Eye Area Problems - Dark Circles

What are dark circles?

Even when you don't feel tired, dark circles beneath your eyes can make you appear so. This feature can either be hereditary, the result of the natural ageing process or both. Your skin becomes progressively thinner as you age and accumulated sun damage contributes to this process. The fat pads beneath your eyes are a particularly exposed area and, as they thin, the area starts to look sunken. This can give the illusion of a dark circle or shadow. Additionally, with this high exposure, they can easily become inflamed, causing your blood vessels to become more visible. Studies have suggested that low blood flow may also be a contributing factor to the appearance of dark circles and the associated sunken look in the eyes. Another factor is that with greater exposure to the sun, the skin's pigment reacts accordingly, resulting in darker patches.

Prevention

The most effective way to avoid dark circles around the eyes is to maintain daily sun protection. For this area of the skin, the appropriate course of action entails wearing a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen when outdoors.

Those who have a vitamin C deficiency, have regularly used systemic or topical steroids, or have used blood-thinners like Coumadin or Aspirin for prolonged periods are all more susceptible to their dark circles becoming more pronounced.

Treatments

Topical treatments

Vitamin K has been known for its role in promoting bone strength and blood clotting. More recent studies have found vitamin K creams to be beneficial - particularly when combined with retinol - in the treatment of facial bruising and naturally occurring puffiness and dark circles under the eyes. Vitamin K has been found to boost the pre-existing collagen levels in the skin resulting in thicker skin and a more youthful appearance. Due to vitamin K's effects in regards to bruising reduction, it is also useful in other areas of dermatology to quicken recovery from particular procedures that can involve bruising.

L-ascorbic acid is the purest form of vitamin C and is its only known form that the body is able to recognise and utilise for increased collagen production in the skin. Collagen is a vital component of the skin's structure and the health of your skin largely depends upon it.

Niacinamide, a derivative of niacin (vitamin B-3), has also been found to lighten darker skin patches around the eyes after only a month of use in controlled studies. Recent findings have indicated that niacin and its derivatives have chemopreventative effects and that it may decrease the incidence of skin cancer.[1]

Other more temporary cosmetic options include the use of yellow powders or concealers. The yellow colour neutralises the appearance of dark blue/red circles around the eyes. However, this approach will not resolve the problem at the source and the long-term use of some heavy make-ups can be unhealthy for the skin. If you wish to pursue this path, it is recommended that you consult with your dermatologist to discuss an appropriate product for your specific situation.

Available Procedures

There are not many procedures that reliably will help the appearance of dark circles. If the problem is one of sun-induced damage or thin, creepy skin, then either laser resurfacing or possibly plasma skin resurfacing will substantially reverse this problem. If the issue is a loss of eyelid structure with hollowing under the eyes, then volume replacement with one's own fat or deeper injections of dermal fillers is very useful. Occasionally, when the problem is truly pigment (brown colouring or blood vessels close to the skin), then the appropriate colour-coded lasers may be used to limit this.

As with any cosmetic procedure, patients should choose a suitably qualified and experienced dermatologist when considering undertaking any  treatments. You should ensure that all the available options, and the pros and cons thereof, have been considered.