Introduction
As we all know, the eyes are the windows to the soul. Therefore, beautiful and expressive eyes not only enhance your overall appearance but are also a significant means of communication with others. The overall structure of the eyes, the skin tissues around them, and their shape all contribute to the aesthetic appeal of the eye area. Unfortunately, dark circles resembling a panda's eyes are a prominent factor that detracts from the beauty of the eyes. Not only do they make you look tired and fatigued, but they also age you prematurely.
Types of Dark Circles
Despite being commonly referred to as dark circles, from a basic physiological anatomy perspective, they can be explained as "areas around the eyes that appear dark or discoloured."
Dark circles can be classified into four types: pigment-type, vascular-type, structural-type, but in most cases, they are mixed-type, incorporating various characteristics mentioned above to form dark circles.
Pigment-Type Dark Circles
Pigmentation acne scars are typically flat discolourations on the skin's surface. They can appear red, pink, deep brown, or black. These discolourations do not have any surface irregularities, and they usually fade gradually over time. The duration for fading may vary based on individual factors, but it generally takes about 3 to 6 months.
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Vascular-Type Dark Circles
Atrophic acne scars are among the most common types of acne scars. These scars are characterized by depressions in the skin's surface, resulting in a pockmarked appearance often likened to the texture of the moon's surface. Atrophic acne scars can further be divided into three subtypes based on their appearance: Rolling Scars, Boxcar Scars, and Icepick Scars. Icepick scars are the most common among these.
Structural Hollow-Type Dark Circles
These scars appear as round depressions with sloping edges that often connect, giving the skin a wavy, uneven texture. People who have experienced prolonged inflammation due to acne are more likely to develop this type of scar.
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Mixed-Type Dark Circles
Most individuals have mixed-type dark circles, which combine the characteristics of the above three types. These dark circles include not only tear trough hollows but also visible bluish or purplish blood vessels beneath the eyes and pigmentation in the skin around the eyes.
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Cause of Dark Circles
There are several causes of this type of dark circles. While some individuals inherit naturally darker eyelid skin pigmentation, others develop it due to various acquired factors. For example, in Middle Eastern and Asian populations, some people have naturally darker eyelid skin, giving the appearance of panda eyes from birth. Additionally, a lack of sun protection, excessive massaging during the use of eye creams, or skin inflammation can lead to melanin deposition around the eyes, resulting in pigment-type dark circles.
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Vascular-Type Dark Circles: This primarily results from poor blood circulation around the eyes, exacerbated by the thinness of the skin in the eye area. The thinnest part of the epidermis is merely 0.04mm, making the blood vessels underneath even more pronounced. Consequently, these blood vessels, visible through the thin eyelid skin, manifest as bluish or purplish dark circles beneath the eyes. Furthermore, there is an interrelation between blood circulation in the eye area and the nose. Therefore, any allergies or nasal congestion can impair the blood circulation around the eyes, leading to chronic dilation of the fine blood vessels and the worsening of dark circles. Temporary under-eye vascular prominence can also occur when individuals do not get enough sleep, cry excessively, consume excessive salt, experience water retention during menstruation, or reach the late stages of pregnancy.
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Structural Hollow-Type Dark Circles: Structural hollow-type dark circles are due to the loss of volume in the tear trough. When you can observe sunken regions below the eyes, dark circles are attributed to volume loss. This happens as a result of aging, which leads to an enlarged space between eye bags and the orbitomalar ligament, along with severe ptosis of the lateral part of the orbicularis oculi muscle. As the fat around the eyes gradually diminishes, tear troughs become more apparent. In Caucasians, congenital features such as a concave bony orbit and natural tear troughs are more common, which means that as they age, the overall eye area appears more concave, making dark circles appear deeper in colour.​
Treatments
PRP Eye Rejuvenation + Filorga
Mesotherapy For pigment-type and vascular-type dark circles, our physicians can combine Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) eye rejuvenation with mesotherapy using Filorga products to achieve the best results for dark circle reduction. PRP eye rejuvenation is a natural treatment that stimulates skin regeneration by utilizing the body's plasma, which is rich in reparative growth factors. It promotes the production of collagen and elastin fibers in the epidermis and dermis, enhancing the elasticity of the skin. This treatment thickens the skin around the eyes, improves blood circulation in the eye area, and thus reduces the dilation and exposure of the fine blood vessels beneath the eyes. When combined with Filorga Mesotherapy, which contains over 35 types of vitamins, multiple minerals, and nanomolecular hyaluronic acid, it provides comprehensive brightening of the skin around the eyes. This combination treatment reduces dark melanin and inhibits the formation of pigmentation, thereby diminishing dark circles. Additionally, hyaluronic acid helps to moisturize the skin around the eyes and improve fine lines and wrinkles.
Tear Trough Dermal Fillers
For structural hollow-type or mixed-type dark circles, as they are often accompanied by prominent tear troughs, filling these depressions can significantly improve the issue of dark circles. Teoxane Redensity® 2, commonly referred to as "Panda Eye Filler," is a hyaluronic acid dermal filler specifically designed by Teoxane for treating dark circles and tear troughs around the eyes. Its formulation includes essential ingredients such as glutathione, alpha lipoic acid, amino acids, and other nutrients. Teoxane Redensity® 2 is capable of lightening dark pigmentation, replenishing the skin's moisture in the eye area, and improving both structural hollow-type and mixed-type dark circles.
Additionally, Teoxane Redensity® 2 is the only hyaluronic acid filler certified by the U.S. FDA for enhancing tear troughs and treating dark circles.