After staying up late or doing an all-nighter, you would usually see the residual effects of its impact via the bags under your eyes. Known colloquially as ‘panda eyes,’ they are different in that pandas are neither fluffy nor adorable. Even though they are harmless, dark eye circles can be aesthetically unpleasant and make you look more tired than you actually are.
However, sleep deprivation is not the only cause of dark eye circles. I have written this article to help you understand dark eye circles better, the treatments, and cost for the treatments.
What are the causes of dark eye circles
The cause of dark eye circles depends on a few underlying issues: [1]
Pigmentation
Dark-skinned people are more prone to dark eye circles. However, it can be managed by chemical peels or lasers to lighten the skin tone. Sun exposure can also be one of the causes because the UV light increases the melanin production around your eyes, which causes pigmentation. [2]
Loss of volume
Some people have a natural “shadowing” effect which gives the semblance of a darker appearance under the eyes. This effect is known as loss of volume. The ageing process, genetic factors and smoking can cause loss of volume. These can usually be managed by injectables such as fillers into the tear trough. [3]
Tear troughs are the areas between the lower eyelid and the cheeks. In some cases, eye bags are the cause of the “shadowing” effect. Fillers may help it to blend better.
Thin skin with visible muscle
Another reason why people get dark eye circles is due to thin skin and visible muscles. This causes a purplish hue. One way to reduce these hues is to improve your skin quality. In my practice, I would suggest a Rejuran Healer treatment or fillers.
Most of the time, many of my patients have a combination of these underlying issues. When this happens, I often suggest a combination of treatments. However, this depends on the severity of their dark eye circles, as well as the patients’ expectations.
How do I know which treatment is suitable for me?
Pigmentation under the eye can be easily ruled out. However, other factors such as purple hues, thin skin, tear trough or eyebags might make it harder to ascertain. Hence, you should not rush in deciding on the treatment without fully looking into the different causes of dark eye circles.
It is always best to consult a doctor before deciding on which treatment you would like to go for. During the first consultation, it is important that you have an honest discussion on the expectations with your doctor. In fact, it can be hard to differentiate and find out the cause of your dark eye circle on your own.
The costs of dark eye circle treatments
The prices between the different treatments are about the same. Lasers would require a few sessions (adding up to about $400 to $800) while fillers would cost about $800. Hence, the diagnosis is crucial. A proper diagnosis can help to reduce any unnecessary cost, risk and time.
Some of the go-to treatments to get rid of dark eye circles are:
- Dermal fillers
- Ultherapy
- Laser
Managing Dark Eye Circles
Most dark eye circles are manageable. You can achieve minor changes with:
- Make-up to help cover up the dark eye circles
- Topical therapies
In some cases, these topical therapies may actually help those with pigmentation issues. However, it is not effective in treating the other underlying conditions.
What are the alternative remedies?
If you are uncertain about committing to extensive treatments to get rid of your dark eye circles, there are also some at-home remedies that you can do to reduce your dark eye circles:
Cucumber: Put refrigerated cucumbers onto your eyes, and leave them for 10 minutes. Rinse the area with water. Cucumbers moisturises the skin. Therefore, it can help lighten the area around the eyes.
Rose water: Soak cotton makeup remover pads with rose water, and leave the cotton pads on your closed eyelids for 15 mins. Rose water soothes the skin and rejuvenates the skin.
Teabags: Chill two bags of black or green tea before putting it onto your closed eyelids, leave them for 15 mins, then rinse with water. Teas are high in antioxidants and caffeine. Therefore, it helps to reduce discolouration.
Conclusion
There are numerous ways that can help reduce dark pigmentation around your eyes. For your safety, I would suggest consulting your doctor first to determine which treatments to opt for. Although in-home remedies take more time before the result shows, you can do the in-home remedies as they are more affordable.
