.  Prior to your treatments the laser facility should provide you with certain forms that you have to fill out in order to determine your skin type and to make sure you don't have any medical conditions that may prevent you from getting the treatments.  You should also receive post and pre treatment requirements that you will need to follow.

When is the best time to get the treatments.  You can not receive treatments if you have been or are planning to tan or be exposed to the sun for a long period of time.  The way that laser works is that it detects your skin color and hair color via the settings that the technician entered on the machine (the settings are determined by the "Skin Type Questions" which you should have answered in the form you should have been provided with).  If you tan, you skin color gets darker then your original color - since the settings on the laser correspond to your true skin color, the treatment that is meant for your true skin color will cause burns to your darker skin.  Even worse, it is very unhealthy to heat up your skin so extensively as so much exposure to heat may cause allergies, burns and may ultimately lead to skin cancer.  But these are the absolute worst case scenarios - we have never encountered such dire consequences in our day to day operations.  For those of you who love to tan, you need to wait for your tan to subside in order to start or continue your treatments. 

How many treatments are required and how long should you wait between the treatments.  The number of sessions depends on the area you want to be treated and the condition of your skin.  The standard and most effective wait time between sessions is about 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the area you are treating.  The reason for the wait, is to target as much actively growing hair as possible.  You see, the hair does not grow at the same rate - in fact, there are three phases of hair growth (Active Growth Phase, Transition Phase and Resting Phase).

The laser only works on the hair follicles that are in their active growing phase.  As you can see in the image above, some of your hair might be in its transition and resting phases which last for approximately 7-8 weeks altogether.   The wait period between sessions allows a sufficient amount of time for the remaining hair to move into its active growing phase so that your next treatment removes the maximum amount of hair.  With every session, about 10-20% of your active hair gets treated.  This is the reason why most laser facilities offer at least 6 treatments in their packages.  Hair follicles in their active growing stage will die and fall out in approximately 2 to 10 days. 

Always do a patch test before committing to treatments with the facility.  Patch test is important to make sure that you are not allergic to the laser and establish the right setting.  It is an important precaution that all technicians should administer.  Following the consultation and a patch test, technician should prepare area to be treated and based on your skin type the technician should adjust the equipment to provide you with the most effective treatment.