Here's Why You Should Be Super Gentle With Your Under-Eye Skin

Skincare is about so much more than just creating an aesthetically pleasing morning or nighttime routine — it's a major component of taking care of yourself. The skin is actually the largest organ in the body and can cause health issues if not treated properly, per Atomic Derm. Even if your skin looks young and healthy now, it's vital to create a skincare routine that will benefit you for years to come. In addition to helping you look your best, taking the proper steps to keep up with your skincare now may save you a lot of pain and money later.

Just by simply washing your face regularly, you are helping to clear away all of the pollutants that you've encountered during the day, as well as giving your skin a breather from makeup (via Trophy Skin). Meanwhile, creating a healthy skincare routine is part of living better overall. As dermatologist Dr. Fayne Frey, M.D., told Fox News: "Healthy skin mimics a healthy lifestyle." 

Dr. Frey noted that "getting up in the morning and maybe exercising, getting a good night's sleep ... [eating] a nutritious diet" are all equally important for a healthy skincare routine. For example, foods like kale can actually improve your skin's appearance. Of course, not all skin is created equal and some areas, such as under your eyes, need special attention. 

When it comes to taking care of the skin on your face, we tend to pay closer attention to certain areas, one of which is under the eyes. This spot is especially prone to wrinkles, dark spots, bags, and more. The skin under the eyes happens to be some of the thinnest on your body, and it's important to treat it differently than other areas. 

"It is thinned to provide room to cover tiny fat pads that cushion and protect our precious eyeballs from trauma or force injury," clinical dermatologist Dr. Carl Thornfeldt explained to InStyle. "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." According to Healthline, the under-eye skin also contains less collagen and oil glands.

This makes it significantly easier to develop wrinkles or become noticeably dry. In addition, tanning beds, sun damage, smoking, and skin inflammation can all also cause problems for the under-eye area. However, because the skin under the eyes tends to be such a point of focus for many, there are some great ways to take care of this problem area.  

Knowing that the skin under the eyes is thin and sensitive, it's important to be extra gentle when treating it. There are a number of products created specifically for under-eyes that target dark circles, puffiness, and more. Healthline suggests using home remedies such as cool compresses, chilled tea bags, or even cucumber slices to help naturally improve the appearance of the skin under the eyes. 

According to Colorescience, it's also extremely important to wear sunscreen on your face every single day to protect yourself from the sun's damaging rays. "The single product [that] everybody should be using 365 days a year is sunscreen," Dr. Fayne Frey, M.D., told Fox News emphatically. "It is by far the most effective 'anti-aging' protective product on the market that promotes not only skin health but skin appearance." 

Elsewhere, InStyle notes that it's extremely important to keep your body hydrated, get plenty of sleep, and eat a healthy diet to help the under-eye area look its best. Dermatologist Dr. Sara Perkins, M.D., also cautioned against using products with alcohol or fragrances in them, which can cause further sensitivity and irritation. Of course, everyone's skin is different and may need different things to flourish, so finding the right products for you may require some trial and error.