Opinion

Those Panda Eyes

“How can I get rid of these dark circles under my eyes?” I do get this question a lot, even from patients who have no trouble sleeping. The awful truth is that those dark circles do not look good on anyone, except maybe for pandas. For the rest of us, it makes us look tired, overworked or drowsy. Unfortunately, the causes for these ‘dark circles’ range from a vast number of issues – from genetics and environmental, to skin-related – and are therefore extremely hard to pinpoint and diagnose.  Here are some of the common causes and some hints on how to deal with this problem.

 

Seasonal Puffiness: If the problem is seasonal, your skin may be sensitive to fluid accumulation and the circles may be triggered by factors such as high blood pressure or eating high sodium (salty) foods, seasonal allergies or sinus infections. Avoid going to bed with makeup on, using harsh cleaners and rubbing your eyes.  If the puffiness is more evident after you wake up, changing your sleeping position may improve the condition, by sleeping on your back or adding an extra pillow under your head. Placing an ice pack or slices of cucumbers may also be a temporary solution to improve the condition.

 

Hyperpigmentation: The skin around your eyes may be darker because of increased melanin content. This pigmentation may be further increased by genetic factors, rubbing or eczema. There are a few creams that may smoothen the darkened skin, but they must be used in very small amounts and never without a medical prescription. Other solutions are laser treatment and chemical peels. If you have suffered a sudden weight loss, the dark circles may be a result of exposed orbital bone.

 

The Common Eye Bags: For the patient with severe fat pad proeminence, eyelid surgery may be the only solution, although if you feel the skin is only somewhat loose, radiofrequency may provide some benefits too. 

 

Age and Circulation Related Issues: Aging makes the skin around the eyes become thinner, revealing the small capillaries and venules, which is characterized by a bluish hue. Eye creams containing caffeine will constrict the blood vessels and provide a temporary solution; otherwise laser treatment can be used, but extreme care must be employed when dealing with sensitive areas.

 

Concluding tips: Makeup is usually the best temporary technique to mask unwanted imperfections, by using a cream that matches or is slightly lighter than your skin tone. Always wear sunscreen, since UV rays are highly related to skin pigmentation, and always wear a moisturizer at night to keep the skin from becoming dry and dehydrated. And finally, if you are a smoker, make an effort to quit smoking since cigarretes cause premature aging, collagen degradation and can dehydrate the skin.

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