Under-eye dark circles: most effective dietary supplements

Dark circles are a common cosmetic concern that affect many people. They appear as discoloration or a depression beneath the eyes, giving a tired and aged appearance. Dark circles are defined as pigmentation, often bluish, brown, or black in color. They can be caused by various factors, including vascular abnormalities, pigment deposits, and changes in the subcutaneous fat tissue.​

Types of Dark Circles

Dark circles can be classified into three main types: • Vascular dark circles : Common in fair-skinned individuals, these circles range from bluish to brown-reddish in color and are caused by vascular abnormalities beneath the eyes. • Pigmentary dark circles : Often seen in individuals with darker skin, these circles result from deposits of melanin pigment in the skin. • Hollow dark circles : These circles are related to aging and loss of subcutaneous fat volume, creating a depression under the eyes that accentuates shadowing and pigmentation​.

Causes of Dark Circles

Dark circles can be caused by several often interconnected factors: • Genetic factors : Dark circles can be hereditary, especially in families where the skin is thinner or there is a tendency toward hyperpigmentation. • Aging : With age, the skin under the eyes becomes thinner, and loss of fat and collagen can make blood vessels more visible, intensifying dark circles. • Fatigue and stress : Lack of sleep and stress can increase the visibility of dark circles by reducing blood circulation and causing fluid accumulation under the eyes. • Sun exposure : Excessive sun exposure can increase melanin production, thereby worsening pigmentary dark circles. • Lifestyle factors : Smoking, an unbalanced diet, and excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to the appearance of dark circles by damaging the skin and blood vessels.

Treatment Options

1) Topical Treatments : • Depigmenting creams and serums : Containing ingredients such as vitamin C, retinoid, and kojic acid, these products can help lighten pigmentary dark circles. • Caffeine creams : Caffeine can reduce the appearance of dark circles by constricting blood vessels and decreasing swelling​. 2) Aesthetic Treatments : • Hyaluronic acid fillers : Used to treat hollow dark circles, this treatment injects hyaluronic acid under the skin to restore lost volume and reduce the shadow under the eyes​​. • Laser and intense pulsed light (IPL) : These technologies can treat vascular and pigmentary dark circles by targeting and reducing dilated blood vessels and melanin pigments in the skin​​. • Chemical peels : Peels based on trichloroacetic acid or phenol can help treat pigmentary dark circles by exfoliating the superficial layers of the skin and reducing pigmentation​. 3) Surgical Treatments : • Blepharoplasty : This surgical procedure can remove fat pads under the eyes and tighten the skin, thereby reducing hollow dark circles and associated eyelid puffiness​​. • Lipofilling : This involves reinjecting the patient's own fat to fill depressions under the eyes and restore lost volume.