Dark circles under your eyes are not only unsightly, they can make you look tired when you're not, and they can even make you appear older. There are various steps you can take to prevent and treat "raccoon eyes" depending upon the cause. Although dark circles are generally not serious, there are a few underlying conditions that may require a doctor's attention.
Identification
Dark circles appear as very visible darkened areas around or under your eyes that may be accompanied by puffiness and wrinkling, or "bags." The darkened areas are usually uniform in pigmentation and found under both eyes, not just one.
Significance
Tom Mammone, Ph.D in molecular and cellular biology and the executive director of research and development for Clinique, reported that approximately 53 percent of 13,000 Clinique users surveyed cited under-eye circles and puffiness as their top beauty concern. Cosmetics manufacturers have begun creating numerous products to treat dark circles. The Sephora store chain, for example, now sells more than 50 such products, according to the "New York Times."
Causes
Some cases of dark circles are due to fatigue, although that's actually not a common cause, reports the Mayo Clinic. In some instances, what may appear as under-eye circles are simply shadows cast by puffy eyelids or hollows under your eyes that come from skin thinning and loss of fat and collagen as you age. Medical causes for dark circles can include iron-deficiency anemia, allergies, nasal congestion, eczema, pigmentation irregularities in people with darker skin colors and lifestyle choices such as smoking, drinking alcohol and consuming caffeinated beverages. Heredity and genetics are also a factor, since dark circles tend to run in families, reports Dr. Diane Berson, assistant professor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in Manhattan.
Prevention/Solution
If there is a medical cause of your dark circles, your doctor may recommend prescription creams or a combination of treatments to erase or reduce discoloration. Hollows that cause shadows can be smoothed with injectable fillers, surgery can eliminate puffy lids, and various types of laser therapy or chemical peels can also be useful. Self-care treatments you can try at home include applying cold compresses or a cool used teabag; elevating your head at night and making sure to get plenty of sleep, rinsing your sinuses with a saltwater solution or trying an antihistamine. Dr. John A. Persing, professor and chief of plastic surgery at the Yale University School of Medicine, recommends topical products that contain a plumping agent or alphahydroxy acids that can thicken the skin, or products with vitamins C and K, which can inflame skin and add volume.
Warning
Fillers are a popular choice for treating dark circles, but they have several potential side effects, such as bruising, swelling, allergic reactions and bumps and lumps that can last up to a year, according to Dr. Persing. There has even been one reported case of blindness in England caused by injecting soft tissue filler around the eye, although the Food and Drug Administration only received 45 reports of any adverse effects between 2003 and 2007. Doctor-assisted cosmetic procedures also aren't cheap. A round of filler injections lasts around six months and can cost $500 to $800, reports the "New York Times."
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