How to Reduce Dark Circles Under Your Eyes

One of the most stubborn beauty concerns we face today are those pesky dark circles under the eyes called periorbital hyperpigmentation. Varying from faint shadows to dramatic, purple triangles under the lower eyelid, 72% of Americans have them, and most of them struggle with getting rid of them. While this can be one of the most frustrating and stubborn issues to deal with, there are a variety of ways you can reduce the look of your dark circles, or even get rid of them altogether. 

Underlying Causes of Dark Circles Under Eyes

Understanding and determining the causes of dark undereye circles can help better identify the treatment that is right for you. Here are the top potential causes:

• Sleep Deprivation: Not getting enough sleep or extreme fatigue can cause your skin to appear dull, allowing for dark tissue and blood vessels to show. Lack of sleep can also cause fluid buildup underneath your eyes, making them puffy, casting shadows that can look like dark circles.

• Eye Strain: Too much screen time can put a lot of stress on the muscles in and around the eye, causing blood vessels to become more visible underneath. 

• Allergies: Pollen, certain medications, and other allergens can cause irritation around your eyes, leading to inflammation, swelling, and broken blood vessels as you rub the eye. The result is puffier looking eyes and dark shadows beneath your eyes.

• Dehydration: Your skin needs plenty of water to keep it looking plump and healthy. When your body is not receiving the amount of water it needs, the skin beneath your eyes can look dull and appear sunken due to how close it is to the bone.

• Age: Thinning skin, laxity (sagging), and wrinkles all contribute to the appearance of dark circles under the eyes.

• Genetics: Most likely, your dark circles aren’t your fault. This particular skin frustration is often caused by genetics, an inherited trait that can show up early in childhood and worsen with age. 

How to Treat Dark Circles Under the Eyes

Lifestyle Changes

Dealing with the causes listed above can bring on a visible improvement in the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. Getting enough sleep and sticking to a regular sleep schedule is essential. Avoid eye strain by following the 20/20 rule; for every 20 minutes that you spend looking at a screen, spend 20 seconds focusing on a distant object at least 20 feet away—and try to reduce your screen time. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water and avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and lots of salt in your diet can also work wonders. If you’ve tried these remedies and find they have little to no effect on those stubborn dark circles, then you may want to consider further treatment solutions.

Topical Fixes

The market is flooded with serums and creams that claim to help the look of dark circles under the eyes, but only a few of them live up to their promise. Generally, dermatologists advise that the only topical treatment that affects the skin visibly is Retinol. Although Retinol, also known as vitamin A, is typically advertised as a product to help with wrinkles, its main function is to boost your skin’s natural production of collagen. More collagen leads to plumper skin, lending a fresh, well-rested appearance to those dark areas under the eyes if you use Retinol regularly. 

Makeup is an obvious go-to for correcting dark under-eye circles. Dabbing concealer, color-correcting creams, or a light-reflecting powder will all go a long way to reducing the appearance of dark areas, though the effect only lasts until you remove your makeup at the end of the day. For some people, especially older women, too much makeup under the eyes lead to creasing or dryness, and enhances the appearance of wrinkles. In this case it’s worth it to consider an aesthetic treatment option instead. You’ll learn more about that below. 

Another quick fix that professional makeup artists turn to is cold compresses, especially tea bags. Applying chilled tea bags to the eyes for 10-15 minutes is an industry secret that gets sleep-deprived models and actors looking fresh and camera-ready instantly. This is a temporary solution that’s easy to do at home, as long as you have caffeinated tea bags on hand. Simply brew them for 5 minutes in boiling water in the evening, and chill them in the fridge overnight so they’re ready to apply in the morning.   

Aesthetic Treatments for Lasting Results 

For effective relief from dark circles under your eyes, you can always turn to your aesthetic treatment provider for help. Medical aesthetic treatment options offer a fast solution with lasting results, and generally can provide visible improvement in the appearance of dark circles. Depending on your individual concerns, your treatment provider may recommend chemical peels to reduce pigmentation, tissue filler to lift and plump sunken areas under the eyes, or non-invasive treatments that tackle the issue under the skin’s surface layers using advanced medical aesthetic technology. Non-invasive radio frequency-based options such as our wrinkle reduction and skin tightening treatments can help if your dark circles are due to skin laxity. By stimulating the skin’s collagen and elastin production, both wrinkle reduction and skin tightening treatments help to smoothen and firm up skin under the eyes for a refreshed look.

A certified treatment provider can provide more information about wrinkle reduction and skin tightening treatments, and help you decide on the best way to address your dark under-eye circles and other skin concerns while keeping safety top of mind. To find a qualified expert near you, use the search field provided below to start your journey to a happier, brighter you.