Dark circles under the eyes were the number-one concern for 53 percent of people who participated in a 2006 study by the beauty company Clinique, Clinique's executive director of research and development, Tom Mammone, told the "New York Times" in 2008. Dark circles usually occur because of a combination of genes, aging and allergies. Milder cases respond well to eye creams designed to lighten dark circles. If your dark circles are very noticeable, though, some procedures offer longer-lasting solutions. Keep in mind that most procedures for dark circles are considered optional cosmetic surgery, so they aren't covered by insurance plans.
Laser Treatment
If you have dark circles or visible veins under your eyes that don't lighten with prescription-strength hydroquinone, Valerie Monroe, beauty editor for "O, The Oprah Magazine," suggests laser treatments to physically repair the surface of your skin, resurfacing areas where you have dark pigmentation. For regular dark circles, Monroe suggests booking three or more sessions of Fraxel re:store or Fraxel re:fine laser therapy. If dark veins are the issue, Monroe recommends several sessions with the Nd:YAG 1064nm laser. Plan on a few weeks of post-treatment recovery.
Fillers
Fillers, like Restylane and Juvéderm, may work well for dark circles caused by aging, Rhoda S. Narins, clinical professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center and president of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, says in "Scientific American" magazine. Narins says that dark blood vessels and muscles show through aging skin as it thins, creating the appearance of dark circles. Fillers plump up the cells under the eyes, creating a barrier that hides the vessels and muscles beneath the skin, making them less noticeable.
Acid Peel
Schedule a session with your dermatologist for an acid peel using 30 percent trichloroacetic acid if you want to lighten dark circles, recommends David Hidalgo, M.D., in "Elle" magazine. Hidalgo says in addition to making light circles less noticeable, a trichloroacetic acid peel will also help reduce fine lines and may improve signs of aging that would prompt you to consider eyelid surgery.
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