As we age we see changes in our skin, particularly around the eye area. Wrinkles and fine lines are an inevitable part of getting older, and have many contributing causes.

The skin around the eyes is extra thin, delicate and vulnerable, which is why this is one of the first areas that people will notice fine lines settling in, Connecticut-based dermatologist Dr. Rhonda Klein told HuffPost. Fine lines around the eyes are caused by a combination of collagen and elastin loss as well as volume and fat loss natural effects of aging skin.

Frequent usage of the orbicularis oculi muscle around the eyes tends to create these lines, Dr. Joyce Park , a dermatologist in Northern California, noted.

As we squint and emote throughout the years, these repeated actions cause lines to form, Park explained. Aging skin is also less able to hold onto moisture, and dry skin wrinkles more readily. Additionally, environmental exposures to UV radiation or smoke over time can cause wrinkling.

These wrinkles and fine lines are completely natural, but they can be a source of insecurity for many even impacting everyday lives.

When I was a medical student, I rotated at a cosmetic practice where the female medical assistants refused to laugh or smile in efforts to prevent the development of crows feet, said Dr. Karan Lal of Schweiger Dermatology Group in Hillsborough, New Jersey.

The good news is you dont have to give up on smiling or laughing to address wrinkles around your eyes. Below, experts share their advice for preventing and treating these fine lines.

Apply a retinol-based eye cream

One of the things that helps to prevent and treat wrinkles is retinol, said Dr. Papri Sarkar . , a dermatologist in Brookline, Massachusetts. Using a retinol or retinoid cream here helps to stave off the aging process. I recommend a retinol thats formulated with the eye area in mind, as its more sensitive. But diluting an eye cream with a moisturizer can also do the trick.

Lal also advises retinol and offered a product recommendation.

There are many retinol-based eye creams, which can stimulate collagen and prevent the development of the crepey appearance around the eyes, Lal said. One such example is RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream .

New York City dermatologist Dr. Hadley King endorsed Ponds Rejuveness Lifting and Brightening Eye Cream , which she advised using nightly.

It contains moisturizing ingredients, as well as niacinamide to help improve tone and texture, and retinol to help stimulate collagen, King noted.

Be gentle when touching the area

Rubbing the eye area can cause lines and pigmentation, Sarkar said. Thats why I generally recommend handling this area very gently! Dont rub or pick your eyes or the skin around them.

While its overall best to avoid touching your eye area (or face in general), we learned from the pandemic that its not always easy to do this. Plus, there are daily tasks that require us to come into contact with our eye areas. In these instances, the key is to be mindful.

Use care when washing your face and applying makeup/products, said Dr. Deanne Mraz Robinson , an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale New Haven Hospital. Avoid repeated tugging on this delicate skin.

Use products with peptides

Retinol gets a lot of attention in the skin care world these days. But when it comes to tackling fine lines, many experts also tout the benefits of peptides. Peptides are basically short chains of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins like collagen and elastin.

My recommendation for preventing fine lines is to start using peptides that will build collagen and relax the muscles that contribute to fine lines, Lal said. An affordable product is The Ordinarys Argireline Solution , which helps reduce muscle contraction and its effects on the skin. Another great product I like is Revisions Revox Line Relaxer , which has GABA and other peptides that help soften those fine lines around the eyes.

King is also a fan of Revision Skincare products, including DEJ Eye Cream and Revox 7 .

One of the only clinically proven topical products that helps smooth the appearance of expression lines, this serum contains seven different anti-aging peptides, King said of Revox 7. Their studies show that it softens the appearance of seven types of expression lines: forehead lines, glabella frown lines, crows feet, bunny nose lines, nasolabial laugh lines, lip lines, marionette lines.