Dark undereye circles can be caused by a host of different things from heredity to allergies to poor sleep. Treatments include eye cream, intensepulsed light therapy, skin resurfacing andinjectable fillers, but before you choose one it’s important to determine the cause.
This is a common problem and are frequently described as “tired eyes.” Although dark circles may be the result of facial aging, they can affect both men and women of all ages and have a variety of causes.
Dark eye circle causes
possible dark circles causes include issues related to facial aging, lifestyle choices, and other causes, which include the following:
Facial aging and dark circles
Volume loss or fat descent in the cheeks
Under eye volume loss
Lower eyelid (canthus) laxity
Thinning under eye skin
Bulging under eye fat
Lifestyle choices and under eye circles
Smoking
Hyperpigmentationcaused bysun damage
Caffeine consumption
Sleep deprivation
Dehydration
Dietary deficiencies
Other causes of dark under eye circles
Hyperpigmentationcaused bymelasma
Allergies
Nasal congestion
Medical conditions (eczema, thyroid problems, etc.)
Venous congestion in under eye blood vessels
Environmental exposure
Heredity
Dark circles under eyes treatment
Before undergoing dark circles treatment, it is important to know exactly what is causing the dark circles. Treatment for dark circles caused by allergies will be different from a dark circles treatment designed to correct bulging under eye fat.
In some cases, a combination of treatments may be appropriate, especially if there are multiple factors causing your dark circles. Common procedures doctors recommend to get rid of dark circles include the following (from least invasive):
Dark circle eye cream
Skin lighteningwith topical bleaching agents may be recommended by your dermatologist to reduce dark circles caused byhyperpigmentationfrommelasmaorsun damage.
Creams like Tri-Luma, which contains hydroquinone, are often recommended, as are products that contain kojic acid, Vitamins C and K, green tea, and licorice.
IPL for eye circles
When blood vessels are visible as dark purple or blue under eye circles,intense pulsed lighttherapy (IPL orPhotofacial) may be suggested to reduce these dark circles.
Not all doctors agree that it is safe to useIPLnear the eyes, however some do recommend it for vascular pigmentation issues, such as dark circles under the eyes.
Skin resurfacing for under eye circles
Laser resurfacing and chemical peelmay be used to help reduce dark circles by increasing collagen production, decreasing pigmentation problems, and improving overall skin quality. However,laser treatmentsand chemical peels are most effective when used as part of a combination approach in treating dark circles.
Hyaluronic acid facial fillers for dark circles
Injectable fillerscontaining hyaluronic acid are often used to correct dark circles created by thinning under eye skin or fat and tissue loss in the under eyes or upper cheeks.Restylaneis a commonly recommended hyaluronic acid filler for restoring volume to the tear trough or upper cheek area.
Hyaluronic acid fillers are absorbed by the body within a few months to one year, so results are temporary. The only permanent filler typically recommended for the under eye area is a patient’s own fat.
Fat injections to get rid of dark circles
Like hyaluronic acid fillers, fat may be grafted from another body area and injected in the tear troughs to treat dark circles.Fat injections(or fat transfer) are typically recommended for correction of dark circles caused by thinning under eye skin or fat and tissue loss in the under eyes or upper cheeks.
Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, fat injection results may be permanent, however results are not guaranteed, as fat cells don’t always survive the fat transfer process.
