Dark circles under the eyes are one of the most common concerns for people who feel they look tired even when they are well rested. They can affect men and women of all ages and may become more noticeable over time. While lack of sleep is often cited as the reason for dark under-eye circles, there are in fact a number of different causes. Genetics, skin colour and pigmentation, skin thickness, facial structure and the natural ageing process of the face all can contribute to the appearance.
The skin under the eyes is the thinnest part of the face and appears to sag more easily than other areas of the skin. The under-eye area is particularly visible as the skin here is tightly pulled between the eyelids. This means that even minimal changes to pigmentation, blood vessels and volume of the facial skin can become more apparent.
What Causes Dark Circles Under the Eyes?
One of the main reasons dark circles appear is the natural thinness of the skin beneath the eyes. Because there is less tissue covering the structures below the skin, blood vessels can sometimes show through and create a blue, purple or darker tone. Those with fair and thin skin tend to show these circles more than those with thicker skin.
Genetics play a large role when it comes to dark under-eye circles. Some people are born with deeper pigmentation in the area under their eyes or with very thin under-eye skin. If other family members suffer with dark under-eye circles then genetics are likely to be a contributing factor to your own.
The cause of dark circles under the eyes can also be due to increased levels of melanin in the under-eye area. This may become more apparent after extended periods of time in the sun, therefore daily use of sun protection products must be applied to the under-eye area in order to prevent the skin from becoming discoloured and to stop premature ageing.
The Role of Sleep and Tiredness
Although sleep is most commonly blamed for causing dark circles, lack of it is rarely the only cause. When you are tired your skin tends to look pale which can make the appearance of blood vessels under the thin skin of the lower eye area more noticeable. In addition to this tiredness can also cause puffiness around the eyes, making the area look even darker.
If you get enough sleep and still have dark circles, there must be another reason for them, i.e. the colour of your skin, the thickness of your skin, or the natural structure of your face.
How Ageing Affects the Under-Eye Area
Ageing affects the skin under the eyes. The skin becomes thinner and there is a decrease in collagen and elastin in the skin. These two proteins are important to keep the skin firm and healthy, the decline of collagen and elastin makes the skin under the eyes thin and more delicate.
Volume decline also means that there is more pronounced wrinkling. As we age the skin begins to lose elasticity and the fat that sits beneath starts to shift. This can cause deep-set wrinkles around the eyes, making the skin look pale and thin.
Can Skincare Help With Dark Circles?
You can find specific eye care products that contain hydrating, brightening and cushioning ingredients on the market today that help improve the look and feel. As with the rest of your skin, it is also very important to use a daily moisturiser that contains SPF to help protect the skin from further pigmentation and also to help stop collagen breakdown caused by sun exposure.
Make sure that you use a daily SPF product if you have been concerned about hyper-pigmentation. By using SPF products daily it will prevent any dark circles from becoming worse.
Treatments for Dark Circles
Polynucleotide treatments can be used on the under-eye area to boost skin quality, increase hydration of the skin and elasticity of skin. Sunekos is also another treatment that can be used for under-eye rejuvenation. This product supports the skin’s collagen and elastin production, whilst also hydrating the skin to improve overall skin quality of the under-eye area.
Skin boosters can also be used to treat dark circles which are due to dehydrated skin and poor quality skin. Again, this will depend on the cause of your dark circles and the recommended treatment would be to use a treatment that contains a combination of collagen stimulating components and hyaluronic acid to create volumised and hydrated skin.
Finding the Right Treatment for Your Under-Eyes
Most people with dark circles are perfectly healthy and just have naturally tired-looking under-eyes. If you think your dark circles are making you look more tired than you feel, then there are treatments available to help tackle your concerns and worries.
At Nuovo Clinic all of our treatments are carried out after a full individual assessment of your skin and the facial structure, to ensure that we recommend the most suitable treatment to help achieve your goals.
