Dark circles: causes and treatments (homemade or clinical) –

They are two big symbols of lack of energy — and right in the middle of your face. But, despite the appearance, dark circles are not always a sign of tiredness, they can have different causes and arise due to the high concentration of melanin or due to congestion of the capillaries in the region around the eyes — but some factors, such as tiredness, allergy, aging, excess sun and sleepless nights do aggravate the problem.

If they bother you, don’t worry. From homemade compresses to surgeries, one of these alternatives will be able to soften your problem.

identifying the cause

According to dermatologist Luciana Conrado, from São Paulo (SP), there are several possibilities for dark circles under the eyes. See the most common ones:

Heredity: when blood vessels accumulate in the eyelids, the skin takes on a dark reddish hue. It gets worse at the time of menstruation and with tiredness.
Excessive pigmentation: generalized dark spots around the eyes are very common among people of Arab and Indian descent.
Fat bags: they protect the eyeball, but one day they start to give way. This process is called prominence and generally occurs after age 37.
Allergy: those who are constantly scratching their eyes because of sinusitis or rhinitis can facilitate the rupture or dilation of vessels in the region,
Stress and little sleep: with tension, the production in the blood of a substance called nitrous oxide increases, increasing the caliber of the vessels and making them more apparent under the skin.

dark circles solutions

Experts tell the best remedies, from homemade solutions to more aggressive interventions:

natural remedies

Every Monday you wake up and there they are! Dark circles can appear just because your schedules were changed over the weekend. “The lack of rest contributes to the increase in volume of the lower eyelids and then the dark circles appear more”, says São Paulo beautician Roseli Siqueira. In this case, compresses or masks work, refreshing and decongesting the eye area. It’s also a great way to fight dark circles that appear in PMS, due to increased fluid retention. These are the most efficient recipes:

Chamomile tea: prepare a concentrated tea, wait to cool down and put it in the freezer for a few minutes (including the bag). Apply over the eyes and let it act for 10 or 15 minutes. Dip the bag in iced tea a few times and reapply. Make the compress lying down, with your head elevated. This position encourages the vessels to return to their normal size, reducing swelling.
Boric water or saline solution: Moisten pieces of cotton with boric water or serum and place them in the freezer. When they are well chilled, apply to the eye area.
homemade mask: mix 1 cup of milk tea with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of honey. Take to the fire to thicken. Then put on a plate to cool. When it’s warm, put a thick layer on the eye area and, on top, a damp piece of cotton. Lie down for 15 minutes. Then wash with plenty of water and apply a moisturizing cream.

vitaminized cosmetics

As dark circles are formed by pigment deposited in the deepest layers of the skin, creams have limited action, but there are actives to decongest and help reduce edema (such as gingko biloba, caffeine, rutin and vitamin K1) and others that lighten the area (such as hydroquinone, vitamin C, arbutym and mequinol).

aesthetic treatments

If none of that worked and you still want to try something more aggressive, some dermatological treatments can alleviate the problem. Talk to your dermatologist before scheduling any of these.

Super Power Laser: It works especially when dark circles appear as a result of excess melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. “The laser destroys the dark pigment caused by the accumulation of melanin. What is left over is absorbed by the body”, says dermatologist Luciana Conrado. That is, laser applications lighten dark circles. The region is red and burning for a few hours. The results obtained are long-lasting and can be noticed right after the first session (depending on the color of the dark circles, several applications are necessary). About 3 to 5 sessions are required.
Filler with hyaluronic acid: With the same material that dermatologists use to increase the volume of the mouth (hyaluronic acid), it is possible to fill in the area, moving the skin away from the blood vessels and reducing the dark appearance. It stimulates the formation of the collagen network and reduces the transparency of the skin in this region, which makes it possible to visualize the purple vessels. Furthermore, it reduces the gap between the cheeks and dark circles, greatly improving the appearance. The skin is prepared with anesthetic creams and the product is injected through needles. It is indicated for those who have little fat in the region or sunken eyes, which have a shadow on the lower eyelid. A single session solves the problem.
Carboxytherapy: With a superficial prick, carbon dioxide gas is injected into the lower eyelid to improve oxygenation of the area. This helps eliminate pigments and toxins that cause dark circles, in addition to stimulating collagen production to smooth expression marks. For those who have dark circles associated with sagging and fine lines around the eyes.
Effective stings: Dark circles can also appear due to the fragility of the blood vessels that exist in the region. “As the vessels are very thin, the laser cannot reach them”, says dermatologist Mônica Fiszbaum, from São Paulo (SP). In this case, the weapon in the fight against dark circles is injectable vitamin K1. “The substance creates a layer of protection in the vase, making it strong. With that, it becomes more closed and the purple diminishes”, explains Mônica. Injections are applied over the entire length of the spots — about eight bites, using anesthetic cream. Two to three 15-minute sessions are required, with an interval of 15 days between them. The region is swollen for a period of 24 to 48 hours, but the results are visible in the first session. The effect lasts until there are new breakouts.

Surgery, the radical solution

When the person has excessive bags of fat under the eyes or very pronounced pigmentation, plastic surgery is the most suitable method to remove dark circles. The appropriate technique for these cases is known as blepharoplasty. The cut is external and close to the lower eyelashes. The operation requires local anesthesia with sedation. After surgery, you must place cold compresses on your eyelids for 24 hours to prevent swelling and wear dark glasses throughout the recovery phase, which takes 30 to 60 days. During this period, the region turns quite purple. The result begins to be perceived only after a month.

Dark Circles x Food

What does eating right have to do with dark marks under your eyes? A lot of things. “An X-ray of your diet discovers possible causes of imbalance in the body behind the dark circles”, says Sheila Mustafa, a functional nutritionist from São Paulo. Among the most likely hypotheses regarding this pillar, there may be food allergies that cause the region to swell or the vessels to break and lack of vitamins and minerals, which contribute to stress, accentuating dark circles.