How to Get Rid of Dark Circles Under Eyes: A Complete Guide
Our eyes significantly impact how others perceive us, as they can convey vast emotions.
But dark circles under your eyes can make you feel extremely tired and look older than your age.
Dark circles are the visible darkness of the infra-orbital area.
The American Academy of Plastic Surgeons reported that filler injections were the second most common procedure in the US in 2016.
Many treatment options are available given the different possible causes of the darkening of skin under the eyes.
Keep reading the article to find out how to get rid of dark circles under the eyes.
Treatments
Various factors contribute to the development of dark circles.
Thus it is essential to diagnose the underlying cause to select the appropriate treatment for black circles.
Given the different causes, these are common treatments to get rid of dark circles under the eyes.
Topical treatments
Post Purpuric Pigmentation (PPP) is usually treated with Topical treatments.
PPP is the cause of hyperpigmentation after cosmetic surgery. It is a type of Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH).
It is usually treated with Topical treatments.
Many topical treatment options are available, including bleaching and depigmenting agents.
If you have dark circles due to pigmentation, your doctor may recommend the following skin-lightening agents:
Your doctor might also suggest products with vitamins for dark circles.
Tretinoin is a Vitamin A acid derivative. It is a prescription-based medicine used for hyperpigmentation.
Skin Lite cream is a prescription-based medicine that has both Hydroquinone and Tretinoin.
It is primarily used to treat Melasma.
Bleaching agents work by inhibiting Tyrosinase Enzyme. It stops the conversion of Dopa to Melanin, which is responsible for the darkening of circles.
You can also use a depigmenting agent, Arbutin. It is an extract of the leaves of the Bearberry plant.
It is a derivative of Hydroquinone and works similarly to bleaching agents.
Your doctor may also prescribe Corticosteroids and Antioxidants, including,
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Kojic Acid
- Azelaic acid.
You can achieve lightening of hyperpigmented areas with one or more topical treatments as suggested by your doctor.
Use topical treatments for a more extended period to gain better results.
Hyaluronic acid fillers
The treatment is widely used for the following underlying causes of dark circles:
- Tear troughs
- Thin skin
- Infraorbital wrinkles or laxity
There are several fillers like Hyaluronic acid (HA). It is the most common filler to treat the darkening of skin under the eyes.
It is a preferred treatment due to the ease of removal and fewer side effects.
While treating the area under the eyes, higher HA content in fillers shows better volumizing and retaining effects.
However, excessive volumizing can result in puffy eyes and make it difficult for doctors to control injection depth.
Therefore, low-concentration HA fillers are suggested for correcting dark circles.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
Platelet Rich Plasma is a concentration of Plasma Protein. It is derived from the patient’s blood by removing red blood cells.
It has a significant amount of growth factors and proteins.
Growth factors in PRP inhibit Melanin production in injected areas. It works by delaying extracellular signal-regulated Kinase activity.
It is also used in combination with Autologous fat grafts for dark circles.
Chemical peeling
Chemical peeling is the application of one or more chemical agents that leads to controlled skin destruction. It helps in the removal of Epidermal Lesions.
Depending on the chemical peeling, the treatment course can be less or more intense.
Depending on how deep these peels penetrate the skin, they can be classified as superficial (light), medium, or deep.
There are many chemical peels available:
- Trichloroacetic acid
- Alpha-Hydroxy acids
- Glycolic Acids
Superficial peeling with Trichloroacetic acid is a treatment option for dark circles.
It is available in concentrations of 15%, 25%, 50%, and 75%.
Alpha-Hydroxy acids, a group of Organic Acids, are also used as chemical peelers for dark circles.
They work by reducing the cohesiveness of Corneocytes through the inhibition of enzymes. These enzymes form ionic bonds that help stimulate the Biosynthesis of Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs).
GAGs play a crucial role in regulating cell growth, Anticoagulation, and promoting cell adhesion.
Thus stay informed and perform the procedures under your physician’s guidance.
Laser Treatment
There are many effective laser treatments for reducing dark circles brought on by excessive pigmentation.
- Q-switched Ruby (694-nm)
- Q-switched Alexandrite (755-nm)
- Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (Nd: YAG) (1,064-nm)
Lowe et al. studied the Q-switched Ruby laser treatment response on 17 patients.
They observed the lightening of dark circles was greater than 50% in 23.5% of patients after one laser treatment. After the second laser treatment, 88.9% of patients observed effective improvement.
A study was conducted to see the efficacy of Q-switched Alexandrite and Nd: YAG laser treatments.
In the study, West and Alster reported that both lasers effectively treat hyperpigmentation.
Improvement was observed in many patients after the first therapy. And even more lightening of dark circles after the second session.
Apart from the above options, Glycolic Acids are the most widely used Alpha-Hydroxy acids.
Glycolic acids may produce Epidermolysis at 50% to 80% concentrations. Thus they should be used under physician supervision only.
Surgery
Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin below the eye. It reduces the tear trough and, as a result, the appearance of a dark circle under the eye.
The surgery alone is not very effective in most patients.
But Epstein used it with deep-depth Phenol chemical peel simultaneously to treat the hyperpigmentation of the skin, which is a contributing cause of dark circles.
The authors reported successful outcomes with a low incidence of complications.
Takeaway
Various factors cause dark circles under the eyes. It is essential to identify the correct causes before starting the treatment.
Treatments mentioned above can be used separately or together for individual patients.
HA fillers, Topical treatments, Laser therapy, and Surgery are the most effective treatments for dark circles under the eyes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get rid of dark circles overnight?
No. You can minimize the appearance of dark circles, but you can not completely get rid of them overnight. You can use eye creams, topical treatments, and cold compresses to reduce dark circles.
How to get rid of dark circles under the eyes?
There are many treatment choices to remove dark circles under the eyes. Depending on the underlying cause, your physician may prescribe Topical treatments, HA fillers, surgery, or Laser therapy.
What to use for dark circles under the eyes?
To treat dark circles, you can use eye creams, topical treatments such as Hydroquinone, or makeup to cover them. You can also use compresses to reduce the appearance of dark circles that occur due to puffiness.
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