Circles Under the Eyes

Dark Circles Under the Eyes: Blue or Brown?

Those dark circles under the eyes can be distressing, as no matter what you do, you look tired and older than you feel. Dark circles can be due to genetics, or the result of skin thinning due to age. As the natural fat under the skin thins, the veins under the eyes show through, giving a blue tinge beneath the eyes. Dark circles and bags under the eyes are difficult to completely conceal with cosmetics, but new treatments are available that can resolve this condition, and can bring a well-rested, refreshed facial appearance.

The dark circles under your eyes may be from one of two causes. In some cases, the thinning of the skin reveals the blue color of the system of veins and capillaries beneath the skin, with a blueish appearance to the eye circles. Other dark circles are the result of what is termed “hyperpigmentation,” in which the under-eye skin has taken on noticeable darker brown color. Each of these conditions is treated differently.

Deep hollows under the eyes can also be corrected.

Before & After Photos

Frequently asked questions

Many environmental and genetic factors can create dark circles under the eyes, including:

  • Loss of fat volume in undereye skin
  • Chronic rubbing due to allergies
  • Thinning skin under eyes
  • Bulging skin under eyes
  • Hyperpigmentation
  • Sleep deprivation
  • Dehydration
  • Heredity

Dark circles under the eyes can occur for several different reasons. They may happen as a result of a hollowness forming underneath the lower eyelid. This hollow groove (called the naso-jugal groove) forms as a natural result of tissue loss during the process of aging.

We know that as people age, they lose fat, muscle and bone all over the face. Under the eyes is one of the first areas to show these changes. Shadows fall into the groove, causing the appearance of under eye dark circles.

Bags under the eyes are caused by fatty tissue visibly protruding within the lower eyelid. Once again, a shadow falls into the groove underneath the bags and the person looks tired and older.

Another cause of dark circles under the eyes is from genetically inherited dark pigmentation of the under eye skin and blood vessels that can be seen through the skin.

The skin around the eyelids (otherwise known as periorbital skin) is the thinnest skin on the body (only around 0.5 mm thick compared with 2mm in other areas). Blood passes through the veins close to the surface of the skin and results in a bluish tint.

The thinner the skin, the darker the circles appear. Like many other skin conditions, dark circles are usually an inherited trait.

 

Dark Circle Treatment: Plump-Up Skin

One issue that creates the look of dark circles is thinning under eye skin. When the skin becomes thin, then you can start to see the blood vessels and other skin elements under there that are darker purple. This is often a normal part of aging, but some people may experience this sooner in life, or find that the blue tones are more pronounced. If so, Fillers injected superficially can help cover it up.

Dark Circle Treatment: Replace Volume

For dark circles we usually recommend a multi-modality treatment. From the inside, you want to replace the volume that you lose with aging. If you notice a hollow-looking “trough” underneath your eyes, you’ve probably had some volume loss, and that’s what’s causing a dark, sunken appearance. The solution? A hyaluronic acid filler, such as Redensity II, will be able to fill in the area so that it becomes even with the surrounding areas of skin again. When injected professionally will gently replenish lost fluid in this area and will brighten this area normally within a weeks time. Getting rid of dark circles under your eyes is a great solution to looking well rested, energized, and beautiful.

Eye bags

Dermal Fillers are typically the treatment of choice for eliminating eye bags without surgery. Dermal fillers are gels composed of a substance called hyaluronic acid, a substance found naturally in the body that can restore lost volume (or add new volume) to facial soft tissue. For clients whose eye bags are caused by cheek deflation, dermal fillers can restore the smooth transition from the under-eye area to the cheeks, thereby eliminating the appearance of bags and circles under the eyes. Some patients with excess fat under the eyes can benefit from this treatment as well, depending on their facial anatomy.

More on Dermal Fillers

Platelet-rich plasma and Mesotherapy (PRP) are popular treatment options too. PRP uses the patient’s blood platelets to generate new cells. The platelet concentration is up to five times higher than the plasma concentration and once activated, they secrete at least seven protein growth factors. PRP can promote wound healing and increase collagen bundle thickness, helping to improve lower lid fine lines and increase skin thickness. This is especially important for patients with thin crepey skin. We usually recommend three treatments four weeks apart with monthly maintenance treatments.

Platelet Rich Fibrin is also an option to help replenish under eye hollows. PRF Treatment

Collagen stimulation – multi modality approach 

For collagen stimulation, the EndyMed 3DEEP heats the deep layers of the skin using advanced radiofrequency energy. The heat causes the existing collagen to contract and tighten, and after the treatment, the skin starts to produce new collagen and skin’s elasticity. By helping tighten the loose skin under the eyes can help diminish the appearance of dark under eye circles. Eye tightening would be an adjunct to other services and as maintenance.

Dark Circle Treatment: Skin-Refining Lasers

If your dark circles aren’t caused by hollow under-eye areas or thin skin, you may simply need to correct the tone and texture of your skin. Laser and chemical peels can help with that. If the darkness is from pigmentation on the skin, then the PicoWay laser is very good option. PicoWay is a revolutionary laser treatment designed to harness the body’s natural healing processes to restore youthful skin while lightening and treating dark under eye circles.  This cutting-edge technology delivers rapid energy (trillionths of a second) to the skin that the tiny particles making up pigment shatter without harming the surrounding tissue.

 

 

 

 

There are several factors that can cause someone to have dark circles and eye bags and, in many cases, more than one of these factors can contribute to bags and circles simultaneously.

The most common cause is a loss of fatty tissue and collagen in the upper cheeks, right below the eye bags. This fatty tissue, which resides just below the skin, is present throughout the face. As you age, it breaks down or “deflates,” in your cheeks at a much faster rate than it does just below your eyes. As a result of this uneven deflation, elevated or protruding bulges of fat remain beneath the eyes; these are the eye bags.

Another leading cause of eye bags is a weakening of the orbital septum. The orbital septum is a membrane that “holds” fat under the eye, where it is tucked away from the skin. Normal aging can cause the orbital septum to weaken, and as it does, the fat that is normally confined to the area around the eye can move into the area below the eye. Fluid can also accumulate in the space below the eye, making the under-eye area appear puffy. These factors can cause, or add to, the appearance of eye bags and dark circles.

In addition to these causes, some people are genetically predisposed to have extra fat under the eyes; it’s just a matter of heredity that can run in families.

Dark circles under the eyes is not the easiest thing to prevent, however, one practice w highly recommend is getting plenty of sleep to help offset the possibility.

Everybody requires a different amount of sleep; for some it’s five hours, but others it’s eight to nine hours. You should be getting enough sleep so you don’t feel tired during the day. That’s one of those things that’s much easier said than done in our current society.

We also recommend the following preventive measures to help keep the skin around the eyes healthy:

  • Wear SPF on all exposed areas of the body
  • Get plenty of rest
  • Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water
  • Use hyaluronic acid skin care products
  • Avoid smoking
  • Cover up! Avoid excess sun exposure
  • Avoid chronic eye rubbing
  • Use good quality skin care products with active ingredients

SkinCeuticals advanced eye creams and serums are rich in active ingredients and counter visible signs of aging skin, crow’s feet, dark circles and under eye hollows. Formulated for the delicate skin around eyes, our anti-aging eye creams correct, protect, and promote healthy skin.

Skin around the eye is the thinnest, and the visible signs of intrinsic aging, caused by internal factors such as hormonal shifts and metabolic slow down, can be most evident in this delicate area. Glycation, a major factor of intrinsic aging, occurs when excess sugar molecules bind to collagen and elastin eventually leading to Advanced Glycation End-products (A.G.E.).

 

A.G.E Eye ComplexSkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex Anti-Aging Eye Cream 15ml

A.G.E. Eye Complex is an anti-wrinkle eye cream specifically formulated to help prevent and correct visible signs of glycation around the eyes. An ideal eye cream for dark circles, it is also formulated with optical diffusers that instantly improve radiance of tired, dull eyes.

CLINICAL STUDY

Significant clinical improvement in the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, and wrinkles and crow’s feet.

In a 12-week study, A.G.E. Eye Complex significantly improved the appearance of key visible signs of aging:
+29% Improvement in puffiness
+27% Improvement in dark circles
+33% improvement in skin firmness and elasticity

AOX eye gel
SkinCeuticals AOX+ Eye Gel
SkinCeuticals AOX+ Eye Gel

Eye Balm

Eye Balm

 

Methods we use to treat

The active ingredient in the Filler family of products is hyaluronic acid. The flexibility, texture, and resilience of youthful skin exist because of the high amount of water it contains. Also known as hyaluronan, hyaluronic acid is a sticky substance that our body naturally produces. The skin, eyes, and connective tissue are the sites where maximum amounts of hyaluronic acid are found. Its capacity to retain water up to almost a thousand times its weight is the key reason why it is used in cosmetic fillers. Apart from hydration, hyaluronic acid is also linked to tissue repair, rejuvenation, and has anti-inflammatory action. Hyaluronic acid also facilitates new cell growth and promotes tightness and volume of the skin.
The key to optimal skin health is a skincare professional. By combining a customized at-home regimen with powerful in-office treatments and targeted skincare solutions, the result is healthier skin with visible improvement in fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of premature aging. At LSG we offer SkinCeuticals skincare products. SkinCeuticals is an advanced clinical skincare line that offers comprehensive formulas to correct signs of aging, promote healthy skin, and prevent skin damage. Ranging from anti-aging moisturizers and eye creams to acne cleansers, vitamin C serums, and retinol products, our advanced skincare products are backed by science. Physicians and skincare professionals define cosmeceuticals as products on the cutting-edge between cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Active ingredients in cosmeceuticals are expected to be clinically proven to enhance skincare efficacy.
If you’re looking for a natural way to improve your skin’s texture, elasticity, fine lines and wrinkles, look no further than Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for facial rejuvenation. PRP works with your body’s natural healing processes to repair and rejuvenate the skin. The treatment involves the extraction of a small sample of your blood, which is then placed in a centrifuge to separate your red blood cells from your plasma. Using our U225 meso-gun, the concentrated Platelet-Rich Plasma is injected into the areas being treated. Our plasma contains platelets that, once injected, release essential growth factors that promote collagen production, healing, and tissue repair, among other things. The treatment immediately gets to work rejuvenating the treated areas and producing a more radiant appearance.
PRF refers to platelet-rich fibrin that is also known as leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF). PRF is an improved version of platelet-rich plasma or PRP therapy which is used widely to rejuvenate skin. Platelets are one of the components present in our blood along with red and white blood cells. The main function of platelets is to form fibrin that helps the blood clot during an injury, thereby preventing excessive bleeding. Platelets’ healing properties have been known to humans for centuries while medical researchers in recent times have found that these components speed up wound healing and recovery after certain surgeries. PRF is also extensively used to help promote wound healing, bone regeneration, and to control bleeding.
Vitamindrip® is a scientifically formulated intravenous solution for the effective treatment of moderate to severe dehydration, and has been found to be effective against acute asthma attacks, migraines, fatigue (including chronic fatigue syndrome), fibromyalgia, acute muscle spasm, upper respiratory tract infections, chronic sinusitis, seasonal allergic rhinitis, cardiovascular disease, and other disorders. VitaminDrip treatments fo directly into the bloodstream. Hydrate, boost energy levels and release those unwanted toxins = amazing. The amount of nutrients in the blood can reach much higher, more therapeutic levels. Nutrients that enter the bloodstream immediately to help the body begin healing itself. Enjoy energy for days not hours without the crash.
Many of our patients are unhappy with deep-set lines around their mouth and jawline. These deep and often static lines are the result of a natural decrease in collagen and elastin, two proteins that are essential in keeping your skin supple, smooth, and lifted. Most of the injectable wrinkle fillers that LSG uses in the office are made from different formulations of hyaluronic acid, a substance found naturally in the body, which is responsible for keeping our skin plump and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The consistency of wrinkle filler products is determined by the specific cross-linkage of the hyaluronic acid molecules, making some products smooth and malleable and others more firm. Our Nurses will determine the appropriate wrinkle filler to address your individual concerns, often injecting with a soft needle called a cannula to minimize bruising and achieve a natural, youthful result.
A celeb-fave, PicoWay Resolve has quickly become a go-to treatment for correcting fine lines and wrinkles, and improving skin’s texture and tone. The precise heat of the laser stimulates collagen production without damaging surrounding tissues. With virtually no downtime, it’s also more comfortable than more ablative lasers. If you struggle with hard-to-treat melasma, you know this pesky condition cannot be prevented. PicoWay Resolve is one of the fastest and most effective melasma treatments available, often boasting results in just a few treatments.
A chemical peel is a cosmetic treatment designed to vastly improve the tone and texture of your skin, and reduce imperfections & removes the outer layers of damaged skin. As the chemical solution deeply exfoliates your skin and dissolves the damaged tissue, a wound forms on the skin. This causes fresh, healthy skin cells to be brought to the surface. A chemical peel can treat many different skin concerns, including fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, precancerous skin lesions and mild scarring. While the face is a common treatment area to be treated with a chemical peel, it is also effective when performed on your chest, neck, back, hands, arms and legs.

Products & Treatments we offer

Related Videos