Everything You Need To Know About Dark Eye Circles; And How To Get Rid Of Them For Good
Do you have questions about unsightly dark eye circles and how to banish them forever? Dr Calvin Chan gives his insights on the situation
Where do dark eye circles come from?
The causes of dark eye circles are varied and can include any, or a combination of, the following:
i) Excessive pigmentation — This can be either due to congenital or environmental causes. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation of the lower eyelid skin is also not uncommon in those with allergies. Excessive sun exposure and intake of certain drugs can cause such pigmentation as well.
ii) Skin thinness and circulation — The thinner the skin on the lower eyelids, the more translucent it is and this causes the underlying muscles and prominent blood vessels to show through, resulting in a dark purplish appearance. Poor circulation and overactive circulation around the eye area both can contribute to a darkening effect too.
iii) Shadowing due to tear trough — a depression near the inner side of the lower bony eye socket can cause a shadowing effect on the undereye area making it appear darker.
iv) Volume deficit — Loss of underlying fat and thinning of skin over the eye socket creates a hollowness and emphasises the appearance of a dark curvilinear line under the eye.
v) Overactive under-eye muscles — This translates to a lot of movement of the skin from facial expressions causing stretching and wear and tear of the skin so the area bulges more and looks more tired.
To identify the underlying cause of one’s dark eye circles, a consultation with a doctor is necessary. With the right diagnosis, a suitable treatment plan can be formulated for the best results.
Modern lifestyle habits can contribute to the problem
Lack of sleep can affect circulation, which combined with the thinness of the under eye skin, will result in a dark purplish ring under the eyes.
Staring at a television or computer screen for long hours can cause significant strain on the eyes. This can affect circulation as well as worsen the hollowness of the eye socket making dark eye circles apparent.
Good lifestyle habits to adopt to prevent dark circles
Regularly applying a cold compress, massaging the eye area gently and getting more shut-eye can improve circulation and prevent dark circles to a certain extent.
Applying a good anti-ageing eye cream and help to delay the loss of volume and thinning of the skin around the eyes, also contributing to ward off dark circles. Look out for Ingredients like vitamin K in your eye cream to strengthen and thicken delicate skin around eye area, Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate and plump out fine lines and alleviate dryness, and peptides to reinforce, plump and smoothen skin.
How to make dark circles go away for good
Concealing dark circles with makeup can only get you so far. Fortunately, there are methods to treat dark circles with aesthetic medicine. However, the administering of these should only be done after personal consultation with a doctor as treatment differs based on the root causes of the problem.
i. Chemical peels can reduce pigmentation in the skin.
ii. Laser skin treatments like Laser Genesis and Pro Yellow can safely treat pigmentation around the eyes and also rejuvenate the skin to improve collagen production and skin density.
iii. Dermal fillers can be injected to restore volume and counteract the hollow effect. I would recommend fillers that are specially formulated for use on the eye area, such as Teosyal Redensity II and Rejuran I as they are more suitable in terms of consistency, viscosity and molecular weight to be injected into the delicate and thin skin of the eye area.
iv. Botox can help to relax overactive under-eye muscles and give the under-eye area a refreshed, smoother and lifted appearance.
Facts about dark eye circles — Did you know???
- Dark circles can be genetic.
- Dark circles are usually compounded by eye bags.
- How much you sleep, whether too much or too little, and even your sleeping position can cause blood to pool and fluids to accumulate in different areas of the face and can cause dark circles and eye bags.
- Ageing leads to thinning skin around the eyes causing dark circles to be more pronounced.
- Exercise can boost circulation and reduce puffiness around the face and eyes lessening dark eye circles.
- Having a good diet rich in vitamins and antioxidants, adequate water intake, and avoiding smoking and alcohol consumption can lessen the appearance of dark circles.
- Dark eye circles are not the same as eye bags. Eye bags refer to the puffy or swollen bulge that can sometimes be found under the eyes; dark eye circles are generally described as a darkened appearance in the area just below the eyes.
- There isn’t a treatment that can solve anyone and everyone’s dark eye circles problem. Because there are varied causes behind dark circles, different treatment methods work for different individuals. That’s why a consultation with a doctor is necessary to determine the cause of the problem first.
Good eye care practices for everyone
– Avoid rubbing and scratching the skin around the eyes.
Rubbing or scratching can cause the tiny blood vessels around the area to rapture, resulting in blood-shot eyes and contributing to a darkened appearance of the undereye skin. It can also cause the fragile, thin skin to loosen and droop, which can worsen the look of eyebags and dark circles.
– Do not drag or pull the skin around the eyes.
Dragging or pulling the skin may cause it to stretch and due to the delicate and thin nature of the skin around the eyes, this can quickly lead to wrinkles and fine lines developing.
– Regularly use good skincare that’s made specifically for the eye area.
Hydration is always important for the skin so hyaluronic acid is a good ingredient to have in your eye cream. If sagging is a concern, you need ingredients like peptides and antioxidants that are essential for strengthening, firming, and promoting skin elasticity. To combat dark circles, look for ingredients that boost microcirculation and plump and brighten the under-eye area, such as caffeine, vitamins C & K, ginseng, and peptides.
– Get sufficient sleep every night.
The amount of sleep one needs depends on various factors, especially age. Sleep needs vary significantly among individuals (influenced by factors like sleep quality, accumulated sleep deprivation and sleeping patterns); and in general, adults need 7-9 hours of sleep a night.
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*The information provided in this blog post is not intended as medical advice or instruction on aesthetic treatments. Patients should always consult a medical professional prior to making any decisions or undertaking any actions related to health care.
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