The skin around the eyes is thin, sensitive, and prone to aesthetic concerns, including dark circles. Some people naturally have darker skin around the eyes. Others experience health conditions, skin damage, or other causes that trigger darkening of the skin under the eyes. Whatever the reason for dark circles, finding an effective solution to address this concern can significantly improve confidence. In this blog, we’ll talk about the reasons dark circles develop around the eyes, ways of preventing this concern, and provide some dermatologist recommendations on how to get rid of dark circles under eyes, including skincare products that safely brighten this sensitive area of skin.

Understanding Dark Circles

While there is no single underlying cause of dark circles, most people notice darkening around the eyes for one of five reasons: 

• Pigmentation – some people’s skin naturally looks darker in certain areas, including around the eyes. Others have skin that is prone to hyperpigmentation. This occurs when the skin produces an excessive amount of melanin, which is the type of skin cell that gives our skin its tone.
• Vascular – arteries, also called veins or blood vessels, are the system that pumps blood through the body. Beneath the skin, these veins often create a dark blue coloring. When blood vessels around the eyes are dilated, damaged, or otherwise more noticeable, it can cause dark circles.
• Structural – the shape of the eyes, brow, and cheeks can also contribute to the appearance of dark circles around the eyes. When eyes are deeper set or hooded, the skin around them is more likely to appear darker.
• Genetic – you might have your ancestry to blame for your dark circles. Certain genetic traits leave people more likely to have dark circles around the eyes. If your relatives all tend to show skin darkening near the eyes, you may experience this as well.
• Age – many changes to skin occur as we age. One of those changes is in the thickness of skin. As we grow older, skin thins, making dark blood vessels and tissue beneath skin more visible.

Prevention Techniques

It’s often easier to keep skin beneath the eyes bright than it is to combat dark circles after they form. Keep the following dermatologist recommendations for preventing dark circles in mind:

• Get Your Beauty Rest – lack of sleep is not usually the root cause of dark circles under the eyes, but it can exacerbate skin darkening. Inadequate sleep doesn’t give the body enough time to repair and replace damaged cells, which can lead to skin discoloration. Lack of sleep also increases puffiness and causes bags under the eyes, which makes dark circles under eyes more noticeable.
• Hydrate – lack of hydration can make skin look sunken in, which leads to shadows that make skin darkening or discoloration more noticeable. A moisturizer is a great way to combat skin dryness due to dehydration, but it’s often easier in the long run to increase water consumption to keep the body better hydrated from the inside out.
• Eat Healthy – you are what you eat may be an oversimplification, but there is some truth to it. We get many of the nutrients needed to keep our skin and whole bodies healthy through the foods we eat. Lack of nutrient-rich foods in the diet can lead to poor health overall, which typically translates to poor skin health.
• Stay Active – exercise and a generally more active lifestyle is good for the body. Increased circulation from exercise helps with dark circles under the eyes by reducing the visibility of blood vessels beneath skin that contribute to darkening.
• Treat Allergies – allergic response triggers the release of histamines into the body. This leads to skin itching, inflammation, irritation, and discoloration. Many people notice skin redness and blood vessel dilation that can cause darkening under the eyes.
• Use Sunscreen – skin hyperpigmentation is often caused by sun exposure damaging cells and leading to an increase in the production of pigment-producing melanin. Applying sunscreen before spending time outdoors can reduce this damage.
• Limit Alcohol Consumption – alcohol is dehydrating. Excessive consumption of alcohol often leads to dehydration and more noticeable undereye darkening.
• Quit Smoking and Tobacco Use – using tobacco can damage skin’s collagen, leading to drooping skin. When this happens to the skin surrounds the eyes, it can lead to shadows that cause more noticeable dark circles.
• Manage Underlying Skin Conditions – skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis may contribute to the appearance of dark circles. Taking steps to manage these conditions with appropriate skincare and dermatologic treatments can diminish the impact of chronic skin conditions, including reducing the development of dark circles.

Correction Methods

If you’re struggling with dark circles around the eyes, there are numerous steps you can take to improve appearance and brighten skin, including the following types of under eye treatment for dark circles:

• Laser Therapy – this treatment option passes high levels of energy into the skin promoting skin cell turnover, collagen and elastin production, and improving the overall appearance and brightness of the skin under the eyes.
• Chemical Peels – using a meticulous formulation of products like glycolic, retinoic, and lactic acid, chemical peels improve overall skin health and remove excess melanin.
• Fillers – for deep hollows around the eyes that cause shadows and darkening, injectable fillers can be used to smooth and plump skin reducing the appearance of dark circles.
• Eyelid Surgery – for some, a minor eyelid surgery to remove excess skin or smooth and tighten skin can reduce the appearance of dark circles.
• Consistent skincare – the easiest way to improve the appearance of dark circles is to add a skincare product specifically designed to address this concern into your skincare routine and use it consistently.

Product Features and Recommendations

A dermatologist can help you find the ideal products for dark circles around the eyes that addresses your individual skincare needs and goals. Below, our dermatologists describe the top skincare products for dark circles under eyes, including key features and why they’re recommended for treatment:

• Revision DEJ Eye Cream – addresses dark circles and improves skin firmness with prebiotic and postbiotic technology to keep skin healthy. This product is uniquely formulated specifically to be safe for use on the upper eyelid. Apply a small amount under the eye, over the cheekbone, and on the upper eyelid to hydrate and soothe skin.
• Revision Skincare C+ Brightening Eye Complex – brightens and hydrates the delicate eye area by fighting fluid buildup and preventing further skin damage with potent antioxidants. This product has a built-in cooling applicator that makes it soothing to apply. Massage in gentle circles under the eyes until fully absorbed.
• SkinCeuticals A.G.E Advanced Eye – targets visible signs of aging, including dark circles, using peptides, antioxidants, and ingredients to strengthen skin, all in a lightweight, fast-absorbing formulation. Apply morning and evening under the eyes, over the cheek, and browbone. Don’t apply to the eyelids.
• SkinBetter Science InterFuse Treatment Cream EYE – enhances skin firmness and elasticity around the eyes, using an innovative formula that nourishes and brightens skin. The SkinBetter Science InterFuse Treatment Cream EYE also fights the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. Apply as part of your morning and evening skincare routine. Tap onto the skin under the eye until fully absorbed.
• SkinBetter Science EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream – overnight treatment to reduce the appearance of dark circles. It combines alpha hydroxy acid and retinol to create the advanced AlphaRet technology that fights skin aging and improves the brightness and smoothness of the skin with nightly usage. Dab a small amount of the product under the eye up to the outside of the eyebrow.

Prevent & Correct Dark Circles with Consistent Care

The dermatologist-recommended products we described here have been tested and proven effective in reducing the appearance of dark circles under the eyes, but not all products are right for everyone. If you want a personalized skincare plan, reach out to a dermatologist for skin care products and treatment recommendations.

Keep Exploring Dermatologist-Recommended Skincare Products

We hope you’ll consider including the dermatologist-recommended products in this blog in your skincare routine to improve the appearance of dark circles around the eyes. If you want to boost the rest of your skincare routine, explore the full line of dermatologist-curated skincare products available at Derm Skincare. Don’t forget to come back regularly to read our blog for more skincare product recommendations and skin health tips.