Mesglo Aesthetic Clinic | Marylebone, London

The skin beneath your eyes is one of the first places to betray the signs of urban living. In a city like London — where pollution, stress, and fast-paced lifestyles converge — under-eye ageing can be dramatically accelerated. While many think of fine lines and dark circles as genetic or age-related inevitabilities, the truth is more complex: London’s environment is playing an increasingly aggressive role in how quickly our eyes look older, tired, or hollowed.

At Mesglo Aesthetic Clinic in Marylebone, we see it daily — patients in their late twenties and thirties already experiencing puffiness, pigmentation, and textural changes. And while aesthetic treatments can reverse many of these effects, understanding the root causes is essential for long-term prevention and care.

Why the Under-Eye Area Ages First

Before diving into environmental triggers, it's important to understand what makes the under-eye zone uniquely vulnerable:

- The skin here is up to five times thinner than other facial areas.

- There are fewer sebaceous glands, which means less natural moisturisation.

- Microcirculation is limited, making it more prone to fluid retention and pigment pooling.

- The area is under constant mechanical stress — from blinking, squinting, and smiling.

- It lacks structural fat padding, so even minor tissue changes result in visible ageing.

This delicate anatomy means external damage — especially from pollution and stress — shows up faster under the eyes than anywhere else.

1. Urban Air Pollution: The Invisible Accelerator

London’s air is saturated with pollutants — from nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) emitted by diesel vehicles to particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) produced by traffic, construction, and heating systems. These particles are tiny — small enough to penetrate the skin barrier. https://mesglolondon.co.uk/?p=4297