Prevention

Causes of dark circles under the eyes range from fatigue, vitamin deficiency, hyperpigmentation, allergies, age, and medical conditions. However, heredity is the most common cause for bags under the eye. Getting the proper rest and eating the right foods can sometimes help treat and improve dark under eye circles, but if your circles are in fact, genetic, they will usually worsen if left untreated.

Make-up Can Actually Make the Problem Worse

The most common treatment most people use for dark under eye circles is to simply cover them up. Covering circles under the eyes with makeup, however, can often make matters worse. Some makeup can dry out or irritate the delicate area around the eye. So, before you liberally apply concealer, know that there are advanced non-surgical treatments that are far more effective at treating dark under eye circles.

Treatment Options

Today, there are plenty of non-surgical methods available to get rid of dark circles under eyes. In fact, everyone probably knows someone that has tried tea bags or cucumbers. Green tea does actually contain an anti-inflammatory substance called EGCG that can reduce puffiness, but the amount of EGCG is so small in most teas that it might not be worth it. For years beauty queens have even used Preparation H as a temporary fix for eye wrinkles and dark circles, but it’s just that…a temporary fix. Home remedies for dark under eye circles are mostly ineffective because they are not powerful enough to alter skin’s chemistry.

The best treatments for under eye circles are non-surgical aesthetic treatments such as Fraxel®, Thermage®, Blue Light Therapy, IPL Photofacial, Dermal Fillers like Restylane® or Radiesse®, and Chemical Peels. Patients with more severe cases of undereye circles, puffiness and loose upper or lower eyelids may want to seek out surgical altneratives including Blepharoplasty or a Brow Lift. Chemical Peels have also been used to renew skin around the eyes, but are being used less and less to treat dark under eye circles because of the availability of laser treatments.

Length of Results

Results typically last a year with dark under eye circle treatments. Results may be longer with services like Radiesse with results lasting as long as 5 years.