Dear Doctor
I was wondering how I could clear my skin and the darkness around my eyes?
Dear Patient
Causes of Dark Eye Circles
The causes of dark eye circles include:
Facial aging features which include:
- Under eye volume loss which allows the fat within the eye orbit to protrude more and cast a shadow underneath the eye.
- Descent of cheek fat which causes the groove under the eye to become more prominent.
- Bulging under eye fat
Other causes which include:
- Heredity
- Pigmentation irregularities which tend to occur more commonly in people with dark skin.
- Inadequate sleep and fatigue
- Sun exposure which makes the skin produce more melanin and cause hyperpigmentation
Treatment of Dark Under Eye Circle
The treatment for Dark Eye Circles includes the use of:
- Eye Creams
Eye creams with vitamin E, vitamin K, retinol, CoEnzyme Q10and green tea are useful for treating dark eye circles. Examples include Roth Power K Eye Rescue which contains vitamin K, vitamin C, green tea, kojic acid and CoEnzyme Q10.
Other creams used to treat dark eye circles include RevaleSkin eye replenishing cream, DCL Eye Refining Matrix, SkinCeuticals eye gel, Sebamed Q10 Lifting Eye Cream and Hylexin serious dark circles eye cream.
- Sunscreens
Broad spectrum sunscreens that offer protection from UVA and UVB rays and that have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 should be used every day.
Large UV 400 sunglasses which cover the area should also be used when out in the sun.
- Chemical Peels
A study showed that a combination of trichloroacetic acid TCA 3.75% and lactic acid were effective in improving periorbital hyperpigmentation. These chemical peels reduce the dark circles by decreasing pigmentation issues and improving the overall skin quality. They can also be combined with other treatments.
- Injectable fillers
Hyaluronic acid injectable fillers like Restylane or Juvederm are used to treat dark circles.
- Autologous fat transplantation
The patient’s own fat can be grafted from another body area and injected in the tear troughs to treat dark circles in the under eye area.
- Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery is the most effective permanent method of removing dark eye circles caused by shadows due to bulging fat.
- Camouflage Cosmetics
Camouflage cosmetics can also be used to cover up the dark eye circles. Cover-up makeup usually comes as sets which include concealing creams and setting powder. Examples include the Smart Cover-up Starter Kit and Dermablend Cover Cream.
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