Under Eye Dark Circles

Under-eye dark circles is a very common condition where there is a darkening of the skin of the eyelids and sometimes extending onto cheeks. Dark circles under the lower eyelids are common in men and women. Often accompanied by bags, dark circles can make you appear older than you are.

Under-eye dark circles may also be an indicator of an unhealthy lifestyle and often accompanied by under-eye bags. Dark circles can make you appear older than you are. Under-eye dark circles pigmentation may range from purple or blue to dark brown or black, based on the patient skin color.

Fatigue seems to be the most logical explanation for this condition.

DO	DON'T
Do use broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 50+	Do not overexposure yourself to sunlight
Do use sunglasses, hats and caps	Do not forget to go outdoors without sunscreen or sunglasses
Do Stay hydrated, drink lots of water to keep skin hydrated from inside	Do not Smoke and avoid eye strain
Do use moisturizer	Do not get extreme fatigue and stay long hours overnight
Do consume lots of citrus fruits and vegetables	Do not expose to pollution
Do opt green tea which has anti-oxidant property	Do not take home-remedy treatments
Do choose the reputed cosmetic centre for under-eye rejuvenation	Do not miss your scheduled appointments for the procedural treatment

Under-eye dark circles may be caused due to:

Genetics: Family history with an inherited trait seen early in childhood, and may worsen as you age. As predispositions to other medical conditions such as thyroid disease can also result in dark circles beneath your eyes.

Fatigue: Extreme fatigue or just staying up for long hours with a lack of sleep can also cause fluid underneath your eyes, causing them to appear puffy. Lack of sleep can cause your skin to become dull and pale, allowing the blood vessels more visible causing darken eyes

Ageing:Natural aging is a common cause of dark circles. As you get older, your skin becomes thinner, loses the fat and collagen which is needed to maintain your skin’s elasticity. As this occurs, the dark blood vessels beneath your skin become more visible causing under eye dark circles.

Eye strain: Continuous and constant staring at television or computer screen can cause significant strain on your eyes, which indeed can cause blood vessels around your eyes to enlarge and appear dark circles.

Allergies: Allergic reactions and eye dryness can trigger dark circles. As an allergic reaction (itching, redness, and puffy eyes) body releases histamines which in turn cause your blood vessels to dilate and become more visible beneath your skin and result in dark shadows

Dehydration: When your body is not receiving the proper amount of water, the skin beneath the eyes begins to look sunken dull, and closer to the underlying bone.

Sun overexposure: Overexposure to the sun can cause your body to produce an excess of melanin and cause pigmentation.

Nutritional deficiency especially iron and vitamin C & E

Unhealthy habits like smoking

Treatment of dark circles

It all depends upon the severity, patient’s skin type, causative factor, and the patient expectation from the treatment. There are plenty of treatments and we at Clear Skin Centre recommend either of the below-mentioned treatments or in the combination of them. (COCKTAIL REGIME)

1.Topical Medication: These are plenty of skin lightening agents as mentioned below:

• Kojic acid
• Azelaic acid
• Vitamin C
• Retinoids

2. Oral medication: Oral antioxidants especially Vitamin C and in case of allergy oral antihistamines.

3. Interventional dermatological treatments:

• Chemical peel: of specific strengths (usually mild) to remove the pigmented upper layers of the skin.
• Platelet-rich plasma: into superficial layers of skin. As the growth factors stimulate collagen production and rejuvenate the skin.
• Q-switch ND-Yag Laser: nano and pico laser with1064nm wavelength to target the melanin pigment in the skin.
• Fractional skin resurfacing laser: stimulates collagen, which thickens the skin under the eyes, thereby reducing dark circles. It also tightens loose skin and removes excess skin that is responsible for the ‘baggy’ under-eye appearance.
• Hydradermabrasion it is a combination of dermabrasion and nourishment, protection and hydration of your skin with antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and peptides
• Autologous Fat transfer: fat from the patient’s own body is injected in the under-eye area to restore the volume and to reduce hollowed eye appearance.
• Fillers: into the under-eye area similar to fat transfer.