Only one cream and one laser really work for eyelid wrinkles

Of all the creams available for wrinkles, especially eyelid wrinkles, only one has a substantial amount of real scientific data to support the claims of wrinkle reduction.  That cream is tretinoin (available as both a generic prescription cream and brand name prescription cream - Retin A, Renova, etc).  This medication has been proven to be effective for reducing wrinkles in multiple rigorous studies published in peer reviewed medical journals.  No other cream has as much data to support claims of wrinkle reduction.  It is the only cream I recommend.

So the question I always get is: If Retin A is really so effective, why don't more people use it?  The short answer is that some people are discouraged by the initial irritation that the cream produces.  Almost anyone's skin can be trained to accept the cream without irritation, but this takes some patience.  Unfortunately, people tend to give up on the cream before they see real results. 

As for procedures to treat eyelid wrinkles - nothing beats the carbon dioxide laser - the machine I currently use is my favorite - the Active Fx fractional laser.  I have been incredibly impressed by the results of this laser in tightening the skin, particularly in the eyelid region, as well as diminishing wrinkles and fine lines.  This is my main tool for dealing with eyelid wrinkles as well as for overall skin resurfacing.  I tested almost every other laser on the market, and none could deliver the results attainable with the Active Fx.

The best wrinkle treatment will depend on what is causing the "wrinkle". If you analyze the problem, it will be much clearer what the best solution is for you.

Eye wrinkles can be caused by various factors, or a combination of factors. The two most common causes are skin laxity and muscle contraction.

Skin laxity is loosening of the skin and stretching or breakdown of collagen and elastin, typically from sun exposure, smoking, or eyelid rubbing (which is common if you have environmental allergies). Skin laxity can be addressed with a range of treatments from over the counter creams (containing retinol or glycolic acids) which can offer some benefit to chemical peels or laser skin resurfacing to surgery (if there is a lot of excess skin to remove).

Over the counter creams don't offer dramatic results typically but they are relatively inexpensive and easy to do yourself at home. Chemical peels, laser resurfacing, and surgery can dramatically reduce wrinkles but they are more costly, not without risk and do require recovery time.

If, on the other hand, your eye wrinkles are caused from your skin bunching up when your muscles contract (smiling), then Botox injections to relax those muscles may be a better option. There is no downtime, but the treatment must be repeated every 3-4 months to maintain the effect.

You may need a combination of skin treatments or surgery plus Botox. So, to answer your questions, the best eye wrinkle treatment is the one that's tailored to address the cause of the problem and that meets your needs in terms of cost, risk and recovery time.

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