Is it possible to effectively get rid of dark under eye circles?
If you’ve developed dark under-eye circles – aka periorbital hyperpigmentation – it may give you comfort to know that the condition is fairly common. It’s generally associated with the lower eyelid, making you look tired, drawn, or sad, even when you feel bright and breezy. So, let’s take a look at what can be done about them through both savvy skincare ingredients and in-clinic treatments here in West Malling, Kent.
What causes dark circles?
There are several reasons why we get dark circles under our eyes. In many cases, this hyperpigmentation has a genetic origin causing them to appear permanently and often from a young age, even though we tend to associate them with tiredness or ageing. If you have dark skin and dark circles, these shadows are likely to result from hyperpigmentation in those areas. If your skin is pale, however, the dark circles are less likely to be hyperpigmentation and more likely to be dark blood vessels appearing through the thin skin in this area. These individuals are also likely to develop dark circles with age because the skin thins and veins can show through even more strongly. As we age, the fat pads below the eyes also shrink. As they become smaller and thinner, the eye area looks hollower, creating shadows beneath the eyes that make this area look darker.
Fatigue and lack of sleep are the most prevalent and well-known reasons for having dark circles. When your body isn’t getting enough rest, you get vasodilation in the under-eye area (i.e., the blood vessels relax so more blood flows through the area at any given time). This makes the dark blood vessels much more apparent through the thin, translucent skin under the eyes.
Can skincare help?
Use a lightweight hydrating serum and moisturiser to hydrate the under-eye skin. This will plump up the skin cells so that they reflect the light better and make the eye area appear brighter. It also may be helpful to strengthen the skin using a specially formulated eye cream like SkinBetter Science EyeMax AlphaRet Cream. This contains a proprietary retinoid that can boost collagen production, thickening the under-eye skin so that dark blood vessels can’t show through as much. This can also effectively combat under-eye pigmentation.
Treating dark circles
Lightweight under-eye filler can be placed in the tear trough if you have dark circles as a result of having hollow eyes. This reduces them by smoothing out the junction between the edge of the cheekbone and the hollow under-eye area, making the whole area look brighter. The aim is to plump up, hydrate and thicken the delicate skin under the eyes, which will help the eyes appear less hollow. Another option to consider is a specialised mesotherapy known as LightEyes Ultra. This is an injectable treatment that contains a unique cocktail of hexapeptide, ascorbic acid, cucumber, chamomile, holly, rosemary and blueberry extracts that helps to improve microcirculation, skin elasticity, puffiness, and dark circles and is occasionally used in conjunction with tear trough fillers to help amplify results.
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) in the under-eye area can also improve the appearance of dark circles. This is a procedure in which a little of your blood is drawn from your arm before it’s spun in a centrifuge until the plasma separates out from the red blood cells. The PRP is then injected back into the skin under the eyes, encouraging the skin to regenerate by producing more collagen. This thickens the skin, so that dark tissues in the under-eye region show up through the skin less significantly.
If under-eye darkness is your concern, speak with an expert practitioner to establish the best course of action for you.
Disclaimer: Please be aware that results and benefits may vary from patient to patient taking into consideration factors such as age, lifestyle and medical history.
