How to get rid of puffiness and dark circles: from causes to remedies
Let’s start by understanding the difference between puffiness and dark circles. Shedding light on the common confusion between the two disorders is helpful precisely in order to distinguish their causes and understand how best to treat dark circles or puffiness.
They are actually two different problems that often appear together. They are quite widespread. Let’s see what the difference is.
- Dark circles. They consist of localized dyschromia in the eye area and can depend on several factors: skin pigmentation, epidermal thickness (which, if thin, gives a glimpse of capillaries and underlying vessels) and, decisive, even genetics.
- Bags. They form the classic bulge in the lower part of the eye area and are basically caused by fatty tissue and water retention. Bags mainly occur in old age. But, again, genetics is decisive.
Causes bags and dark circles
But now let us look in more detail at the causes that lead to these disorders.
Dark circles under the eyes : causes
- Excessive pig mentation that is sometimes related to skin hyperpigmentation due to both genetic and environmental factors. The latter gives rise to dark circles should melanocytes, scattered in the dermis be located in the peri-orbital area.
- Advancing age and persistent fatigue. The two phenomena cause a blockage of the blood circulation in the infra-orbital region and the resulting blue-gray staining.
- Thin epidermal layer. When the skin of the lower eyelid above the orbital muscle has a really thin layer of fat, the underlying vascular plexus may be visible. The blemish is most noticeable during a woman’s menstrual period.
Over time, the amount of collagen and elastin changes resulting in the degradation of the protein structure by collagenases, enzymes that degrade collagen in the physiological aging process of the skin, but are very effective here, aided by ultraviolet rays. - Postinflammatory secondary hyper-pigmentation. In this case, the dark circles are caused by atopic dermatitis (a chronic, erythematous, insistently itchy dermatitis characterized by eczematous, dry skin). Sometimes the origin is contact allergy.
Bags under the eyes causes
Over the years, the tissues and muscles that support the eyelids tend to weaken. As a result, the skin may begin to sag.
- Elastin becomes drier and dehydrated; it tends to swell and fill with fatty tissue. This gives the eye a droopy appearance.
- Adipose accumulation. As the skin ages, fat confined to the orbit tends to slide downward, under the eye, and take on the appearance of classic ‘bag-like’ swelling.
- Water retention. Fluid (edema) may also accumulate in the lower part of the eye, causing the characteristic swelling.
Usually the disorder is not limiting, just as the causes themselves are not serious to health. Sometimes, however, puffiness and dark circles under the eyes could be spies of far more serious conditions. If in doubt, it is best to consult a physician to rule out possible organic causes:
- conjunctivitis
- liver problems
- kidney problems
- hypothyroidism
- high blood pressure
How to treat puffiness and dark circles under the eyes
These pathologies are usually an aesthetic concern. Depending on the cause, it is possible to reduce or completely eliminate the swelling. In addition to daily accouterments such as a regular sleep-wake rhythm, cold compresses or the use of a higher pillow, you might also find benefit in a cream for dark circles and puffiness containing vasoprotective and draining substances, which have a protective action against the capillaries.
Among surgical solutions, blepharoplasty is undoubtedly the most decisive and indicated surgery to restore freshness and tone to the eyes. Instead, dark circles can be eliminated with lipofilling, a technique that involves harvesting autologous fat from other areas of the body and then injecting it into the area where the dark circles form to impart a filling effect.
If you are concerned about the appearance of your eyes, there are specific treatments against puffiness and dark circles. The same dermatological therapies traditionally used to smooth wrinkles could be suggested. These include laser or chemical peel that can improve skin tone and elasticity. Or you could opt for local injection therapy, a revitalization based on hyaluronic ac. and antioxidant, brightening and draining complexes, which, in just a few sessions, increase the density, brightness and hydration of the eye area.
Also learn all the secrets of needling.
If you would like to address your problem of bags and dark circles without trauma, contact our DERMATOLOGY PRATI office by calling 0645471658 and visiting us at 212 Via Cola di Rienzo in Rome.
