If you have dark circles under your eyes, this could be due to many things. These circles can make you look tired all the time even if you are not. Fortunately, there are some treatment options to choose from both non-surgical and surgical to treat this problem. What you choose depends on the cause and your preferences. 

Causes of Dark Circles

There are many causes of dark circles under your eyes including:

• Age: When you become older, the skin under your eyes becomes thinner. This increases the visibility of tiny blood vessels.
• Allergies:  If you have allergies, you may rub and scratch at your eyes excessively, which can cause dark circles.
• Medications: Some medications can cause the blood vessels under the eyes to dilate.
• Lack of sleep: This can cause dark circles because the blood vessels under your eyes dilate, creating a dark tint.
• Sun: Sometimes exposure to the sun can cause dark circles.  This is because it increases levels of melanin, which is a skin pigmentation, under your eyes.
• Pregnancy: In some cases, skin can become more transparent during pregnancy, including the skin under your eyes, making the blood vessels more visible.

There are also many diseases that can cause this problem.

Treatment for Dark Circles

If you make some lifestyle changes but still have dark circles, there are many treatment options.

• Bleaching: There are bleaching creams available to remove dark circles. You can find these bleaching creams over the counter, or your dermatologist can prescribe you cream that is much stronger. Your dermatologist can also tell you how to use it properly.
• Laser therapy: If the cause of this problem is due to visible blood vessels, the dermatologist can try laser therapy, which shrinks the blood vessels to make them less noticeable.
• Fillers: The doctor can inject fillers beneath your eyes to plump up the skin. This is often done if the problem is due to aging. This not only makes the circles disappear, but can also remove any sagging and wrinkles you may have
• Blepharoplasty: This is a surgical option that includes the doctor making an incision in the inside of your lower eyelid to inject fat to plump up the skin.
• Cheek lift: A cheek lift, also known as mid-facelift, can remove dark circles if they are caused by drooping or cheek descent.

See a cosmetic surgeon (such as one from Westlake Cosmetic and Medical Group, Inc.) or dermatologist to learn more about the different treatment options available to you.