Dark circles under the eyes｜Doctors thoroughly explain the causes, treatments, and home care for each type.
I have severe dark circles under my eyes, is there any way to fix them?"
Are the dark circles under your eyes blue or brown? Brown circles? Dark circles? What causes them?"
Is there any way to treat dark circles under my eyes at home?"
Do you have these concerns about dark circles under your eyes?
Hello. I am a doctor of cosmetic dermatology and Smart Skin Clinic.
Dark circles under the eyes are a concern for many people. In this column, we provide an easy-to-understand explanation from an expert's perspective on the types of dark circles, their causes, how to recognize them, and how to treat them from home care to treatment at a clinic.
Overview of dark circles under the eyes
Dark circles under the eyes can be divided into three main types based on the color of the lower eyelid: blue, brown, and black.
The table lists the characteristics of each, home care and effective treatments.
If you only need to know about home care and treatment methods, you can jump to the section you want to read from the table of contents.
| feature | blue bear (Ursus arctos) | brown bear (Ursus arctos) | black bear |
| type | blood circulation failure type | pigmentation type | slack-type |
| Main Causes | Lack of sleep Eye fatigue Cold | ultra-violet rays friction skin thickening | adding to one's years Skin laxity Weakening of the orbicularis oculi muscle Ptosis or protrusion of orbital fat |
| way of telling apart | Lightly tugging on the corner of the eye will make it thinner. | Even if you pull on the skin or look up. constant | The more you look up, the thinner it gets. |
| home care | Care to stimulate blood circulation get sleep | Whitening Care Non-abrasive care Measures against ultraviolet rays | orbicularis oculi muscle training Measures against ultraviolet rays |
| treatment | Snecospaforma injection ice red PRP + FGF injection | Chemical peeling Q-switched laser Tranexamic acid oral PRP + FGF injection | Snecospaforma injection Jubeluk Volume Injection ice red PRP+FGF injection Lower eyelid blepharoplasty |
Structures and changes around the eyes that affect dark circles under the eyes
To better understand dark circles under the eyes, let's discuss the structure of the eye area and its changes.
[Structure around the eyes
- Eyeballs
- Orbit (eye socket): hollow in the skull where the eyeballs fit
- Orbital fat: fat around the eyes
- Orbicularis oculi: muscles around the eyes
- Ligaments: fibers that support the eyeballs and orbital fat to prevent them from drooping
- Eyelids: folds covering the eyeballs
The area around the eyes, like other parts of the human body, is composed of bone, muscle, fat, and skin.
The eyeballs are housed in the orbit, a hollow in the skull. The lower part of the orbit connects to the zygomatic bone.
Between the eyeball and orbit is "orbital fat," which acts as a protective cushion for the eyeball.
In addition, the eyes are surrounded by a circular area of muscles called the orbicularis oculi, which are used to close the eyes.
These are covered and protected by the "eyelids.
Eyelid skin
Like other parts of the body, the skin of the eyelid is composed of an epidermal layer containing melanin pigment, a dermal layer containing collagen, which is the source of elasticity, and subcutaneous tissue.
The skin around the eyes is very thin, only about one-third to one-half the thickness of the skin on the cheeks. Therefore, the skin around the eyes is sensitive and vulnerable to external stimuli. In addition, there are many small blood vessels around the eyes, which may show through the thin eyelid skin.
In addition, as we age, the collagen in the dermal layer decreases, causing the skin to become even thinner.
mailer fat
The area around the eyes as well as the areas near the eyes are also associated with dark circles under the eyes.
Möller Fat is fat located in the area above the cheekbones. This fat is affected by gravity as we age, causing it to drop and reduce the volume of the cheeks.
Types and characteristics of dark circles under the eyes
- Blue dark circles: a blue color that shows through the color of poorly colored blood under the skin of the lower eyelid.
- Brown dark circles: Melanin pigmentation in the skin under the eyes that has turned brown.
- Dark circles: a condition in which shadows are created by eye bags and under-eye depressions.
The following is a detailed description of the characteristics of each type of dark circles under the eyes.
Blue dark circles: poor circulation type
Blue dark circles are caused by poor blood circulation.
Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to cells. If blood circulation is poor, the skin does not receive sufficient oxygen and nutrients. Skin color is determined by blood, fat, and pigment, so when the blood is dark, the color through the thin skin under the eyes also becomes bluish.
This results in blue dark circles.
For example, lack of sleep and persistent stress can lead to poor blood circulation. In addition, prolonged use of computers and smartphones for long periods of time tires the eyes and reduces blood flow, making blue dark circles more noticeable.
Brown dark circles: pigmentation type
Brown dark circles are caused by melanin pigmentation.
Causes of hyperpigmentation include UV rays, dryness, friction, and age-related disturbances in turnover.
For example, exposure to UV rays stimulates the cells that produce melanin pigment (melanocytes), the source of spots and dark spots. Dry skin has a reduced barrier function and is more susceptible to UV damage. Scratching the eye area due to itching caused by atopic dermatitis or hay fever, or rubbing the eye area when removing makeup can also increase melanin synthesis.
Skin is normally renewed in a 28-day cycle, and melanin pigment, which causes blemishes, is eventually expelled. However, when the skin turnover cycle slows down due to aging and other factors, the stratum corneum containing melanin pigment, which should be expelled as plaque, becomes thicker, making spots, dark spots, and dark circles more noticeable.
Dark circles: sagging type
Black dark circles are caused by protruding orbital fat due to skeletal and fat position, weakness of the orbicularis oculi muscle, and lax ligaments. Black circles are also called shadow circles.
As we age, collagen and elastin decrease and skin and ligaments tend to sag. As a result, orbital fat protrudes forward, causing bulges under the eyes and dark circles to become more prominent. Ultraviolet radiation is another major cause of skin aging.
In addition, the loss of firmness and elasticity in the cheeks causes the skin to thin and the maelstrom fat to droop, further accentuating the dark circles under the eyes. This can lead to the formation of hollows and shadows under the eyes.
Depending on the bone structure, even young people may be prone to dark circles.
Dark circles are the most difficult to remedy with home care and often do not respond adequately. Professional treatment may be necessary.
Self-check is for reference only; see a specialist to identify dark circles under the eyes.
Even knowing the characteristics and causes of dark circles, I still don't know what type of bear I have."Many of you may say.
Below is a simple self-check procedure for dark circles under the eyes.
Simple Self-Check】 【Simple Self-Check】.
- Blue dark circles: color does not move with you when you pull under the eyes
- Brown dark circles: when you pull under the eyes, the color moves with them.
- Dark circles: When you turn your face up and look in the mirror, the dark circles disappear.
However, you may feel that "all of the above apply" even after performing a self-check.
Dark circles under the eyes can be difficult to identify, and there may not always be a single cause, or it may be a combination of multiple dark circles. In such cases, it is important to discuss with your physician what home care and treatment priorities should be considered. Even if the condition is complex, with the right approach, it is sometimes possible to correct multiple dark circles at once.
Home care for dark circles under the eyes
I want to do something about it first with self-care before I start treating dark circles under my eyes."Some may think that
Here are some self-care methods under the eyes. This is also recommended as home care after treatment.
Although cosmetics have milder effects than pharmaceuticals, some medicated cosmetics contain active ingredients that have been approved for certain effects.
Recommended home care for "blue dark circles
The recommended home care for "blue dark circles" of the poor circulation type is to improve circulation.
- Care to warm the eye area (steamed towels, hot eye masks)
- Hot/cold care for the eye area (warm and cold towels are placed under the eyes several times, alternating every 5 minutes)
- take a bath
- Exercise the whole body, stretch, and avoid staying in the same posture.
- Oculomotor training (moving only the eyes up, down, left and right)
- Improved diet (avoid diets high in fats and oils, eat green fish and vegetables)
- Sleep duration and quality
Massaging the eye area risks causing wrinkles and pigmentation due to friction. Use cosmetics, oils, etc., and massage more lightly than other parts of the body, using mainly the ring finger to avoid excessive force.
Oculomotor training and blink stretching can cause wrinkles in the thin skin around the eyes if done too hard or too often.
Recommended home care for "brown circles
The recommended home care approach for pigmentation-type "brown dark circles" is to prevent melanin from increasing.
- UV care (use of parasols, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, etc.)
- avoiding eye contact
- Use of eye area cosmetics containing whitening ingredients (vitamin C derivatives, albutin, hydroquinone, etc.)
- Moisturizing care (e.g., eye cream)
- Balanced diet and adequate sleep to avoid disturbing turnover
Moisturizing is the foundation of skin care. Dry skin reduces the barrier function and makes the skin more susceptible to UV damage and friction damage. In addition to basic skincare products such as lotion, milky lotion, and cream, eye serums and eye creams should be added.
To avoid friction and irritation, soak a cotton ball with a cleanser for point makeup and float it off the makeup around the eyes. Lotion and milky lotion should be applied gently without tapping.
Recommended home care for "dark circles
The recommended home care approach for sagging "dark circles" is to prevent further worsening of the sagging.
- Oculomotor training (moving only the eyes up, down, left and right)
- UV protection (use of parasols, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, etc.)
- Moisturizing care (e.g., eye cream)
Exposure to UV rays not only increases melanin production, but also denatures collagen and elastin, resulting in sagging. The area around the eyes should also be fully protected against UV rays.
It is difficult to improve dark circles with home care, and professional treatment should be considered.
Treatment of dark circles under the eyes
I can't wait until I feel the benefits of home care, and I want to get to the root of the problem."Cosmetic medicine is recommended for those who A variety of treatments are offered for dark circles under the eyes.
Below is a list of each treatment and the corresponding type of bear.
Snecospaforma injection
SnecoSpaforma is an injectable drug composed mainly of non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid and six amino acids.
By finely injecting into the dermal layer around the eyes, it can be expected to improve dark circles by adding tension and moisture.
Volume loss will be compensated for, leading to improvement of dark circles. The effect is more long-lasting than SUNECOS.
For more information about Snecospaforma, please see the following article.
Jouberc injection
JUVELUX is an injectable drug that combines non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid and polylactic acid.
After injection, it is slowly absorbed into the body over a period of one to two years, during which time it stimulates fibroblasts to naturally increase collagen and elastin, and a lasting effect can be expected.
JUVELUX has smaller particles and a thinner concentration than JUVELUX VOLUME (RENISNA), making it suitable for improving the shallow layers of skin, such as dark circles under the eyes.
For more information on Jubeluk injections, please see the following article.
ice red
Ice Red is a treatment in which ultra-thin, dissolvable threads, which are also used in general surgery, are inserted under the eyes.
Stimulation of the insertion of the thread and its dissolution and absorption in the skin activate fibroblasts in the dermis layer, resulting in an increase in collagen and elastin, and a tightening effect, fat atrophy, and improvement of blood flow can be expected. It is expected to tighten sagging skin and alleviate dark circles around the eyes.
For more information about Ice Red, please see the following article.
PRP+FGF injection
PRP+FGF injection is a treatment in which ingredients extracted from the patient's own blood are condensed (PRP) and FGF (fibroblast growth factor) is added.
Abbreviation for Platelet Rich Plasma. Platelet-rich plasma" refers to "platelet-rich blood.
Platelets help stop bleeding and produce growth factors, and growth factors have the ability to repair injuries.
Abbreviation for Fibroblast Growth Factor. Fibroblast Growth Factor.
It works to increase "fibroblasts" that produce collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid.
It stimulates fibroblasts to increase collagen and elastin, plumping up the lower eyelids and leading to improvement of dark circles and sagging under the eyes.
The advantage of creating the product from your own blood is that it is less likely to cause side effects or allergies and leaves no foreign body behind.
Chemical peeling
Chemical peels are treatments in which an acid is applied to the skin to remove dead skin cells remaining on the skin surface.
Normalization of turnover promotes melanin elimination and improves pigmentation. Generally, it is effective if continued every two weeks for about three months.
If you want to hide dark circles immediately, camouflage them with makeup.
If you are concerned about dark circles, you may want to cover them with makeup until the effects of the treatment are apparent.
To conceal dark circles, use a control color, concealer, or highlighter. Since the eye area moves frequently, a concealer or control color with a soft texture is recommended. Control color should be applied after skincare, while concealer should be applied before powder foundation or after liquid foundation. Use the opposite color of the dark circles for best results.
Below are some of the key points of "makeup to conceal dark circles.
Makeup to conceal dark circles
- choose a color
Blue dark circles: orange concealer
Brown dark circles: yellow concealer
Dark circles: orange control color - Dot a small amount of concealer or control color on the border of the dark circles.
- Using the belly of the ring finger, lightly tap to settle.
- Slide gently to the left and right to blend naturally.
- apply a thin layer of powder
- A dab of highlighter is applied under the outer corner of the eyes, from the high cheekbones to the temples.
Notes on dark circles under the eyes
Dark circles are generally a cosmetic problem, but can also be caused by liver disease, kidney disease, anemia, and thyroid disease. These diseases are often accompanied by systemic symptoms such as fatigue, pain, jaundice, swelling, hematuria, dizziness, and weight gain.
If you have any concerns, please consult your physician.
What you can do to maintain the effectiveness of treatment of dark circles under the eyes
Create a foundation for beautiful eyes by living a healthy lifestyle.
The eye area also reflects the overall health of the body. Make sure to maintain a balanced lifestyle of diet, sleep, exercise, and rest.
For example, you may want to note the following
- I don't stay up late.
- Do not consume too much alcohol
- Do not overuse eyes, rest moderately
- Moisturizing and UV protection
- Continued home care to avoid worsening dark circles under the eyes
Receive regular maintenance
The effects of treating dark circles under the eyes are not permanent.
Even with cosmetic dermatology treatments, as well as surgical treatments such as lower eyelid blepharoplasty, it is normal for changes such as collagen loss, laxity of ligaments, and bone atrophy to occur with age.
To maintain good condition, get regular maintenance.
Points to consider when selecting a clinic for under-eye dark circles treatment and counseling
Different clinics specialize in different procedures and treatment plans.
Choose a clinic with extensive experience in treating dark circles under the eyes. Clinics with more treatment experience are more likely to offer effective treatments. Also, check word of mouth. The opinions of those who have actually undergone treatment can be helpful in selecting a clinic.
Each clinic has a different fee structure, so be sure to check the cost of treatment, preparations, and counseling in advance. It is also important to confirm that the fees are clear and that there are no additional costs.
FAQ
- What are the characteristics of people who are prone to dark circles under their eyes?
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Each type of dark circles under the eyes has the following characteristics
Blue dark circles are caused by thin skin under the eyes, fair skin, poor circulation, cold, lack of sleep and exercise, fatigue and stress, and nutritional imbalance.
Brown circles are those who have a habit of rubbing their eyes.
Dark circles are older people, people with larger eyes, men, and people with more orbital fat.
- Is there any home care recommended for dark circles under the eyes?
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It depends on the type of dark circles, but in general, lifestyle changes, UV protection, and moisturizing are recommended.
- What causes the dark circles to get worse?
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Depending on the type of dark circles, lack of sleep, stress, aging, and UV rays can worsen them.
- Is there a way to get rid of dark circles right away?
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There are ways to camouflage using makeup and concealer.
- Can dark circles under the eyes be improved with massage or cream?
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For blue dark circles, massage to stimulate blood flow is effective. For brown dark circles, medicines containing active ingredients are effective.
- How long do the effects of under eye dark circles treatment last?
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It varies from a few weeks to years, depending on the treatment. Because of new aging changes, regular maintenance is essential to maintain.
- Do eyelash serums cause dark circles under the eyes?
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The prostaglandins contained in eyelash growth products help to lengthen the growth phase of the hair cycle, but if they adhere to the skin, they can cause color deposition. Be careful how you use them.
For dark circles under the eyes, go to Smart Skin Clinic.
To improve dark circles under the eyes, it is necessary to accurately identify the type of dark circles. In some cases, depending on the condition, home care may not be able to improve them. Even with surgical treatment, aging cannot be stopped. Dermatological maintenance is necessary to maintain the effects of treatment.
If you would like to learn more about your type of dark circles, suitable treatment, and home care, please come for a free consultation. We will suggest the best method for you.
Please be assured that there will be no forced solicitation.