5 Common Causes of Dark Circles and How You Can Treat Them

Dark eye circles are more common than you might think in both men and women. They have a tendency to make one appear overly tired, older, and not to mention the pigmentation of the skin beneath, which makes most women end up hiding with concealers. Although a number of people who have the dark eye circles blame it on the weather, or simply ‘I don’t know how they came about’, there are things that cause or contribute vastly to the appearance of the dark circles. Knowing what is causing your dark circles is very important because then when it comes to treating them, the doctor or dermatologist will know what to do to get the best possible results. Words by Dr. Luis M. Ayala – Board Certified Plastic Surgeon at Dubai Cosmetic Surgery Clinic.

Sun exposure

Over-exposure to the sun without wearing sunscreen can lead to severe dark circles, in addition to skin hyperpigmentation. This is because long sun exposure stimulates melanin, which then leads to the discoloration of the skin under the eyes; which happens to be thinner than the other parts of the face.

Aging

As we age, the collagen and elastin within the skin weaken and this thins out the skin under the eyes, in addition to losing its subcutaneous fat. The thin skin then starts to sag and as a result, if not treated in good time, the hollowness ends up casting a dark shadow underneath, which is seen as a dark circle.

Genetics 

Your gene pool can be a deciding factor in your dark circles. And if you are genetically predisposed by one or both of your parents having dark shadows under the eyes, then do not be overly surprised if you develop them. This usually happens when you lose subcutaneous fat prematurely from under the eyes and as a result a hollow grove forms below your lower eyelid; which appears dark.

Pollen Allergies

Although the Gulf is not covered by a wide variety of green spaces, there is still that big chance of coming across one such area. And during the pollen season, you will find yourself susceptible to minor or major pollen allergies. One of the symptoms is extreme eye-rubbing which triggers the inflammation of blood vessels hence skin discoloration around the eyes.

Lack of Sleep and Tiredness

Lack of sleep and being overly tired leads to the skin becoming pale, which then makes the dark circles more pronounced.

Dark Circles Treatments

Dermal Fillers

Since the number one cause of dark circles is volume loss, the number one treatment for dark circles is the use of dermal fillers like Juvederm, Restylane, or Belotero. These treat the orbital hollowing by filling it up to give it volume. The treatment takes about 30 minutes depending on the patient’s facial structure, and the results last anywhere from 9 months to over a year. 

Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing

Fractional laser resurfacing is a cosmetic skin treatment that corrects imperfections in the skin including dark circles. When the laser beam hits the target area, it penetrates the deep layers of the skin transmitting heat to the connective tissues. This stimulates the growth of new and healthy skin through collagen regeneration under your eyes. The results show a reduction in pigmentation, and with continuous treatment, you can eventually get rid of the dark circles under the eyes.

Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty

Dark circles due to aging or genetics can be treated with this procedure which removes excess skin and fat (in the case of puffy eyes) from the area. It is also one of the most popular procedures and is done under local anesthesia. Results include a more natural, awake and younger look without changing the shape of your face.

Chemical Skin Peels

Chemical skin peels like the glycolic peel usually help in reducing the appearance of dark circles. The chemical peels usually target dark circles that are as a result of hyperpigmentation like melasma and sun-exposure. Chemical peels work by removing a very thin layer of the skin which is dead and dull, leaving a brighter and glowing skin. This helps in collagen regeneration as well. But one should be careful because only light peels should be used because deep ones can lead to eye damage.  

Mesotherapy

If the dark circles under your eyes are as a result of puffiness or sagging, then Mesotherapy is the treatment for you. Active ingredients like vitamins and minerals are injected to help improve blood circulation hence rejuvenating and repairing the target area. After a couple of sessions, the eyes look younger, brighter and fresher.