Dark Circles

Dark circles are a real pain. They can make you look tired and drawn, even when you’re feeling bright and breezy. But what actually causes them? And what can you do about them?

Treatments:

• Dermal Fillers (Tear Trough Filler)

• Skin Boosters via Mesotherapy

FAQ - DARK CIRCLES

What are dark circles under the eye called?

We call the smudges of darker skin below our eyes ‘dark circles’ but there is a technical name for them and it is periorbital hyperpigmentation.

‘Hyperpigmentation’ is where the skin has excess pigment in it, making it look darker than your usual skin tone, so that the hyperpigmented patch shows up as darker.

‘Periorbital’ simply means ‘around the eyes’.

What causes dark circles under the eye?

There are several reasons why we get dark circles under the eyes.

• It could be genetic – which unfortunately is just bad luck. We associate dark circles under the eyes with tiredness or with older people who have sunken eyes, but if your genes have given your eyes that always look tired, it’s unfair but it’s a look that’s with you from the start.

• If you have darker skin, dark circles beneath the eyes are more likely to be the result of extra pigmentation in that part of your skin.

• If you have lighter skin, the dark circles may be the result of subdermal fascia and blood vessels, which are darker, showing through.

• If you are older, dark circles under the eyes are a natural part of the ageing process. Why? Because you are losing the fat pads from the face, which can make the eye area look hollow and in turn create shadows below the eye, which look darker. If these fat pads have dropped into bags or pouches, these can also create the appearance of dark circles.

• People with itchy skin or allergies often have worse dark circles if they have a tendency to rub at the skin below the eyes.

• And then, there’s the most obvious of reasons: fatigue and a lack of sleep always make dark circles under the eyes look more obvious.

Does everyone get dark circles?

No, not everyone gets dark circles under the eyes, but it is a very common complaint and something that we all hate because we feel it makes us look tired even when we are not.

For many people, dark circles under the eyes are hereditary – a genetic characteristic that you inherit from your parents. Some people have dark circles under the eyes the whole time, though for most of us, dark circles show up most when we are tired and haven’t had enough sleep. At the other end of the scale, some people are just lucky and don’t get dark circles under their eyes at all.

Does tiredness cause dark circles under the eyes?

Yes, being tired is one of several possible causes of dark circles, and it’s likely that the two things are closely linked in your mind. Lack of sleep often results in a pallid skin tone, which allows the blood vessels underneath the lower eyelids to show through.

What makes dark circles worse?

• Fatigue – general weariness makes the face look drawn and tired and this makes dark circles under the eyes more noticeable.

• Lack of sleep – because this makes the skin look more pale, so the blue-ish blood vessels below the skin are more apparent.

• Reduced microcirculation – if the blood circulation isn’t moving freely through all the minute capillaries around your eyes, this can show through the skin and make dark circles appear worse.

• Sun damage – this makes the skin thinner so lighter skins become more transparent, while on darker skins, sun damage results in darker pigmentation patches below the eyes.

Can you permanently remove dark circles?

No. However, there are many options out there which will help to reduce the severity and visibility of your dark circles including skincare and injectable treatments.

How can you hide dark circles fast?

The quickest way to hide dark circles is to use a good concealer. Concealer is one of the most popular cosmetics because, patted into place beneath the eyes, it will hide the darkness and discolouration. Choose one that is the right shade for your skin tone (if you choose one that is lighter, thinking that it will tone down the darkness in the dark circles, it will just look odd) and pick one that has a creamy consistency, so that it doesn’t crease into the little lines below the eyes. Find one which contains light-reflecting particles, and it will blur any lines and hollows beneath the eyes and bounce light back in a flattering way so that your eyes look instantly fresher.

How can you prevent dark circles under the eyes?

If your issue is due to blood vessels and darker subdermal fascia showing through, there are a number of lifestyle changes you can make that will help minimise and prevent discolouration around the eyes:

• Improve your sleep. Putting dark circles to one side for a moment, a good sleep routine is one of the best things you can do for your skin, your general well-being and your mental health! Aim for 8 hours of solid sleep – it will do wonders for your skin, improving radiance and masking those unsightly dark circles.

• Improve your diet. Lots of fruit and vegetables will boost antioxidant levels in your system, resulting in cleaner, brighter skin that doesn’t let as much discolouration show.

• Drink lots of water. I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but drinking at least 2 litres of water per day will keep your insides functioning efficiently, which shows on the outside. Healthier, brighter, more radiant skin will more effectively mask any under-eye discolouration.

On the medical side of things, keeping your skin in top condition – for example through a good skincare regime, including an antioxidant serum to strengthen skin against environmental damage and pollution, sunscreen to ward off UV rays, and regular dermatology-grade facials – will help to prevent degradation of the skin.

What skincare can you use for dark circles under the eyes?

• Antioxidant serums which strengthen the skin

• Skincare with retinol, which encourages the growth of collagen

• Eye creams designed to tackle dark circles

• Eye creams with niacinamide, an ingredient which helps lighten pigmentation

What treatments can help with dark circles under my eyes?

There are several treatments that can help with dark circles:

• Tear-Trough Dermal Filler - Delicately placed injections of a lightweight filler gel made from hyaluronic acid can work for hollow eyes, to immediately smooth out the dip between the edge of the cheekbone and the hollow under the eye. This can make the whole under-eye area look brighter, and gives a result that should last for a year.

• Skin Boosters via Mesotherapy – Injections of skin-rejuvenating ingredients like Polynucleotides will vastly improve the under eye area. Treatments such as Lumi Eyes and Plinest Eyes are both great options.

What is the best treatment for dark circles under the eyes?

Finding the best treatment for dark circles depends on the sort of dark circles you have. If your dark circles are caused by patches of darker pigmentation, your best bet is to start with active skincare. Preferably, look for products that have been clinically proven to reduce pigmentation in the skin. Dermatologists can prescribe creams containing 4% hydroquinone, which is the gold-standard treatment for reducing pigmentation in the skin. Over-the-counter products containing retinol can also make pigmentation more even, but go carefully when using retinol around the eyes and start gradually.

In terms of injectable treatments, skin boosters containing polynucleotides can brighten the appearance of dark circles, but you will need a consultation with the practitioner to work out whether this is appropriate for your dark circles. An increasingly popular way to treat the hollowing under the eyes that causes dark circles is with injections of dermal filler to smooth the junction between the eyes of the cheek and the area beneath the eyes.