The eyes are often said to be the windows to the soul, but they are also one of the most delicate areas of the body. The skin around the eyes is the thinnest of all, and with the constant movement of blinking (around 10,000 times per day on average), it is prone to aging and sagging.
As we age, the metabolism of the skin around the eyes slows down, and the loss of collagen and elastin proteins causes the fatty tissue in the eye socket to push forward, resulting in the formation of under-eye bags. People with under-eye bags are often perceived as tired or older than they really are. Many people ask about ways to remove under-eye bags, and some turn to eye creams or treatments like massages or lasers. However, to effectively treat under-eye bags, it is important to understand their underlying causes.
There are several causes of under-eye bags, with the main factor being age. There are generally four types of under-eye bags: congenital/fat type, muscle type, loose skin type, and mixed type.
The congenital/fat type is characterized by a larger than average fat pad under the eye, which can be present from birth or become more prominent over time.
The muscle type occurs when the circular muscle around the eye becomes too thick, causing the lower eyelid to bulge outwards.
The loose skin type is caused by the gradual weakening and sagging of the tissues around the eye socket as a result of aging, leading to the protrusion of fat tissue.
The mixed type is a combination of these factors.
In some cases, what appears to be under-eye bags is actually a visual illusion caused by deep tear troughs. Tear troughs are the groove that starts at the inner corner of the eye and extends to the cheek. If a person has deep tear troughs, the surrounding skin can appear swollen and protruding, giving the illusion of under-eye bags. However, this issue can be addressed differently.
Once the causes of under-eye bags have been identified, appropriate treatment can be recommended.