AESTHETIC MEDICAL CLINIC
Dark Circles Under the Eyes
Dark circles under the eyes can make you look tired or older than you feel, and they are often harder to address than people expect. At our Clifton, Bristol clinic, our team assesses the underlying cause and recommends the most effective treatment for your skin.
Why dark circles are so hard to treat
Dark circles under the eyes are one of the most common skin concerns, and one of the most frequently misdiagnosed. People spend years trying product after product with limited success because nothing addresses the actual cause. The skin around the eye is the thinnest on the face, which means any changes beneath the surface show through quickly and clearly. There are four distinct causes, each requiring a different treatment approach, and many people have more than one.
The Four Causes of Dark Circles
Pigmentation
True darkening of the skin beneath the eye due to excess melanin. More common in certain skin types and ethnicities. Change
Skin transparency and show-through.
The thin skin and depletion of subcutaneous fat beneath the eye allow underlying muscle, or sometimes blood vessels, to show through as a bluish or purplish tinge.
Structural
A shadow cast by a hollow beneath the eye (the tear trough). This is not true darkening at all, but it is often misidentified as dark circles.
Fluid retention
This can often give the bags under the eyes a greyish look.
A successful treatment must address the cause and may involve improving tissue and skin quality, adding volume, lifting tissues, and repositioning key anatomy.
Frequently Asked Questions, Pigmentation Treatment
-
Why haven't eye creams worked for me?
Most over-the-counter eye creams address hydration and minor surface changes. They cannot correct structural hollowness, reduce visibility through thin skin, or address true dermal pigmentation. Matching the treatment to the actual cause is what makes the difference.
-
Is tear trough filler suitable for everyone with dark circles?
No, filler is appropriate for structural dark circles caused by hollowness. Using filler for vascular or pigmentary dark circles can worsen the appearance. Accurate diagnosis at consultation is essential.
