What are dark circles under the eyes?
Dark circles are areas of darker colour or shadow beneath the eyes. They are common, they affect people of all ages, and they are not usually a sign of disease.
They arise from pigment, visible blood vessels, shadowing from the shape of the area, or a combination. The right approach depends on which of these is involved, so working out the cause comes first.
Understanding the type matters because an approach that suits one cause may do little for another. A brown tone, a bluish tone and a shadow each call for a different response.
What causes dark circles?
The skin beneath the eyes is among the thinnest on the body, so what lies under it can show through. Dark circles rarely have a single cause, and several factors often act together.
Pigment is more common in deeper skin tones, and it can be influenced by sun exposure and by rubbing the area. Volume changes appear gradually, as the fat and bone that support the under-eye area shift with time.
- Thin skin, through which small blood vessels can show as a bluish or purple tone
- Extra pigment, which creates a brown tone and is influenced by sun exposure
- Shadowing from a hollow or groove created by gradual changes in fat and bone
- Genetics, since dark circles often run in families and can appear at a young age
- Allergies, eye rubbing and the gradual thinning of skin with age
Why do dark circles appear even with good sleep?
Sleep is only one possible factor. Many people with regular sleep still have dark circles because of their skin thickness, their pigment or the shape of the area beneath the eye.
Poor sleep, fatigue and dehydration may make dark circles more noticeable for some people, but they are rarely the whole explanation.
A medical history can also help. Hay fever, eczema around the eyes, thyroid conditions and low iron levels may each play a part, and they are worth mentioning at consultation.
How can you tell which type you have?
Dark circles are usually grouped by their main cause, and many people have features of more than one. A mirror and good light give some clues, though they are not a diagnosis.
Gently stretching the skin sideways, or tilting your head back while light falls from above, can help show whether the tone is pigment, vessel colour or shadow. A doctor can assess this more reliably, with a closer look in good lighting.
- Pigmented: a brown tone that stays similar when the skin is gently stretched
- Vascular: a bluish, pink or purple tone that may look stronger when you are tired
- Structural: a shadow that changes with lighting and the angle of the head
- Mixed: a combination of pigment, visible vessels and shadowing, which is common
Do eye creams and skincare help?
A gentle routine and daily sun protection support the delicate skin under the eyes and help limit pigment from darkening. Avoiding eye rubbing can also help, particularly if allergies are involved.
Skincare cannot change the thickness of the skin, the position of blood vessels or the shape of the area. For that reason it is usually one part of a plan rather than the whole plan.
If a product causes stinging or redness, stop using it. Irritation can darken pigment, and fragrance or harsh actives are avoided near the eyes unless a doctor advises otherwise.
Can laser be considered for dark circles?
UltraClear is a fractional fibre laser that creates microscopic channels in the skin and is intended to support collagen remodelling over time. In the thin under-eye skin, laser may be considered to support collagen, which may change how underlying vessels show through. Evidence for laser around the eyes is limited, and it suits only some types of dark circles.
It is not suitable for every type of dark circle. A brown, pigment-driven tone, a vascular tone and a shadow from volume change are different problems, and laser addresses them differently or not at all.
Dr Marie-Claire chooses the energy, depth and number of passes for the area, and a course of treatments is sometimes considered. Skin preparation and sun protection form part of the plan.
Treatment close to the eyes needs careful assessment and appropriate eye protection. Redness, swelling and peeling are common afterwards. Individual results vary.
What other options may be discussed?
Where shadowing relates to the shape of the area, other options, including referral, are discussed at consultation after a careful assessment of the anatomy.
If allergies, thyroid conditions or low iron may be contributing, a review with your GP may be suggested alongside any skin-focused plan. Treating an underlying cause can be part of an appropriate approach.
Treatment for volume-related shadowing is considered cautiously, because the under-eye area is delicate. In some cases the advice may be that no treatment is needed.
When should you see a doctor first?
Dark circles that appear suddenly, affect only one side, or come with swelling, itching, pain or any change in vision should be reviewed by a doctor promptly. So should persistent tiredness, paleness or other symptoms that could point to a medical cause.
A spot or patch near the eye that is new, changing or irregular needs a skin check before it is treated as pigment.
Bring a list of your medicines and any past eye or skin conditions to the consultation. This helps identify contributing factors early.
How does Dr Marie-Claire approach dark circles?
Assessment comes first. At a consultation in St Kilda, Dr Marie-Claire examines the area in different lighting, takes a medical history and works out whether pigment, vessels, shadowing or a mix is involved.
She then explains which approaches may be considered, including skin health, laser and referral for medical review, along with the risks and the alternatives. A written plan follows the consultation.
Some people are advised that treatment is not needed or that another approach should come first. That advice is part of the consultation.
