Dark, under-eye circles are one of the most common complaints I hear from my clients about their eye area.
This is one of the tricker concerns to treat because there can be multiple causes for dark circles, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
Here are some tips for you
1. Find out the cause
The best treatment for dark circles very much depends on the cause. If it’s because of hollowness, that can create a shadow when the light hits, so you get a kind of deep crease. Sometimes it is created by little lines underneath the eyes… it could be from pigmentation or sometimes it’s thinning of the skin
2. If it’s hyperpigmentation…
Hyperpigmentation is very common under the eyes, especially in skin of colour. It could be heredity, caused by friction due to constant rubbing of the eyes, excessive sun exposure, or hyperpigmentation from an allergy or atopic dermatitis.
I am a fan of chemical peels and microneedling to treat pigment-based dark circles however, it’s a slow and steady process as the eye area is so delicate.
3. Build up that collagen
We know collagen is the holy grail of youth, and in some cases it’s also what’s needed to banish dark circles. If your dark circles are down to thinning of the skin in the under-eye area microneedling is your friend.
Careful – very careful – clinical needling under the eyes with a microneedling pen will increase the thickness of the dermis by activating the skin’s wound-healing response and stimulating collagen and elastin production. The renewed skin will be plumper and the dark circles less visible.
Skin boosters and mesotherapy can all work in a similar way – it’s down to finding the right, tailored solution for you.
4. Treat with skincare
The right products can be really helpful in getting rid of dark circles, or at least visibly improving them. Use an eye cream with some of the following ingredients to prevent further damage: Vitamin C, an antioxidant, has a brightening action and prevents further damage from sun; vitamin K improves circulation, and caffeine decreases puffiness. A retinol product under the eyes overnight can be helpful for treating pigmentation, but it’s important to start on a low percentage and increase gradually to avoid irritation, as the skin is of course much more sensitive under the eyes.
And make sure you’re taking your SPF up to the occipital bone to prevent and treat sun damage that will worsen dark circles.
5. Improve Your Diet
What you put in your body manifests on the outside. Dark circles can be caused by iron deficiency, so ensure you include vitamin B12 and foods like red meat, pork, poultry, seafood, beans, spinach, raisins, apricots and peas into your diet. Drinking lots of water and reducing your intake of salty foods and alcohol will help as they tend to exacerbate the appearance of eye bags. And ditch the cigarettes, too.
6. Try Out Radiofrequency
A great port of call (and a bit of a sneak advance news of a brilliant new treatment I am bringing into the clinic SOON! This is FABULOUS for those who are needle-averse ... radiofrequency (RF), a treatment which uses heat to stimulate collagen and elastin production and tighten, smooth and firm the skin. It works wonders on hooded eyes and offers long-lasting results, too.
7. Mesotherapy
Mesotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure whereby a mixture of vitamins, amino acids and minerals are injected into the mesodermal layer of the skin containing hyaluronic acid, ruscus, vitamin C and antioxidants. It can combat everything from eye bags and dark circles to crepey skin, wrinkles and dehydration. In short: whatever you’ve got, it will help.It’s a simple treatment with no risk, which is very important for the eye area.
8. Stop rubbing your eyes
Something we can all do that doesn’t cost a thing is to stop rubbing our eyes. Seems simplistic, but there’s a good reason.
Rubbing of the eyes not only causes frictional hyperpigmentation, but also can cause tiny blood vessels (capillaries) to break and leak. This can cause short and long-term hyperpigmentation of the under-eye skin due to blood pooling – bruising. As the bruising heals, a component of hemoglobin called hemosiderin is left behind. Hemosiderin is pigmented and causes dark circles under the eyes.
If you would like to discuss any treatments or homecare for your eye concerns, why not book in for a full skin analysis and consultation. Fully reimbursable against any treatment booked or homecare prescribed, it really is one of the best half hours you will spend on yourself!
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