With the start of the summer season, most people in the Okanagan will be heading outdoors to enjoy the beautiful summer days, whether it be taking a walk in the park, spending a day on the boat, or enjoying a wine tour.  What comes along with the summer sunshine – Squinting!

Wrinkles around the eyes, often caused by too much squinting, are one of the most common and frustrating signs of aging.  They can develop far too early in some people, and one of the causes may be too much time in the summer sun without sunglasses.

Squinting is a powerful physiological reflex to brightness that decreases the size of the opening of the eyelid in order to allow less light into the eyes.  This forceful contraction of the muscles that encircle the eyes is not gentle on the skin.  Over time, repeatedly squinting can result in a greater number and deeper wrinkles around the eyes – people will often refer to these areas as the “crow’s feet”, “smile lines”, “frown lines”, and “bunny lines.”  The extra wrinkles caused by squinting also lower the position of the eyebrow.  Squinting creates wrinkling of the skin and soft tissues around the eyes and may be responsible for looking more aged than any other factor.  

The sun also threatens the skin around your eyes in other ways.  It has been scientifically proven that harmful UV rays will quickly rob this thinner skin of its youthful elasticity.  Sunscreen helps to protect the skin from thinning, but it does not prevent us from squinting!

This is the some of the most delicate skin on your face, and as a result, it is more susceptible to being stretched and wrinkled over time.

Squinting Leads to More Aggressive Tendencies?

According to a 2013 study, a face that’s constantly frowning in tandem with eyes that are constantly squinting can lead to elevated feelings of anger, frustration, and aggressiveness. In other words, you may feel less happy as a result. (1)

The Botox® Solution

Protecting your eyes with sunglasses and using Botox® around the eyes can restore their youthful look, and reduce the impact of squinting.  Botox® treatments by an experienced physician involve placing small amounts of the medicine into specific muscles to purposefully weaken the muscle contractions around the eyes.  The key benefit is it will help to reverse the signs of aging.  Numerous studies have confirmed that Botox® can decrease the depth and number of wrinkles around the eyes, giving you a more youthful and rested appearance.

And, don’t forget the sunglasses.  They are important, as they not only protect the skin around your eyes, but prevent the development of cataracts, growths in the eye and possible macular degeneration.  Choose a pair that fit close the skin with wide lenses that will protect your eyes from every angle.

We would love to talk to you about all the ways our Botox® treatments can help you.  Schedule a consultation today to get ready for the summer sun in Kelowna.

For more information, see: Botox: Post-Procedure Skin Care Fundamentals

And for more reading on the effects of squinting at the sun, see: 1. Marzoli, Daniele, et al. “Sun-induced frowning fosters aggressive feelings.” Cognition & emotion 27.8 (2013): 1513-1521.