Sunken eyes and colored circles: how to remove them

Dark circles, also known as the jugo-palpebral furrow, are a variation in the colour of the skin under the eyes. Considered unsightly, dark circles are often synonymous with great fatigue. In fact, the area under the eyes is thinner and more fragile and more likely to display certain stigmas such as fatigue or age.

There are different types of circles:

• Black circles that may be related to poor blood circulation. Purplish rings are then visible below the eyes. A blood and lymphatic network passes under the lower eyelid and shows through the skin.
• Dark circles are caused by excessive melanin production. This makes the eye area darker. These rings are often hereditary and quite frequent in people living in the Mediterranean area.
• Hollow rings: located under the eyelid which can, in some cases, extend to the cheekbones. They are tear troughs.

Dark circles: causes

The appearance of dark circles is often linked to hereditary factors and the natural aging process.

Hollow rings are caused by the disappearance of fat between the skin of the lower eyelid and the eye socket bone. This is called "orbitalization" or "skeletonization" of the eyes. The darker colour of the rings is then due to the edge of the socket being visible through the skin.

Dark circles are more likely to be due to poor blood circulation caused by fatigue. Indeed, when poor blood and lymphatic circulation is observed, it is not uncommon to see the appearance of a group of pigments or vascularization. There are other factors that can also cause dark circles such as age, heredity or poor lifestyle.

Pockets, on the other hand, are often associated with an accumulation of water and fat on the lower eyelid. Thus, a poor lifestyle such as excessive consumption of alcohol, tobacco or lack of sleep can be the cause of water retention.

Dark circles: how to treat them

Dark circles, whether hollow or black, can give people an uncomfortable feeling. Many now want to put an end to it in order to have a younger, less sad and less tired appearence.

For hollow rings, treatments consist of restoring volume to the eyes. Injections with synthetic products (hyaluronic acid, Radiesse ®) or the lipofilling technique (injecting one's own fat) are preferable.

For coloured rings, techniques should be used to improve blood circulation or reduce pigmentation in order to reduce the tired appearance of the eyes.