What are dark circles?

Dark circles under the eyes are one of the most common cosmetic complaints we come across. Having dark circles can make someone look constantly tired and aged.

There are a number of factors which may cause dark circles, including:

• Lack of sleep
• Smoking
• Allergies
• Excess alcohol intake
• Aging
• Loss of volume under eyes
• Family history of hyperpigmentation under the eyes

Loss of volume under the eye area can cause the appearance of hollows or dark circles. As we age, our under-eye skin becomes thinner, less elastic and we lose some of the collagen within this area. These changes can cause the appearance of blood vessels within the under-eye area to become more prominent, causing dark shadowing beneath the eyes.

How can dermal fillers help?

Dermal fillers, also referred to as under-eye fillers or tear trough fillers are a popular non-surgical treatment which can be used very effectively to treat under eye hollows, sunken eyes and dark circles.

Under-eye fillers involve a gel-like substance containing naturally occurring hyaluronic acid being injected into the under-eye area also known as the tear trough. The hyaluronic acid filler works to boost and plump up the area, whilst promoting collagen growth and skin generation. The plumping effect reduces visible dark blood vessel colour and smooths the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, giving an overall fresher and rejuvenated look.

Dermal fillers provide an ideal solution for dark circles caused due to volume loss and sunken eyes. The procedure involves numbing the tear trough area with a topical anaesthetic cream and then injecting the area with hyaluronic acid gel. The treatment only takes around 30 minutes and many clients also opt to undergo other procedures with their under-eye fillers.

Dermal fillers produce natural-looking results which can be seen almost immediately to some extent. The final results will usually be visible at around two weeks once the under-eye skin has had time to relax, smooth and the dermal fillers have settled. The results from under-eye fillers can last up to 12 months.

There is generally no downtime following treatment and regular activities can resume immediately, with many clients going back to work on the same day. However, there may be a slight risk of bruising or swelling for the first couple of days, which can be reduced by applying cold compresses every few hours.

Also, treatment with hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers is entirely reversible, as an enzyme can be used to remove the dermal filler effect within days. This works as a safety net, especially for clients who are new to this kind of procedure.

If your dark circles are caused by hyperpigmentation of the skin under the eyes and not due to volume loss, under-eye fillers may not be as effective for you. Therefore, it is important to always consultant with a practitioner to establish the cause of your dark circles before deciding on the most suitable treatment option for you.

At Skinnou we offer a range of dermal filler treatments, which you can learn more about here. Our team are dedicated to providing a high quality and safe service to all clients; therefore, all our filler treatments are carried out by healthcare professionals only.