Dark circles appear under the eyes when the skin becomes too thin, and both eyes appear more darkened. This is one of the many signs of aging, and these days, almost every other person is experiencing this skin issue. Being stuck in a pandemic hasn’t helped our cause either – disrupted sleep schedules, ever-growing uncertainty, and vast amounts of stress are only making matters worse. However, it’s essential to consider that not all dark circles are the same, and there’s no single remedy that can fix them.
The skin around the eyes is a lot more delicate and thin than the rest of the body.
In this article, we will be looking into several common causes of dark circles and how we can get rid of them through medical treatments.
What Causes Dark Circles?
Several common causes result in the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. Aging is the number one cause, followed by other factors such as excessive sun exposure, stress, dehydration, lack of sleep, and even genetics.
Aging
As we age and cross our 20s, the skin starts losing collagen and fat under our eyes. Consequentially, the skin gets thinner and begins to show everything underneath, that are, the dark blood cells.
Allergies and Nasal Congestion
Some people have the misfortune of being prone to dust allergies and are often stuck in a cycle of getting the cold and experiencing nasal congestion. As a result, there is lower blood circulation, and the area underneath the eyes doesn’t receive enough oxygen. This causes the veins to dilate and become darker, hence dark circles.
Excessive Screen Time
With being locked indoors and for over a year and our primary mode of communication being smartphones, tablets, and laptops – the average screen time for an individual is at an all-time high. This has resulted in increased strain on the eyes, resulting in dark circles and other eye-related issues.
Other Factors
The allergens present in the products we use, irregular sleep cycles, increasing stress, other health issues like iron deficiency, and bad lifestyle choices like smoking cigarettes can all lead to dark circles if not cared for properly.
Treatments to Get Rid of Dark Circles
The top 2 things you can do to prevent dark circles are sticking to a good skincare routine and implementing a healthy lifestyle. But several treatments are available which help get rid of dark circles.
Chemical Peels
These under-eye peels not only treat dark circles but are effective in treating other pigmentation issues. These include melasma and age spots and hyperpigmentation. Using chemical peels like mandelic lactic and glycolic acid can improve the health of your skin over some time. After the treatment, some people may experience shedding of skin, but this is relatively common.
Laser Treatment
Treatments, such as QS-Alexandrite, QS-Ruby, 1550nm Fraxel can be used near the eyes. A few courses of these treatments will bring noticeable improvements to your dark circles.
Micro-needling
This treatment gives the signal to the skin to go into repair mode, and this helps the lightening of the dark pigments. This treatment and then applying the chemical peels will help the serums penetrate the skin for better results.