MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR DARK CIRCLES: WHICH ONE WORKS BEST FOR PERMANENT RESULTS?
MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR DARK CIRCLES: WHICH ONE WORKS BEST FOR PERMANENT RESULTS?
Eyes are the windows of the soul and you would have heard many poems about the same. But what happens when these windows have dark sills. It takes away all the shine from the windows. The same is true with the eyes, their beauty is often marred by the dark circles. Also called as periorbital hyperpigmentation, dark circles can be temporary or permanent.
Dark circles can also be an indication of an underlying problem with the body. They affect the overall appearance of the body. dark circles dim the shine of the eyes and can make you look aged beyond years. In the fast-paced world of today most of us are suffering from dark circles. Disturbed sleep schedules and eating habits only make them worse. We do resort to some home remedies but they only lighten the dark circles and not remove them. And rubbing just makes them worse.
In order to know the best way to get rid of the dark circles it is important to understand that there are different kinds of dark circles and each needs to be treated differently. There are two ways that dark circles hamper the natural beauty of the skin and face. They make the appearance look tired, sleepy, and sad.
What is the reason of dark circles?
Our eyes and the skin around it is very delicate and more susceptible to damage because of ageing or any other issue that affects the skin. Creams and lotions work for some but not a solution for everybody. Lets first take a look at the factors that might be causing your dark circles.
- Genetics: It might be hard to believe but dark circles can be in your genes. If you mother or grandmother has dark circles then it is a high probability that you will also get it.
- Dehydration: when you don’t drink enough water the body goes in a preservation mode and the skin under the eye stats to look dull and dry and has a sunken look.
- Incomplete nutrition: Vitamin deficiencies such as Vitamin K, Vitamin A and Vitamin B complex can cause under eye dark circles
- Strain and fatigue: Mobiles, laptops, lack of sleep and even over sleeping can causse stress and strain on the eyes and hence the dark circles.
- Nasal congestion: Inflammations such as sinuses, or congestion cause the veins under the eyes and nose to darken and dark circles appear.
- Ageing: This is the most common reason of periorbital hyperpigmentation. Since the under-eye skin is very delicate it ages faster than the rest of the skin. this makes the blood vessels and veins more visible and obvious under the eyes.
- Lifestyle habits: watching late night screen time, smoking and alcohol abuse, excessive caffeine consumption cause skin damage and make the dark circles more pronounced.
- Rubbing the eyes: many people make the mistake of rubbing the eyes in a effort to promote blood circulationbut it only makes the dark circles more pronounced.
- Medications: Certain medications such as birth control pills, blood thinners etc can cause the blood vessels to dilate and become more pronounced from under the skin giving the appearance of dark circles
- Underlying diseases such as hypothyroidism, liver disease, malnutrition etc. also cause hollows under the eyes. Your doctor will ask for a check up to figure out any such issue and recommend treatments accordingly. Adjusting your medication and being vigilant about the disease can help the dark circles disappear on their own.
Even babies and children are affected by dark circles the same way as adults. It can be because of fatigue, genetics, rubbing the eyes or caused by minor illnesses such as dehydration, snoring and injuries.
Did you know that dark circles can indirectly cause skin problems too? Using makeup to conceal the dark circles has too big disadvantages
- It is not permanent and looks unnatural in some time
- Wearing makeup for too long or not removing it properly can cause breakouts and pigmentation on the skin
Hence if you really want to get rid of dark circles then the best way to consult a top dermatologist and work out a way to get rid of dark circles permanently.
How to get rid of dark circles permanently?
There are a number of methods that are effective in reduce the dark circles and giving the eyes a wide, rested and youthful look. Not all of the treatments are permanent but with keeping a good lifestyle and taking good care of your skin you can keep dark circles away for a long time. Dark circles are more common in people
- Who are of older age because of loss of fatty tissue and thinning of skin around the eyes
- With darker skin tone because of changes in pigmentation
- Who have dark circles in their genes.
Types of dark circle treatments
- Use of topicals: Mild forms of dark circles are often treated with the use of topicals. These act as depigmentation and exfoliating agents. The common topical include Retin A which blocks the chemical reactions during the formation of melanocytes, Hydroquinone which is a bleaching agent and destroys the melanin forming cells, Kojic acid, azelaic acid etc. Other popular topic is the use of vitamin C which not only hides the blood stasis colour but also promotes natural collagen production. You can see the results of topical in about four to six weeks.
- Soft tissue fillers: dermal fillers such as hyaluronic acid gels add volume to the thin skin present in the lower eyelid area thus filling the hollows and triggering collagen production. This also helps in strengthening the structure of skin and gives a natural looking effect. Fillers last for up to one year.
- Chemical peels: The mix of acids in the chemical peels gently removes the top layer of the skin containing melanin. Deep chemical peels can also modulate the melanin content in the deeper layers of the skin. The most commonly used acid in chemical peels is Glycolic acid. Since the area around the eyes is very sensitive, peels need to be applied and removed carefully to avoid any damage to the eyes. The effects last for about 3-6 months.
- Fat transplant: This is a slightly invasive technique used for restoring volume to the under-eye area. Autologous fat transplantation involves taking fat from one area of body and injecting under the lower eyelid skin. this gives an immediate volumizing and anti-ageing effect to the lower eyelid and the mid face. This lasts for about 2 years.
- Lasers for permanently removing dark circles: lasers are the gold standard treatment for saying bye-bye to the dark circles permanently. Lasers are non-ablative i.e., they do not damage the skin and painless. They have zero downtime and almost nil side effects. Lasers target the specific pigments and dark vessels only. Not only this, they also induce collagen production that keeps the skin tighter, fuller and attractive. Traditional lasers for dark circle treatments is Q switched ruby laser (694nm) ND: YAG laser (1064 nm) and Q switched Alexandrite laser but they did have side effect of redness and uneven pigmentation under the skin. Modern lasers such as the Erbium laser, pulse dye laser and diode lasers along with IPL are much more precise and effective in getting the troublesome pigmentation under the eyes out of the way and making your eyes look alert and bright. Laser treatments are done in multiple sessions to get the complete result. One session of lasers takes about 20 minutes.
- Platelet rich plasma therapy: Dark circles under the eyes can also be treated by infusing good plasma into them. The good platelets are taken from the patient’s body and injected under the eyes. This helps rude the wrinkles and fine lines under the eyes and also cures the dark circles.
- Optical light diffusers: they are skin care ingredients that scatter the light away from the skin. as a result, the skin appears lighter and even tones. This is a very suitable option for people suffering from structural dark circles. The scatter molecules fill in the depressions in the skin. it also reduces the puffiness of the skin.
- Blepharoplasty or surgery to remove dark circles: This invasive procedure reduces dark circles or shadows under the eyes by removing the excess fat deposit and skin from the lower eyelid area. blepharoplasty also reduces the fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes.
The treatment for dark circles gives instant results but be mindful that if you don’t take care of the skin and take active steps to prevent pigmentation and fat deposits under the eyes, dark circles can reappear. Here are some simple things you can do at home to prevent dark circles from reoccurring
- Get adequate sleep of minimum seven hours each night
- While sleeping elevate your health with extra pillow to prevent fluid accumulation under the eyes.
- Quit smoking and reduce alcohol consumption at it causes pigmentation and dull ness under the skin
- Use cold compress on your helps to help them relax and shrink the dilated blood vessels.
- Wear sunscreen in summers, winters, rains and spring season. The SPF should be a minimum of 30 and above.
- Cucumbers and tea bags help reduce the puffiness under the eyes and improve blood circulation.
- Find ways to remove and manage stress by exercising and meditating regularly.
Cost of removing dark circles permanently
Different types of dark circles are treated with different methods. the cost depends on the cause of dark circles and the suitable treatment for the same. Structural dark circles can be reduced with the use of optical diffusers and dermal fillers, whereas pigmented dark circles are treated with lasers.
The cost of removing dark circles permanent varies with the method and duration of the treatment. laser therapy treatment for dark circles cost in India can be about Rs 10000 to Rs 25000 per session. But lasers have long term effect and therefore it makes them worth paying slightly higher prices. Topical creams cost anywhere from between few hundreds to thousand rupees. Peels range from INR 3,000 to INR 8,000 per session and soft tissue fillers cost in India to treat dark circles ranges from INR 15,000 to INR 30,000 per session. Surgical procedures cost the most to up to one lakh fifty thousand rupees. It is important to note that the cost of treatment can vary depending on the location of the clinic, the experience of the doctor, and the severity of the dark circles. It is recommended to consult with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon to determine the best course of treatment and the associated costs.
