Dark under eye circles can add years to your actual age and can make you look tired all the time. This is caused by sleep deprivation, fluid retention, allergies, genes and lifestyle behaviour. Fortunately, going under the knife is NOT the only way to get rid of them.
There are home remedies and effective non-surgical dark eye circles removal treatments widely available in Singapore. Some treatments commonly used to effectively get rid of eyebags are: laser treatments, under eye fillers, microneedling, topical creams, and natural remedies such as cucumber and green tea.
What are Dark Eye Circles?
These dark, puffy under eye circles are a combination of genetics and lifestyle habits. Lack of sleep, too much work, sun exposure, and even allergies add to their appearance.
Under eye circles are generally caused by hyperpigmentation formed by a pool of blood beneath the thin skin under the eyes. The pigmentation is caused by the blood vessels that contracts when there is inflammation. They may appear bluish, brown, or reddish.
Bluish eye-circles is usually caused by fatigue because of an imbalance in the body’s water. Lack of sleep increases your cortisol levels which break down collagen, causing the veins under your eyes to swell, hence the pigmented, puffy circles. They appear blue because the subcutaneous tissue only allows blue/violet lights to pass through it, the reason why veins look bluish.
Fluid imbalance or swollen areas around the eyes can cause shadows that make the eyes appear darker. It is often accompanied by eye bags, which worsens the appearance of tired-looking eyes. Good thing is there are eye circle removal treatments ranging from surgical, home treatments, and non-invasive procedures.
Dark Eye Circles Causes
Are you wondering why those pesky dark eye circles still show up even after getting a decent amount of shut-eye? Lack of sleep is not the only reason for your skin under the eyes to appear red, purple, or even blue.
Here are some common causes of dark under eye circles:
Your eyes are the “windows to your soul”.
As the central feature of your face, your eyes are usually the first area to show signs of aging.
“Eye Complex” can be assessed by dividing this delicate area into 2 halves:
- Brows
- Glabellar
- Upper eyelid
- Crow’s feet
- Temples
- Lower Lid Eye bags/ Tear trough deformity/ Dark eye circles
- Mid-cheek
Upper Eyelid Complex
One of the most common reasons for “tired-looking eyes” is droopy eyelids. However, droopy eyelids may not be the Only reason.
I encourage my patients to look beyond the upper eye lids.
A droopy Brow is another reason. As one ages, brow shape and position can change due to skeletal bone loss, loss of muscle and loss of collagen. The result is loss of brow arch and droopy brows.
Lower Eyelid Complex
Tried over-the-counter eye creams but still not getting results?
The key to treating dark eye circles is to identify the Cause of dark eye circles.
1. Volume Loss
Over time, there is loss of Fat & Bone around the eye. This results in “Tear trough deformity”.
The best treatment for this is injectable filler to replace the volume loss.
Commonly used fillers for tear trough treatment are hyaluronic acid dermal fillers.
2. Allergy
Allergy can cause congestion of blood vessels at the undereye region, which are easily seen due to the thin undereye skin.
The best treatment is to treat allergy is anti-histamines.
3. Pigmentation
Undereye skin is prone to pigmentation as the skin is very delicate and most forget to apply skin protection close enough to the undereye.
A Picosecond Laser is the treatment of choice for pigmentation, especially at the delicate undereye area due to its safety profile.
4. Eyebag
Eyebags are due to an “out-pouching” of undereye fat. Severe eyebags will require surgery. However, mild eyebags can be treatment with microneedling Radio-Frequency devices that deliver heat to melt the fat through tiny needles.
5. Loss Of Collagen
Thin undereye skin makes blood vessels more visible.
Collagen stimulating lasers can help to strengthen and thicken the undereye skin so that the blood vessels are less prominent.
Loose skin can tightened using HIFU, INFINI Fractional Radio-Frequency, Fractional Picosecond Laser and Specialised eye creams that contain retinoids and growth factors.
6. Undereye Wrinkles
Fine undereye lines cause darker contours and shadow. Small, precise doses of Anti-wrinkle injections will help to relax the pre-tarsal muscles to soften the fine lines.
Most people will have more than one sign of Eye Aging. The best solution is a bespoke treatment plan consisting of multiple synergistic treatment options.
Dark Eye Circles Treatment
Tired of people commenting that you look tired even when you’ve got a full night’s sleep? Over time, the eye area can show signs of fatigue and aging, such as dark circles, sagging skin, and puffy eyes. The good thing is that there are several dark eye circle treatments – be it with home remedies, surgery, or non-invasive eye circle removal procedures. Some of the common treatments for eye bags are:
- Topical Creams – creams with the right ingredients, such as hydroquinone and tretinoin, can help you get rid of eye bags up to a certain level with consistent use.
- Cucumber Slices – naturally being high in vitamin C and water content, applying cucumber slices on the eyes can soothe tired eyes and reduce any swelling.
- Fillers – under eye dermal fillers, such as Restylane and Juvederm, volumises the sunken eye area and stretches the skin through injecting soft gels into the target areas.
- Laser Treatments – the energy emitted from laser devices help stimulate collagen production, which is an important protein to tighten tissues and improve skin texture.
- Microneedling – this uses tiny needles on the skin’s surface which help trigger the body’s natural collagen and elastin production, leading to plump skin.
Dark Eye Circles Surgery
One effective eye circle removal treatment is through surgery. Blepharoplasty is a type of dark eye circles surgery performed to modify or shape the appearance of the eyelids. A plastic surgeon removes the excess skin, muscle, or fat in the eyelids, which makes the dark circles disappear and give your face a rejuvenated look.
Surgeries for dark eye circles and eye bag removal are widely available in Singapore. But since surgeries are riskier than non-invasive treatments, it is important to be meticulous when choosing your surgeon to ensure no side effects happen.
Home Remedies
Not everyone is willing to go under the knife if they want their under eye circles removed. Besides surgery, there are other dark eye circles treatment available in Singapore that don’t require any surgery and can even be done in the comfort of your home. Staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, and not rubbing your eyes are some lifestyle changes that can help, but there are treatments using natural ingredients that can be applied to your under-eyes.
Be aware that everyone is unique in some way, and dark eye circle removal treatments that may work for others may not be as effective for you. It’s still best to consult your doctor and discuss your goals to identify which home remedies are the best for you.
Cold compress
Inflamed veins cause the eyes to appear darker. A cold compress, frozen pack of peas, or a cold spoon are effective tools for eye circle removal. This can help constrict the vessels under your eyes, reducing the blood vessel expansion and puffiness.
Cucumber
Yes, we see it in the movies, ads, and almost anywhere that relates to eye treatments. Cucumbers can reduce swelling, soothe damaged skin, and stimulate antioxidants in the area. It also has active ingredients that prevent wrinkles because it helps restore the skin’s elasticity. Cucumbers are also rich in folic acids which fight of free radicals, and vitamin C that stimulates new collagen growth for a rejuvenated look. Vitamin K is also found in cucumbers, which can help reduce the discolouration that causes dark circles. It is best to use cold sliced cucumbers as the cold temperature can help subside the eye bags and discourage the accumulation of fluid in the eye area.
Almond Oil
This helps with eye circle removal and lighten the pigmented areas because it contains vitamin K, vitamin E, and retinol, which are ingredients that help smoothen the delicate skin under your eyes and help contract blood vessels, causing the discoloration.
Rose Water
This is an effective eye circle removal treatment for people with sensitive skin. It contains properties that help soothe and rejuvenate tired skin while also reducing the appearance of dark circles. This can be done by soaking cotton balls in rose water for a few minutes. Place these cotton balls under your eyes and leave them on for 10-20 minutes. Do this remedy daily for about 2-3 weeks straight to see results.
Tea Bags
Besides the above mentioned cold items to be placed over the eyes, tea bags that contain antioxidants and caffeine can help shrink blood vessels and reduce water retention. Additionally, the tannin found in the tea can lessen the pigmentation, stimulate blood circulation, and tighten the skin. For better results, after steeping the tea bags in hot water, pull them out the mug and put them in the refrigerator until cold. Squeeze out the excess liquid then put the tea bags over your eyes for 15 to 30 minutes.
Milk
Milk contains lactic acid that helps reduce puffiness and darkness around the eye area. It reduces puffiness by shrinking the blood vessels, giving out a soothing effect on the area. Milk also contains protein and other enzymes that strengthen, nourish, and heal damaged under eye skin. This is done by soaking cotton balls in cold milk and placing them under your eyes for 5 to 10 minutes.
Non-surgical Eye Treatment for Dark Circles
Usually, dark under eye circles come with sagging skin around the area, which adds to the distressed look. While topical creams are effective for dark eye circle removal in Singapore, non-surgical treatments can even give more eye lift and drastically reduce dark circles. A combination of several dark eye circles treatment can help reduce hyperpigmentation and tighten the under eye skin to give you a fresher look.
INFINI
INFINI laser gives a combination of two effective technologies in a single treatment: micro needling and radiofrequency. INFINI can be used to improve fine lines and saggy skin around the undereye region. The radio-frequency energy is delivered deep into the skin through the microneedles. This causes new collagen formation, making your under eye skin look healthier and firmer.
HIFU
Over time, the skin around the eyes can loosen, which cause sagging skin and droopy brows – this drastically adds to the tired look. HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound) uses ultrasound energy that penetrated deep into the skin to deliver higher temperatures. The heat stimulates collagen and elastin production leading to a natural lifting, tightening, and rejuvenation effect.
Fractional Picosecond Laser
This treatment can target 3 different depths compared to traditional lasers. The laser delivers energy to the targeted pigmented cells and shatters them without damaging the surrounding tissues. This helps lighten the appearance of dark undereye circles.
Pico Laser
Pico Laser is amongst the most powerful picosend lasers and has the ability to treat stubborn pigmentation such as freckles, melasme, solar lentigo, hori’s nevus, and any hyperpigmentation on the skin. This non-invasive pigment laser uses ultra-short 450 picosecond laser pulses for less photo-thermal effect – making this an ideal laser treatment for the sensitive eye area. It breaks down pigmentation into much smaller fragments which makes it easier for the body to flush out of the system.
Hyaluronic Fillers
Fillers are popularly used as a dark eye circle removal treatment in Singapore. As fat and bone around the eye experience loss of volume over time, this causes lower eyelids or the so-called ‘tear trough’. Hyaluronic fillers can be injected in this area to replace the volume loss and drastically reduce the appearance of tired-looking eyes.
EndyMed
Endymed is a clinically proven treatment that uses radiofrequency energy and effectively erases any visible signs of fatigue. Heat is delivered deep into the skin which stimulates collagen production. The heat gives an instant lift to the skin surrounding the eyes and triggers rejuvenation of your skin.
Rejuran i Fillers
Rejuran I is an anti-aging Injection that contains PDRN (Salmon DNA). This improves hydration and elasticity, reduces wrinkles and sagging skin, and helps get rid of pigmentation. Rejuran I is safe to use in the delicate skin around the eyes as it is “liquid” in form and softer. This works by helping tissues repair and stimulate collagen production naturally – eventually rejuvenating the skin and reducing pigmentation of the dark eye circles.
