There are a few complaints that we hear frequently from patients of our Denver office. One of them is dark circles under the eyes. This is right up there with undereye bags. Both issues can make the face look tired and generally unhealthy. Both problems are nearly impossible to hide. For this reason, people sometimes spend years looking for ways to feel more confident in their appearance. Here, we discuss why dark circles may develop and what we do to help our patients address this problem.
Why You Have Dark Circles
Dark circles may be related to the thickness of the skin. In most areas of the body, skin thickness is about 2 millimeters. The thickness of the skin around the eyes is only about half a millimeter. That’s a big difference! This is why the skin around the eyes is the first to show the signs of aging. It is also why this area is more prone to darkening. Because the skin is thinner around the eyes, the blood vessels beneath the surface may be more visible. They aren’t visible as tiny veins, though. They are visible as diffuse discoloration. We all have thinner skin around the eyes. However, according to studies, certain genetic factors make it more likely for some people to develop dark circles than others.
What to Do about Dark Undereye Circles
Seeing that dark circles are not caused by dehydration, lack of sleep, or other issues, but by blood vessels beneath the skin, we know there is no way to lighten the discoloration with creams or other topical solutions. In recent years, it has become very common to treat dark circles under the eyes with dermal fillers. The reason that dermal fillers can work for some people is that this treatment increases the volume of the skin. Where there is more volume, there is more of a buffer between the skin’s surface and the underlying blood vessels.
Dermal fillers used under the eyes increase volume with hyaluronic acid. This naturally-occurring substance binds to water molecules beneath the skin, creating a cushion effect. Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers have been used for many years to reduce dark circles, undereye bags, and a host of other cosmetic concerns. The treatment takes only a few minutes. There is no downtime, and results can last several months.
Don’t let dark circles get you down. Contact our Denver office at (303) 839-1616 to discuss your treatment options.
