Dark Circles Under The Eyes

Common sense measures such as getting plenty of sleep and treating allergies can often help. Short-term tricks used by some models, such as applying cool cucumber slices or cool tea bags to the under eye area, reduce swelling in the short term. For those in whom the dark circles are due to true skin pigmentation, lightening agents used with care in this sensitive area can help. However, be sure to check with your dermatologist first, to determine whether your circles are due to superficial pigment or veins beneath the thin lower eyelid skin.

Most dark circles are caused by the veins beneath the thin skin under the eye. As we age and receive more sun damage to our facial skin, the thin skin under the eye can become thinner and wrinkled, which allows the veins in the fat pad under the eye to become more prominent. These veins also become more congested in people with allergies, and people with a history of eczema, hay fever or asthma often develop dark circles referred to as "allergic shiners." Of course, dark circles often become more apparent with a lack of sleep as well. In some people with dark skin and certain conditions, the dark circles under the eye may actually be due to superficial pigmentation of the skin, and not the veins under the skin.

The definitive treatment for those with sagging undereye skin and dark circles is blepharoplasty. This surgery removes the excess skin and fat pads under the eyes. It is one of the most common aesthetic procedures performed by plastic surgeons. Blepharoplasty is often combined with laser resurfacing, depending on the amount of wrinkling around the eyes. This surgery does not actually remove dark circles, but once the bags are gone there will be less shadowing and the circles will be less noticeable. Your overall appearance will be more youthful and rested. The recovery time is one to two weeks.