We have all
seen these circles and probably had them for one reason or another. There are
five main reasons they occur, and each cause has different symptoms and
requires different treatment. Read below for how you can reduce the appearance
of dark circles.
Bags Caused by Fat Pads
Bags are
caused by increased fat below the eye. The best solution is called
blepharoplasty which is removal of this extra fat and lid by a plastic or
dermatologic surgeon.
Puffiness
Puffiness occurs because the skin below the
eye is very thin and sensitive to fluid collection. The loose thin skin around
the eyes can swell for various reasons including seasonal allergies, sinus
infections, crying, or water retention from high blood pressure or eating food
high in sodium. Suggestions for treating
this puffiness include:
1. Treating
seasonal allergies with over the counter allergy medications or see your doctor
for prescription allergy or sinus infection medication.
2. Switch
your sleep position. Sleeping on your stomach or sides can encourage fluids to
collect under your eyes. Try sleeping on your back and add an extra pillow
under your head.
3. Avoid
rubbing your eyes, going to bed with makeup on, and harsh cleansers. Anything
that irritates the eyes can cause fluids to pool.
4. Place an
ice pack, slices of cucumber, or even a package of frozen peas on eyes. This
causes tightening of the vessels around the eyes and can lessen puffiness.
5. Some eye
puffiness can be the result of an underlying medical condition (thyroid, heart,
or kidney diseases) especially if the eye bags appear suddenly and none of the
above conditions apply. These conditions can cause fluids to be retained under
the eyes.
Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation or darkness of color of the skin
around the eyes is very common in darker skin types. Genetics, rubbing, and
inflammation from skin diseases, such as, eczema may play a part in
exacerbating the pigmentation of the thin under-eye skin. Recommendations include:
1. Avoid
rubbing the area around the eyes.
2. Retinoic
acid creams (Retin-A, Tazorac, tretinoin) can help slough the dark pigmented
skin. It should, however, be used in small amounts with increasing use over
several weeks to avoid irritation.
3. Skin
lightening creams with azaleic acid, glycolic acid, and hydroquinone have shown
success in lightening the under eye darkness.
4. Light
chemical peels and IPL (Intense-pulsed light) may help minimize the
pigmentation especially if it seems to be the result of sunlight.
Tear
Trough
Tear Trough or hollows under the eyes are
caused by a loss of volume in the area and shows up as a dark circle. It can be
caused by genetics, significant weight loss, and the aging process that causes
the loss of fat in the area. The best way to treat this problem is with a
filler like Restylane or Juvederm, etc.
The skin
around the eye becomes thinner with age as well which causes the blood vessels
to be more easily seen. This can lead to a bluish tone to the skin under the
eye which casts a dark shadow under the eye making the area appear dark or
sallow. This can be helped by eye creams that contain caffeine which constricts
these vessels. Lasers can also be used to treat the larger veins.
Wrinkles
Wrinkles
can be improved with Botox and laser resurfacing.
In addition
to these solutions, there are some other daily steps you can take to reduce the
dark circles, including the application of sunscreen and moisturizer, avoid
smoking and use a concealer that is a slightly lighter color than your skin
tone.
If your at
home treatment of your dark circles is not earning you the results you want,
come see us at Greenville Dermatology. We can assess the reason behind your
dark circles and figure out a treatment plan that will improve your look. Call
us at (864) 242-5872 to schedule an appointment today.
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