The skin around the eyes is very lax with loose connective tissue beneath, which makes flooding of the area with blood cells (which leave the dark pigment when they depart) a common occurrence. Hence a permanent cure is not possible in dark circles around the eyes.
The Causes for Dark Circles around the Eyes
Following are the most common causes for the periorbital melanosis.
- Racial and familial predisposition. Dark circles around the eyes run in families.
- Following trauma.
- Chemical pigmentation: Mercury or silver preparations, chrysiasis due to gold therapy in arthritis.
- Grey discoloration following long term treatment with minocycline.
- Following inflammatory diseases,e.g.eczema, lichen planus.
- Following acute illnesses, like viral hepatitis, chickenpox, typhoid etc.
- Hormone induced melanosis due to other causes, as in acanthosis nigricans and Addison’s disease.
- Eye strain caused by exhaustion of the periorbital muscles as a result of prolonged reading, computer and TV watching.
- Lack of proper sleep and rest.
- General weakness.
- Liver diseases, Addison’s disease.
- Excess sleeping.
- Sinusitis, especially frontal.
- Headaches.
- Stress and emotional instability.
- Idiopathic: When no cause could be found.
The pigmentation in periorbital melanosis is due to the extension of the so called pigmentary demarcation lines, triggered by any of the above causes. The pigment deposition may brown, dark brown, black, bluish black or even dark grey depending upon the causes and depth of deposition. The pigmentation may extend to the eyelids or down to the cheeks.
Treatment of Around the Eyes Dark Circles
Treatment of dark circles around the eyes involves the avoidance or treatment of the causes listed above.
- Avoid all the triggers as above, as far as possible.
- Have your eyesight and glasses checked regularly.
- Go to bed early and sleep for 7-8 hours
- Wear dark glasses when you go out in the sun and preferably apply a moisturizing cream, like Stelatopia in the morning.
- At night, after the cooling, you may apply any of the around eye dark circle creams, like Exoderm around eye, Glytone around eye, Plante system essential roll on etc. For very dark around eye circles, hydroquinone 2% will be useful. A couple of other OTC products for dark eye circles are L'Oreal's Hydra Fresh Circle Eraser and Peter Thomas Roth Power K Eye Rescue
Home Remedies for Dark Circles around the Eyes
- Keep a fresh cucumber or potato in the fridge. Before going to sleep, cut 2 round pieces and keep on the eyelids (should touch the surrounding skin as well) for 5-10 minutes.
- Cold milk compresses or cold yoghurt compresses also helps.
- These will cool down the skin and reduce the pigmentary deposit. These natural home remedies for periorbital melanosis can be used in combination with the creams described above.
Sources
- Goodman RM, Belcher RW. Periorbital hyperpigmentation. Arch Dermatol 1969;100:169-74.
- Malakar S, Lahiri K, Banerjee U, Mondal S, Sarangi S. Periorbital melanosis is an extension of pigmentary demarcation line-F on face. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2007;73:323-5.
Hanish Babu - Dr.Hanish Babu, MD is a dermatologist and a feature writer on Suite101.com with more than 200 articles related to skin diseases on the ...
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