All about the skin around the eyes and “drooping” eyelids

04/04/2025

The periocular skin, the area that includes the eyelids, is the thinnest skin on our entire body, which means it is more affected than any other area. Over time, it loses elasticity, hydration and volume, showing signs of ageing.

This condition has a significant impact on the appearance of the eyes. Excess skin on the eyelids, “drooping” eyelids or dermatochalasis, often give an impression of sadness and tiredness, having a major effect on oculofacial aesthetics and being one of the main reasons for seeking medical advice.

Some of the main factors that can contribute to the appearance of “drooping” eyelids are as follows:

Age
As we get older, collagen and elastin production decreases, causing the skin to become thinner and making the eye area increasingly vulnerable to external factors, such as sun exposure.

Sun exposure
Prolonged exposure to UV rays without protection can accelerate ageing of the skin around the eyelids and eyes.

Smoking or alcohol
Bad habits such as smoking also have a negative effect on our skin, as the harmful substances they contain prevent proper oxygenation of our tissues.

Exaggerated facial expressions and rubbing the eyes
Certain facial expressions that we repeat often can gradually become more marked on our face over time.

Stress
High and repeated levels of stress, for example at work or due to lack of rest, can also inhibit the production of collagen and elastin, which are necessary to counteract changes in the skin.

What treatment options are available for preventing skin ageing around the eyes?
The first thing we recommend and can do is to control the factors that accelerate ageing. We can achieve this with basic measures that help maintain healthy-looking skin: sun protection (sunglasses, protective creams, controlled exposure to UV rays), drinking plenty of water daily, following a varied and balanced diet, getting enough sleep to recover from daily fatigue, exercising regularly and maintaining good habits (avoiding smoking and not overusing alcohol).

The use of cosmetic products also helps improve the texture and hydration of the skin.

And finally, in patients with drooping eyebrows, drooping eyelids and/or excess skin or prominent fat bags, we turn to surgical treatments. These are often combined with CO2 laser rejuvenation treatments, such as the well-known resurfacing procedure. They can be combined in a single surgery to achieve an improvement in our appearance, restoring vitality while always preserving our facial expression – that is, without losing our personal identity.

At the Barraquer Ophthalmology Centre, we have a team specialised in oculoplastic ophthalmology and oculofacial aesthetics to treat all conditions of the eyelids and the eye area, both with and without surgery.

Dr Sandra Planella, Ophthalmologist at the Barraquer Ophthalmology Centre