Also known as Ptosis, drooping eyelids are a common problem amongst many adults. Whether due to aging, smoking, or another condition, the skin above and below your eyes may start to sag. But what really affects droopy eyelids the most? Can smoking cause droopy eyelids just as much as aging or physical injury can?
Can Smoking Cause Droopy Eyelids?
If you’ve wondered this before, you’re not alone. Today’s article will discuss the effects that smoking can have on your skin and why you may be a perfect candidate for eyelid surgery in Orange County.
Top Causes of Droopy Eyelids
Most often, droopy eyes are caused by aging and other natural factors. The levator muscle in your eyelids expands with age, while its strength also weakens. Other than smoking and natural aging, there are many other factors that could increase your risk of having droopy eyes:
- Contact lenses: People who wear contact lenses must pull their eyelids up to place the lens in their eyes. This can cause strain to your levator muscle, and may also make it more difficult to use. You can still use your contacts but you should try to wear them more often.
- Excessive eye rubbing: Although natural aging is the main reason your levator muscles stretch, excessive rubbing can also cause them to stretch. Excessive eye rubbing puts too much stress on the eye muscles and should not be done.
- Trauma: Drooping or sagging eyes could be a result of a neurological or physical injury. Drooping eyelids may develop regardless of whether the injury is recent or old. If you have difficulty seeing because of sagging eyelids, or any other serious changes in your eyelid anatomy, it is important to seek professional assistance.
- Sun Exposure: Skin damage can result from sun exposure. Because your skin is thinner, it’s more sensitive than ever. Your skin can also become brittle from sun exposure, which can lead to collagen fibers being broken down in your skin.
While there are many causes of drooping eyelids, some are less known than others. Smoking is unfortunately one of the biggest silent killers, contributing to skin decay over time.
Smoking and Its Effects on the Eyelids
Your skin is damaged by the toxins in cigarette smoke. Your skin’s level of collagen and elasticin begins to decline in your 20s, and it continues for the rest of your lifetime, but smoking can exacerbate the speed at which your collagen degenerates.
Because damaged and aging skin thins, the effects of smoking can be more obvious over time. Not only can smoking affect the way your skin reacts internally, but it can also cause aesthetic damage as well. Smoking tends to yellow or darken your skin, causing bags and circles under your eyes. It’s important to get in touch with your doctor as soon as you start to notice these growing symptoms.
Droopy Eyelid Treatment Options
Your specialty eye doctor can treat droopy lids, but first, you must be diagnosed. An eye exam will help you determine the reason for your sagging eyes. A treatment plan will then be developed. Drooping lids can be treated in many ways. Some mild cases can be managed with medication while more serious cases may require surgery in the form of a lower or upper blepharoplasty. It removes excess skin from the eyes and tightens them for a more youthful look. You will learn how the surgery works and what you can expect during recovery.
To ensure that the results of the procedure last, you need to care for your skin. It includes taking care of your overall health, including eating healthy, exercising regularly, sleeping well, and staying hydrated. It also involves taking care of your skin. You may have to do this in a different way for each person so speak with your surgeon to learn how to care for your skin after your blepharoplasty.
Get in Touch with Your Eye Doctor Today
Unfortunately, certain habits like smoking can cause drooping eyelids over time. Learn about your best options for treatment and ptosis repair in Orange County when you get in touch with Dr. Jeffrey Joseph and his team of ophthalmic plastic surgeons who can restore your face to its natural, youthful beauty.