Dark circles

Two forms of the change

Telling the forms apart decides what happens next, because different mechanisms lie behind a similar look of the area.

With deep-set eyes the pigment is concentrated on a smaller surface, which makes it more visible, and the sign is sometimes present from early childhood. A separate matter is the bulging of the lower eyelid tissues, commonly described as bags, which is not the same thing as discolouration.

Possible causes

The most often cited causes are lack of sleep and fatigue, and age-related changes: the loss of fatty tissue and collagen in this area. Family predisposition also plays a part.

Any approach makes sense only when it addresses the cause. With a family predisposition, consistent skincare and sun protection usually matter more than a single procedure.

When a medical assessment is needed

A consultation is the right first step when the change appeared suddenly, affects one side only, is accompanied by swelling, itching, watering or allergic symptoms, or when the area changes quickly without an identifiable cause. Then establishing the underlying cause comes before any aesthetic approach.

Groups of methods that may be considered

Below are the directions of treatment only, without a description of how the procedures are carried out. Details of each method, preparation, reactions after the treatment and prices can be found on the treatment pages that the links lead to.

With a very pronounced excess of skin and tissue of the lower eyelid, a surgical procedure, blepharoplasty, is sometimes considered. That decision belongs to a surgeon and goes beyond the scope of the aesthetic approach described above.

Eligibility and limitations

The eye area is sensitive, so the scope of any approach depends on the form of the change, skin thickness, phototype, medication taken and previous procedures. Some methods need to be postponed or ruled out, for example with active inflammation or an infection within the treatment area.

We do not state the number of sessions before an assessment. With the same look of the area, the approach may differ between two people, and in some people the improvement is limited, especially with a strong pigment component and a family predisposition.

After injections in this area, swelling, bruising and tenderness lasting a few days are possible. We discuss the scope for the specific method, before it is carried out, together with aftercare recommendations.