Improving the "Tired Look" - How to Treat Dark Circles Under Eyes

Implications: Looking rested and refreshed is big business.  Dark circles can make one appear tired and old - even at the young age of 25.  Therefore, some people will stop at nothing to conceal these circles.  53% of 13,000 Clinique users cited dark under-eye circles and puffiness as their number one beauty concern.  Consequently, it is not surprising that sales of anti-aging skin care treatments, which includes products designed to get rid of dark circles under the eyes, increased from $588 million in 2001 to $1.08 billion in 2006.   The causes of such circles are multi-factorial, including heredity, genetics, skin pigmentation, and skin thickness.  As there is no single cause for this problem, there is no single cure.  Hence, it is not surprising that Sephora sells more than 50 products "designed to specifically treat under-eye circles."  With time, the demand and number of products to treat this problem will only continue to grow. 

Analysis: There is no single treatment to address the problem of dark circles and puffiness under the eyes.  If there was, every dermatologist and plastic surgeon would be using it.  Consequently, there are more treatments than one could imagine.  Aging, which causes skin to thin, can darken the under-eye area.  Some creams and potions claim to "plump up," "thicken," or "add volume" to the skin by increasing collagen production or by causing local tissue swelling.  Environmental allergies can cause "too much puffiness" which can be treated with anti-histamines and/or immunotherapy ("allergy shots").  Sometimes, dilated blood vessels under the skin can be seen.  For this, fillers such as Restylane or Juvederm may be injected to place a layer between the skin and melanin or blood vessels.  It should be noted that this is an off-label use of these products with potential side effects.  Therefore, it should only be performed by a licensed healthcare professional that is experienced in such treatments.  Some will use bleaching agents or lasers, though this is not recommended by most healthcare professionals to treat this problem.  Until more specific and effective treatments are developed, patients will continue to try different treatments in their quest to look younger and refreshed in a competitive marketplace that values youthful appearances.