Is this the secret to getting rid of dark circles?
You have probably been told you look tired. You have probably tried the eye creams, the early nights, the cucumber slices and the expensive concealer. And the dark circles are still there.
Here is the truth. For most people, dark circles are not really about sleep. They have a specific cause, and once you know yours, they become far easier to treat.
Why won’t my dark circles go away?
Because most treatments target the wrong thing.
Dark circles come in three main types, and they often overlap. A product that helps one type does nothing for another. That is why so many of them disappoint. The first step is working out which type you have.
The three types of dark circles
Pigmented (brown). Caused by extra melanin in the skin, often linked to genetics, sun exposure and naturally deeper skin tones. A simple test: gently stretch the skin. If the colour stays, it is likely pigment.
Vascular (blue or purple). Caused by thin under-eye skin that lets the blood vessels beneath show through. Tiredness, allergies and dehydration make it worse. If the colour fades when you press or stretch the skin, it is likely vascular.
Structural (shadow). Caused by a hollow in the tear trough, which deepens with age as we lose fat and collagen. It is a shadow rather than a stain. If it softens when you tilt your head back towards the light, it is likely structural.
Most people over 40 have a mix of all three. That is why a single cream rarely fixes everything.
The treatments that actually work
Sun protection and targeted skincare. For pigmented circles, daily sunscreen plus ingredients such as vitamin C, niacinamide and retinoids can gradually brighten the area. This is the foundation, though it is slow and limited on its own.
Chemical peels and laser. For stubborn pigment, gentle peels and certain lasers break down melanin more effectively than creams can.
PRP. One of the most promising options for skin quality and colour, covered in detail below.
Lifestyle basics. Sleep, hydration, treating hay fever and allergies, and not rubbing your eyes all genuinely help, especially with the vascular type.
What is PRP, and does it work?
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. A small sample of your own blood is taken and spun to concentrate its natural growth factors. That concentrate is then injected into the under-eye area.
Those growth factors stimulate collagen and encourage the skin to repair and thicken. Over a course of sessions, this can improve skin quality, even out colour and reduce the translucent thinness that makes circles look darker.
The evidence is encouraging. Clinical studies have found that PRP improves the evenness of under-eye colour and overall skin quality, with patient satisfaction of around 80 percent in some trials. A split-face study found it outperformed an alternative injectable treatment, with shorter downtime. The studies so far are relatively small, and a course of treatments works better than one, but the results are consistent and the treatment is well tolerated.
PRP suits you well if your dark circles are driven by thin skin, dullness or pigment, rather than purely by a deep hollow. It is natural, uses nothing but your own blood, and has minimal downtime.
Frequently asked questions
Can dark circles be removed permanently? They can often be greatly improved, but because genetics and ageing play a part, most people maintain results with occasional treatments rather than a single permanent fix.
Do eye creams actually work? They can help pigmented circles over time, but they cannot fix thin skin or a structural hollow. Creams alone are rarely enough.
Is PRP safe? It uses your own blood, so the risk of a reaction is very low. As with any injection, it should be carried out by a trained medical professional.
How many PRP sessions will I need? Most people have a short course, often around three sessions spaced a few weeks apart, followed by occasional top-ups.
Find out which treatment is right for you
The fastest way to deal with dark circles is to stop guessing and find out what is actually causing yours.
At The Wellness, our doctors assess the real cause of your dark circles and build a plan around it, including PRP where it is the right fit. To learn more or book a PRP consultation, visit our PRP page.
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