Dark circles under the eyes｜Doctors thoroughly explain the causes, treatments, and home care for each type.

"My dark circles under the eyes are severe — is there any way to fix them?"

"Are my under-eye dark circles the blue type? Brown? Black? What causes them?"

"Is there a way to care for my under-eye dark circles at home?"

Do you have concerns like these about dark circles under the eyes?

Hello. I am a doctor at the cosmetic dermatology practice 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 — covering the types of dark circles, their causes, how to tell them apart, and everything from home care to clinic treatments.

Supervisor Information

Group Chief Director, Smart Skin Clinic Group

IshiiIshii KotaKota

Career

Graduated from Juntendo University School of Medicine

Worked at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital and affiliated facilities

Worked at a major aesthetic clinic in Tokyo

Affiliations / Qualifications

Board-certified specialist, Japan Surgical Society

Board-certified specialist, Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine

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."
We have compiled the characteristics of each, along with home care and effective treatments, in a table.

If you only need to know about home care and treatment methods, you can jump from the table of contents to the section you want to read.

Features	Blue dark circles	Brown dark circles	Black dark circles
Type	Poor circulation type	Pigmentation type	Sagging type
Main Causes	Lack of sleep, eye fatigue, cold	Ultraviolet rays Friction Thickening of the stratum corneum	Aging Skin laxity Weakening of the orbicularis oculi muscle Drooping or protrusion of orbital fat
How to tell them apart	Lightly tugging the outer corner of the eye makes it fade	No change whether you pull the skin or look up No change	Fades when you look up
Home care	Care to stimulate blood circulation Get enough sleep	Brightening care Non-rubbing care UV protection	Orbicularis oculi muscle training UV protection
Treatment	suneKOS performa injection Ice Red PRP + FGF injection	Chemical peeling Q-switched laser Oral tranexamic acid PRP + FGF injection	suneKOS performa injection Juvelook Volume injection Ice Red PRP + FGF injection Lower-eyelid fat removal

Structures and changes around the eyes that affect dark circles under the eyes

To deepen your understanding of dark circles under the eyes, let's look at the structure of the eye area and how it changes.

Like other parts of the body, the area around the eyes is composed of bone, muscle, fat, skin, and so on.

The eyeball sits in a hollow of the skull called the "orbit." The lower part of the orbit connects to the cheekbone.
Between the eyeball and the orbit is "orbital fat," which acts like a cushion to protect the eyeball.
In addition, the eye is encircled by a ring of muscle called the "orbicularis oculi," which is used when closing the eye.
Covering and protecting all of this are the "eyelids."

Eyelid skin

Like other parts of the body, the skin of the eyelid is made up of an epidermis containing melanin pigment, a dermis containing collagen (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. As a result, the skin around the eyes is sensitive and vulnerable to external stimuli. There are also many fine blood vessels around the eyes, which can show through the thin eyelid skin.

Furthermore, as we age, the collagen in the dermis decreases, so the skin becomes even thinner.

Malar fat

It is not only the area around the eyes but also the areas near them that relate to dark circles under the eyes.

Malar fat is the fat located in the area above the cheekbones. As we age, this fat is affected by gravity, dropping and reducing the volume of the cheeks.

Types and characteristics of dark circles under the eyes

The following is a detailed explanation of the characteristics of each type of dark circle under the eyes.

Blue dark circles: poor circulation type

Blue dark circles are caused by poor blood circulation.

Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the cells. When circulation is poor, the skin does not receive enough oxygen and nutrients. Skin color is determined by blood, fat, pigment, and so on, so when the blood darkens, the color showing through the thin skin under the eyes also turns bluish.

As a result, blue dark circles appear.

For example, when lack of sleep or ongoing stress persists, circulation worsens. Also, prolonged use of a computer or smartphone tires the eyes and reduces blood flow, making blue dark circles more noticeable.

Brown dark circles: pigmentation type

Brown dark circles are caused by the deposition of melanin pigment.

Causes of pigmentation include UV rays, dryness, friction, and age-related disruption of skin turnover.

For example, exposure to UV rays stimulates the cells that produce melanin pigment (melanocytes), the source of spots and dullness. Dry skin has a weakened barrier function and is more susceptible to UV damage. Scratching the eye area because of itching from atopic dermatitis or hay fever, or rubbing the eye area when removing makeup, can also increase melanin synthesis.

Skin normally renews itself on a 28-day cycle, and the melanin pigment that causes spots is eventually shed. However, when the skin's renewal cycle (turnover) slows due to aging and other factors, the stratum corneum containing melanin pigment — which should be shed as dead skin — thickens, making spots, dullness, and dark circles more noticeable.

Black dark circles: sagging type

Black dark circles are caused by protruding orbital fat, which results from bone structure and fat position, weakening of the orbicularis oculi muscle, and laxity of the ligaments. Black dark circles are also called shadow dark circles.

As we age, collagen and elastin decrease, and the skin and ligaments tend to sag. As a result, orbital fat protrudes forward, creating a bulge under the eyes and making black dark circles more prominent. UV rays are also a major cause that accelerates skin aging.

In addition, as the cheeks lose firmness and elasticity, the skin thins and the malar fat droops, further accentuating the dark circles under the eyes. This makes hollows and shadows more likely to form under the eyes.

Depending on bone structure, even young people can be prone to black dark circles.

Black dark circles are the most difficult to improve with home care and often do not respond adequately. Professional treatment may be necessary.

Self-checks are only a rough guide; to identify dark circles under the eyes, see a specialist

"Even after learning the characteristics and causes of dark circles, I still don't know which type I have."Many people probably feel this way.
Below, we introduce a simple self-check method for dark circles under the eyes.

However, even after a self-check, you may feel that "all of them seem to apply."

Dark circles under the eyes can be difficult to tell apart; the cause is not always a single one, and multiple types may be combined. In such cases, it is important to discuss with your doctor which home care and treatment to prioritize. Even with combined symptoms, the right approach can sometimes improve multiple types of dark circles at once.

Home care for dark circles under the eyes

"Before treating my under-eye dark circles, I'd first like to do something about them with self-care." "I want to do what I can on my own."Some people think this way.
Here we introduce self-care methods for under the eyes. They are also recommended as home care after treatment.

Note that while cosmetics have a milder action than pharmaceuticals, some medicated cosmetics contain active ingredients recognized as having a certain degree of effectiveness.

Recommended home care for "blue dark circles"

The recommended home care for poor-circulation-type "blue dark circles" is care that improves circulation.

Massaging the eye area carries a risk of causing wrinkles and pigmentation from friction. Use cosmetics, oils, and the like, and massage more lightly than other areas, working mainly with the ring finger so as not to apply too much force.

Orbicularis oculi muscle training and blinking stretches can cause wrinkles in the thin skin around the eyes if done with too much force or too often.

Recommended home care for "brown dark circles"

The recommended home care for pigmentation-type "brown dark circles" is an approach that keeps melanin from increasing.

Moisturizing is the foundation of skincare. When the skin is dry, its barrier function weakens, making it more susceptible to UV and friction damage. In addition to basic skincare such as toner, emulsion, and cream, add an eye serum or eye cream.

To avoid friction and irritation, soak a cotton pad with a point-makeup remover, hold it over the eye makeup to loosen it, and gently lift it off. Apply toner and emulsion gently, without patting.

Recommended home care for "black dark circles"

The recommended home care for sagging-type "black dark circles" is an approach that prevents the sagging from worsening any further.

Exposure to UV rays not only increases melanin production but also degrades collagen and elastin, leading to sagging. Be sure to fully protect the eye area from UV rays as well.

Note that black dark circles are difficult to improve with home care, so it may be worth considering professional treatment as well.

Treatments for dark circles under the eyes

"I can't wait until I feel the benefits of home care." "I want to solve the problem at its root."For people who feel this way, aesthetic medicine is recommended. A variety of treatments are offered for dark circles under the eyes.

Below is a table showing each treatment and the corresponding type of dark circle.

	Sunekos Sunekos Performa injection	Juvelook injection	Ice Red	PRP + FGF injection	Chemical Peeling	Oral tranexamic acid
Blue dark circles	○		○	○
Brown dark circles				○	○	○
Black dark circles	○	○	○	○
Description	Injection of a formulation containing non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid and specific amino acids	Volume injection using non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid	Dissolvable threads are inserted under the eyes to promote skin regeneration	Injection of PRP extracted from your own blood, combined with growth factors	Applying acid to remove dead skin cells from the skin's surface	Taking brightening ingredients orally
Effect	Improvement of skin firmness and elasticity	Improving under-eye irregularities and lifting the eye area	Tightening, fat atrophy	Powerful promotion of collagen production	Promoting turnover and the elimination of melanin	Suppressing melanin production, anti-inflammatory
When the effect appears	About 5 days later	About 2-3 weeks later	About 1 week (peaks at 3-4 months)	About 3-6 months later	About 2 weeks later	About 4-8 weeks later
Duration of effect	About 1 year (longer than Sunekos)	Approx. 6 months to 1 year	About 1 to 1.5 years	5 years or more	About 3-4 weeks	-
Downtime	Almost none / redness, swelling, bruising	About 24 hours / redness, swelling, pain, edema, bruising	A few days / redness, warmth, swelling, pain, bruising	A few days / redness, swelling, bruising	Almost none / dryness	-

suneKOS performa injection          

Sunekos Performa is an injectable agent composed mainly of non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid and six kinds of amino acids.

By injecting it finely into the dermis of the eye area, it adds firmness and hydration and may be expected to help improve dark circles.

By compensating for volume loss, it may help improve dark circles. Its effects last longer than those of Sunekos.

For more about Sunekos Performa, please see the following article.

Juvelook injection      

Juvelook is an injectable agent that combines non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid and polylactic acid.

After injection, it is slowly absorbed by the body over one to two years, during which it stimulates fibroblasts to naturally increase collagen and elastin, so a lasting effect can be expected.

Because Juvelook has smaller particles and a lower concentration than Juvelook Volume (Lenisna), it is suited to improving the shallow layers of the skin, such as dark circles under the eyes.

For more about Juvelook injection, please see the following article.

Ice Red              

Eye Thread is a treatment in which ultra-fine dissolvable threads, also used in general surgery, are inserted under the eyes.

The stimulation of inserting the threads and their dissolution and absorption within the skin activate the fibroblasts in the dermis, increasing collagen and elastin, which may be expected to provide a tightening effect, fat atrophy, and improved blood flow. It may help tighten sagging and alleviate dark circles around the eyes.

For more about Eye Thread, please see the following article.

PRP + FGF injection             

PRP+FGF injection is a treatment in which components extracted and concentrated from your own blood (PRP) are combined with FGF (fibroblast growth factor) and injected.

By stimulating fibroblasts to increase collagen and elastin and plumping up the lower eyelid, it helps lead to improvement of black dark circles and sagging under the eyes.

Because it is made from your own blood, it is less likely to cause side effects or allergies and leaves no foreign material behind — these are its advantages.

Chemical peeling       

A chemical peel is a treatment in which acid is applied to the skin to remove the dead skin cells remaining on the skin's surface.

By normalizing turnover, it promotes the elimination of melanin and may be expected to improve pigmentation. Generally, it is effective when continued every two weeks for about three months.

When you want to hide dark circles right away, camouflage them with makeup

When you're concerned about dark circles, it's a good idea to cover them with makeup until the effects of treatment appear.

To conceal dark circles, use a color corrector, concealer, or highlighter. Since the eye area moves a lot, a concealer or color corrector with a soft texture is recommended. Apply the color corrector after skincare, and the concealer before powder foundation or after liquid foundation. Using the color opposite to that of the dark circles works well.

Below are some key points for "makeup to conceal dark circles."

Points to note about dark circles under the eyes

Dark circles are generally a cosmetic concern, but they can sometimes be caused by liver disease, kidney disease, anemia, thyroid disease, and the like. These conditions are often accompanied by systemic symptoms such as fatigue, pain, jaundice, swelling, blood in the urine, dizziness, and weight gain.

If you have any concern at all, please consult a physician.

What you can do to maintain the results of treatment for dark circles under the eyes

Build a foundation for beautiful eyes by living a healthy lifestyle

The eye area also reflects your overall health. Aim for a lifestyle with a good balance of diet, sleep, exercise, and rest.
For example, it is a good idea to be mindful of the following.

• Don't stay up late
• Don't drink too much alcohol
• Don't overuse your eyes; rest them appropriately
• Moisturize and protect against UV rays
• Continue home care to keep under-eye dark circles from worsening

Receive regular maintenance

Even after treating dark circles under the eyes, the effects are not permanent.

Whether you undergo aesthetic dermatology treatments or surgical treatments such as lower-eyelid fat removal, it is only natural that changes such as collagen loss, ligament laxity, and bone atrophy occur with aging.

To maintain good condition, receive regular maintenance.

Points on choosing a clinic and the consultation for under-eye dark circle treatment

The procedures and treatment approaches a clinic specializes in vary from clinic to clinic.

Choose a clinic with extensive experience in treating dark circles under the eyes. Clinics with more treatment experience are more likely to provide effective treatment. Also, check reviews. The opinions of people who have actually undergone treatment can be a helpful reference when choosing a clinic.

Because fee structures differ from clinic to clinic, check the costs in advance, including the treatment fee, the cost of the formulation, and the consultation fee. It is also important to confirm that the fees are clear and that no additional costs will arise.

FAQ

What are the characteristics of people prone to dark circles under the eyes?

Dark circles under the eyes have the following characteristics by type.

Blue dark circles: people with thin skin under the eyes, fair skin, poor circulation, sensitivity to cold, lack of sleep or exercise, fatigue or stress, or a poor nutritional balance.

Brown dark circles: people who have a habit of rubbing their eyes.

Black dark circles: older people, people with large eyes, men, and people with a lot of orbital fat.

Is there any recommended home care for dark circles under the eyes?

It varies by type of dark circle, but in general, reviewing your lifestyle habits, UV protection, and moisturizing are recommended.

What causes dark circles to worsen?

It depends on the type of dark circle, but lack of sleep, stress, aging, and UV rays can all lead to worsening.

Is there a way to get rid of dark circles right away?

There are ways to camouflage them using makeup and concealer.

Can dark circles under the eyes be improved with massage or cream?

For blue dark circles, massage that stimulates blood flow is effective. For brown dark circles, medications containing active ingredients are effective.

How long do the effects of under-eye dark circle treatment last?

It varies by treatment, from a few weeks to a matter of years. Because new age-related changes also occur, regular maintenance is essential to maintain the results.

Do eyelash serums cause dark circles under the eyes?

The prostaglandin ingredient in eyelash growth products works to lengthen the growth phase of the hair cycle, but if it adheres to the skin it can cause pigmentation. Be careful how you use it.

For dark circles under the eyes, choose Smart Skin Clinic

To improve dark circles under the eyes, it is necessary to accurately identify the type of dark circle. Also, depending on the condition, there are cases that home care cannot improve. Even with surgical treatment, aging cannot be stopped. To maintain the results of treatment, dermatological maintenance is necessary.

If you would like to learn about your type of dark circle, the treatment suited to you, and home care, please come in for a free consultation. We will propose the best approach for you.

Please rest assured that there is no pushy sales.