One of the most common non-medical questions our Dermatica experts get asked is how to banish dark circles around the eyes. And this makes sense given we all notice them occasionally, whether that\u2019s because of sleepless nights, jetlag, work, or simply our own genes.<\/p>\n
Just as there are a slew of reasons why we might get them in the first place, there are also different types of dark circles that we can get. So to help you better understand why there\u2019s no simple, single treatment for dark circles under the eyes, we\u2019ll explain how our dermatology experts identify which type a person has, and which treatments they would recommend.<\/p>\n
What causes dark circles under the eyes?<\/strong><\/p>\n There are a few common causes of dark circles that we know about, and it helps to know what\u2019s causing them before you look into treatment. However, most of us with dark circles under the eyes have a combination of causes going on.<\/p>\n Pigmentation<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the main causes is pigmentation, and this is medically known as periorbital dark circles. This is due to excessive pigment production around the eyes. [1]<\/p>\n Vascular<\/strong><\/p>\n Another cause is vascular visibility, a type that we call infraorbital dark circles in medicine. It\u2019s recognised by thin eyelid skin that can make our blood vessels look more prominent. [2]<\/p>\n Structural shadowing<\/strong><\/p>\n Some dark circles are just due to the shape or bone structure of a person\u2019s face. This type is also called infraorbital dark circles. The anatomy of some people\u2019s facial features may cause the areas under their eyes to reflect light in a way that makes your under-eye area look more hollow. This can make the area around your orbital bone seem darker.<\/p>\n Factors that make dark circles appear more prominent<\/strong><\/p>\n While they don\u2019t necessarily cause dark circles in the first place, there are other contributing factors that can make them more noticeable. <\/p>\n Skin thinning and ageing <\/strong><\/p>\n If you didn’t have dark circles when you were younger and you’re now noticing them, it may just be down to ageing. As you age, you gradually lose collagen, causing the skin to get thinner and looser. This allows the blood vessels underneath to show through more easily, making your under-eye area look darker. <\/p>\n Lack of sleep and dehydration<\/strong><\/p>\n We all know sleep and hydration are both important for our skin, and it’s the same case for dark circles. Poor sleep can make the skin look paler, allowing blood vessels to appear more noticeable. Dehydration can also cause dullness and make the skin under your eyes appear more hollow and shadowed. Other lifestyle factors can have an impact too, such as smoking and alcohol. <\/p>\n Iron deficiency <\/strong><\/p>\n Though it’s less common, it’s thought that iron deficiency (also known as anaemia) could deepen the appearance of dark circles under your eyes too. This is mainly because it can cause pallor, making you look pale so the shadows appear more clearly. It can also cause fatigue, which could make your eye area look more dull. <\/p>\n Identifying which type of dark circles you have<\/strong><\/p>\n You may be curious about which type of dark circles you have, or how to tell if the causes are due to a combination of factors. So here are some basic ways that you can tell at home.<\/p>\n Pigmented type<\/strong><\/p>\n This type is characterised by a band or rim that\u2019s a darker brown tone or hue under the eye.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a form of pigmentation where a darker pigment is produced within the skin around the orbital bone. We usually notice this type more in people of colour or darker skin types. This variation may be just how your skin looks normally, as people with darker, more melanin-rich skin tend to produce more pigment in general. Sometimes pigmented eye areas can run in families, too.<\/p>\n Rubbing or scratching itchy skin around your eyes, over time, can also cause some people\u2019s skin to produce too much pigment. Inflammatory conditions like eczema, eyelid dermatitis, inflammation of the eyelid, or allergic reactions cause you to rub your eyes. The inflammation that comes from this irritation can often lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation<\/a>. Left untreated, these can all contribute to darker under-eye circles.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also worth noting that extensive sun exposure<\/a> and melasma<\/a> may result in dark eye circles, too, as UV will also increase melanin production<\/a>. [3]<\/p>\n Vascular type<\/strong><\/p>\n Vascular under eye circles show up as a blue, pink or purple hue under the eyes (depending on your skin colour and undertone). Because you\u2019ll likely have thinner eyelid skin, the tiny blood vessels under the surface look more prominent. This is the reason for the darker colour.<\/p>\n This type of dark circle is often associated with puffiness of the lower eyelid, too. Puffy eyelids can lead to more vascular congestion in that area, making your dark circles more obvious. [4]<\/p>\n Unlike the other types, vascular dark circles are made worse by lifestyle factors like sleep deprivation and salty food before bed, both of which can lead to congestion in the eye area. [2]<\/p>\n Structural type<\/strong><\/p>\n The contours of our facial features can also lead to dark circles, as this can contribute to hollowing or darkening of our under eyes around our tear troughs. The tear trough is the sunken area between our lower eyelid and our cheekbone. [5]<\/p>\n This type can affect anyone of any age, but they can become more obvious as we get older. Our skin naturally loses volume as we age, which causes structural changes to the fat pads in our face, as well as our bones. That\u2019s why structural dark circles are one of the most common types we see. Some of us just have them, and some of us get them with time. [2]<\/p>\n A quick test to try at home<\/strong><\/p>\n Want to check which type of dark eye circles you have? Here\u2019s a test you can try. Keep in mind it isn\u2019t foolproof, but you might get an idea of the root causes of your eye circles.<\/p>\n Position yourself in front of a mirror. Use your finger to gently tug your lower eyelid down with a small amount of pressure. This movement should change the contours of your lower eyelid.<\/p>\n Watch how the light reflects off your lower eyelid. If you have structural eye circles, you should notice an improvement in their appearance. <\/p>\n For people with vascular congestion, you won\u2019t notice any improvement, and you might notice it gets worse (temporarily of course). This is because the slight pressure you\u2019re using decreases blood flow, causing more congestion. <\/p>\n If you have eye circles due to pigmentation, you won\u2019t notice any change at all.<\/p>\n Treatment options for dark under eye circles<\/strong><\/p>\n How you treat dark circles will differ based on the type you have. Here we\u2019ll break down your best options for reducing the appearance of under-eye circles depending on their cause. <\/p>\n For dark circles caused by pigmentation<\/strong><\/p>\n If your under eye circles are caused by pigmentation, you\u2019ll want to treat any underlying inflammation and get that under control first. If you don\u2019t, unfortunately, any treatment will be pointless because your body will continue to produce too much pigment (melanin).<\/p>\n Once your inflammation has cleared up, look for skincare with science-backed brightening properties, as this will help to gently fade and even out excess melanin. Fragrance free is best, as perfumes can be irritating and your eyelid is more sensitive than the rest of your face.<\/p>\n Make sure any product you use is suitable for around the eye, as your eyelid skin is more delicate than other areas of the face. Some products might be too harsh.<\/p>\n Active ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n A dermatologist or dermatology expert, like our team at Dermatica, may recommend effective ingredients like retinoids<\/a>. These are helpful but can be irritating around the thinner skin of the delicate under eye area, unless they\u2019re specifically designed for this purpose. <\/p>\n When using active ingredients around your eyes, always follow personalised guidance from a licensed dermatology professional so you don\u2019t cause more inflammation and make your pigmentation worse.<\/p>\n For gentler, over-the-counter solutions, look for products with:<\/strong><\/p>\n Vitamin C: This topical vitamin not only has unbeatable brightening properties, it also boosts the effectiveness of your sunscreen and stimulates collagen production. <\/p>\n Niacinamide: This antioxidant improves skin brightness and hydration, and when combined with hyaluronic acid it plumps and improves the appearance of fine lines. Find it in our Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid + Vit B5 Serum<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sunscreen: Wearing sunscreen around the eye area is a must if you have pigmentation. We know pigmentation worsens from chronic sun exposure, so use your favourite sunscreen that doesn\u2019t burn or irritate your eyes. There are eye creams with SPF in them, but make sure it\u2019s broad-spectrum and protects from UVA\/UVB rays like our SPF50 Photodamage Defence Sunscreen<\/a>. Wearing sunglasses with UV protection will also help. [3]<\/p>\n For dark circles caused by vascular visibility<\/strong><\/p>\n There\u2019s no way to truly, effectively improve vascular dark circles with topical skincare alone.<\/p>\n Using topical creams with retinoids and peptides can help plump and bulk up the eyelid area, by enhancing collagen production and improving your skin\u2019s overall thickness. But generally they won\u2019t dramatically change your dark circles because your eyelid skin is much thinner than the rest of your face.<\/p>\n To even out your overall skin tone day to day, makeup such as colour correctors and concealers are effective at concealing the prominent blood vessels from your dark circles. If you notice your under-eye circles darken from lack of sleep or when you eat salty food, making sure you get enough rest and eating a more balanced diet may help. However, aesthetic treatments like tear trough fillers are going to be the most helpful option. [4]<\/p>\n For dark circles caused by structural shadowing<\/strong><\/p>\n Because this type of dark under eye circles is only down to the natural, anatomical contours of your face, cosmetic rejuvenation like the fillers we mentioned above are the most effective option. Skincare and eye creams won\u2019t hurt of course, but they can\u2019t change the shape of your face, so they won\u2019t provide any significant improvements. [4]<\/p>\n