How to Get Rid of Dark Circles Under Your Eyes

Dark circles under your eyes can happen for many reasons. If you have been searching for how to rid of dark circles that keep appearing under eyes, you are not alone.

Reducing dark circles under the eyes involves a combination of lifestyle adjustments, targeted skincare ingredients, and professional treatments.

The best approach to manage dark circles depends on what is actually causing them. Find out how a personalised prescription formula could work for your skin at Prescription Skin.

Key takeaways

• Common causes of dark circles include genetics, aging, fatigue, and allergies.
• Topical treatments containing ascorbic acid, retinoids, caffeine, peptides, and hyaluronic acid can reduce the appearance of dark circles over time.
• Home remedies like cooling treatments and natural compresses offer temporary relief from dark under eye circles.
• Medical treatment options for dark circles under your eyes may include prescription creams and procedures.
• A customised prescription formula from Prescription Skin can combine multiple active ingredients to treat dark circles at their source.

What causes dark circles under the eyes?

Dark under eye circles are a form of periorbital hyperpigmentation. According to Awal et al., the etiology and management options for this condition are complex because it can involve excess melanin, thin skin, or visible vasculature.[4]

Genetics and skin tone

Genetics can play a significant role in the development of dark circles. If your parents had circles under their eyes, there is a good chance you will too.

Skin tone can influence the visibility of dark circles, with fair skin being more prone to translucency where blood vessels show through. Darker skin tones tend to produce more melanin around the eye area, which is a contributing factor in deeper pigmentation.

Ageing

Ageing is one of the most common factors that causes dark circles. The delicate skin beneath the eyes becomes thinner and loses collagen, making the vessels underneath more visible.

This creates dark shadows, dark rings, and a sunken appearance in the hollowed areas around the lower eyelids and inner corner of the eye. These changes under eyes typically become more apparent from your mid thirties onward.

Fatigue, stress, and other lifestyle factors

Lack of sleep can cause dark circles to appear under eyes because fatigue makes dark shadows more prominent.

Stress can contribute to the development of dark circles under eyes because cortisol breaks down collagen in the thin skin under eyes.

Dehydration can make the eye area appear dark and dull. Too much alcohol and excess salt intake can worsen puffiness, leading to puffy eyelids and puffy eyes the next morning.

Allergies and sun exposure

Allergies can trigger dark circles under your eyes. Dark circles can worsen during allergy season because nasal congestion causes dark circles by forcing blood to pool in the dilated blood vessels beneath the eye area.

Rubbing the eyes can lead to swelling and broken blood vessels, contributing to dark circles.

Sun exposure can increase the appearance of dark circles due to hyperpigmentation. Using a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher daily can prevent UV rays from worsening pigmentation around the delicate skin under eyes.

How to treat dark circles with skincare

Applying a targeted eye cream or eye serum with clinically backed ingredients can help minimise dark circles under your eyes. According to Pour Mohammad et al., both topical and procedural treatments show measurable improvements in dark under eye circles.[1]

Dermatologists recommend specific active ingredients to target discolouration under eyes based on the cause.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps brighten the undereye area and protects against environmental stressors. It is effective for managing hyperpigmentation and can help lighten dark spots caused by more melanin production.

According to Santos et al., topical vitamin C formulations are among the most well supported options for pigment related dark under eye circles.[2]

Retinol and retinoids

Retinoids stimulate collagen production to thicken the skin over time, which reduces the translucency that makes veins visible.

According to Dhillon et al., retinoids achieved a 32% reduction in wrinkle depth in the periorbital area.[5] A low dose formulation can help manage hyperpigmentation concerns like dark circles by stimulating the skin's natural renewal process.

Prescription retinoids like tretinoin are only available via prescription in Australia and deliver far more potent results than over the counter retinol. This is one area where a prescription retinoid can make a real difference.

Caffeine

Caffeine works by constricting blood vessels under the eyes, reducing the visibility of dark circles.

Topical eye creams and serums containing this ingredient can improve microcirculation and reduce discolouration. According to Brady et al., a topical formulation containing caffeine showed objective improvements in dark under eye circles.[3]

The effect is temporary and works best as part of a broader skincare routine.

Peptides

Topical peptides can help minimise the appearance of dark circles by promoting collagen synthesis. According to Li et al., a multi peptide eye serum showed a 22% reduction in dark circle appearance after 12 weeks.[10]

Hyaluronic acid and niacinamide

Hydration is key to keeping the skin around the eyes looking healthy and reducing the appearance of dark circles. Ingredients that prevent water loss in the skin can help counteract dullness.

Hyaluronic acid and ceramides can hydrate and plump the eye area, reducing skin translucency. Ceramides support the moisture barrier and help make the delicate skin around the eyes more resilient.

Niacinamide aids hydration by supporting the skin's natural moisture barrier and can diminish the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Both can be included in a Prescription Skin formula alongside prescription actives.

Eye serum and eye cream: what to look for

Consistent application of a well formulated cream under eyes is one of the best tools for minimising dark circles. Here is what to look for by skin type.

Topical treatments often contain antioxidants that help provide relief by constricting blood vessels. Different skin tones and skin types respond differently to each ingredient.

For the best results, combining ingredients that address the specific causes of dark circles in your case is the most effective approach. That is exactly what a customised prescription formula from Prescription Skin is designed to do.

Home remedies for dark circles

Home remedies like cooling treatments and chilled compresses can provide significant temporary relief from dark circles.

Cooling tools and compresses

Using a cold compress can provide instant relief from puffiness and reduce the appearance of dark circles. The cold temperature reduces excess fluid that pools under eyes overnight.

Using a cold jade roller or chilled spoons under the eyes can provide instant relief from puffiness as well. Some eye creams come with a cooling metal tip designed to reduce puffiness as you apply the product.

Tea bags and cucumber slices

Caffeinated tea bags applied to the eyes can utilise their antioxidants to reduce inflammation and temporarily constrict vessels.

Cucumber slices work similarly through their cooling effect. Neither will produce lasting results, but they are a gentle option for tired eyes on a rough morning.

Eye masks

Eye masks and hydrogel patches can temporarily improve the look of dark circles and reduce swelling. Most contain hydrating ingredients that plump the skin beneath the eyes.

They are not a substitute for consistent treatment under eyes, but they can help before applying makeup.

Lifestyle changes to reduce dark circles

Get enough sleep

Prioritising consistent, high quality sleep can help reduce the appearance of dark circles under your eyes. Prioritising 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep can prevent the skin from appearing pale and making blood vessels more prominent.

This is where the term beauty sleep actually holds weight.

Stay hydrated

Staying hydrated by drinking water can help minimise under eye circles and maintain bright eyes. Dehydration makes the skin look dull and sunken.

Reducing sugar, salt, and alcohol intake can help support general skin health and reduce the appearance of shadows under eyes. Reducing salt, sugar, and alcohol consumption can help decrease fluid retention under the eyes.

Manage allergies and eye strain

Managing allergies can prevent the congestion and rubbing that often lead to dark circles.

Limiting screen time and reducing eye strain can help prevent shadows under eyes from worsening.

Sleeping with an elevated head using extra pillows can prevent fluid from pooling under eyes, reducing puffiness overnight.

Professional treatments for dark under eye circles

When topical products and lifestyle changes are not enough to treat dark circles under eyes, professional treatments offer more intensive options. According to Goldman et al., combining procedures often yields the best outcomes.[7]

Laser therapy

Laser therapy resurfaces the skin, boosts collagen, and targets dark pigment. According to Michelle et al., laser treatments showed significant improvements in under eye discolouration.[9]

Chemical peels

A chemical peel uses alpha hydroxy acids to reduce pigmentation under eyes. This type of pigment, sometimes called infraorbital dark circles, responds well to peels.

According to Pissaridou et al., superficial peels can be effective for pigment type circles under eyes when combined with topical treatment.[6]

Injectable fillers

Dermal fillers can fill in hollows that create shadows under the eyes. If your dark circles are caused by hollowed areas rather than pigmentation, injectable fillers can make the skin under eyes look a shade lighter almost immediately.

Prescription creams

Prescription creams containing retinoids like tretinoin (only available via prescription in Australia) or hydroquinone (also prescription only in Australia) can target pigmentation under eyes more aggressively than anything over the counter.

According to Chandrashekar and Soumya, a topical under eye serum with active ingredients showed significant improvements in dark under eye circles after 12 weeks.[8]

At Prescription Skin, our doctors can include niacinamide and prescription retinoids in a single customised formula. Read more about retinol vs tretinoin and your first 8 weeks on prescription skincare.

How to cover dark circles with makeup

Colour correctors

Using a colour corrector before applying foundation and concealer can help neutralise the blue tones of dark circles.

Colour correcting concealers, especially those with peach or yellow tones, can counteract blue and purple tones of dark circles. For darker skin tones, orange and deep peach colour correctors work better.

Concealer and powder

Using a hydrating concealer can instantly mask dark circles. A full coverage concealer can effectively cover circles under your eyes when applied in a thin layer and blended from the inner corner outward.

Illuminating makeup powders can enhance the appearance of the under eye area by reflecting light, creating bright eyes and a fresher overall look. Make sure the concealer is fully absorbed before setting with powder.

Makeup is a valid way to manage dark eye circles for cosmetic reasons, but a consistent skincare routine with active ingredients will deliver better long term results and help reduce the look of dark circles over time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fastest way to get rid of dark circles?

The fastest temporary fix is applying a cold compress to constrict blood vessels, followed by a colour corrector and concealer. For lasting results, consistent use of an eye serum or eye cream containing vitamin C, caffeine, or retinol will reduce the appearance of dark circles over weeks to months.

Can dark circles be a sign of a medical problem?

In some cases, dark circles can signal an underlying health condition such as low iron, thyroid disorders, or allergies. If your circles under your eyes appeared suddenly or are worsening, see your GP to rule out a medical problem. Iron deficiency and anaemia are common culprits that can be identified with a simple blood test.

Do eye creams actually work for dark circles?

Yes, but results depend on the ingredients and the cause. According to research, eye creams containing active ingredients like vitamin C, retinoids, and peptides can produce measurable improvements.[1]

Is retinol safe to use around the eyes?

A low dose retinoid can be effective in managing hyperpigmentation concerns like dark circles and is generally safe for the undereye area. Prescription strength tretinoin is stronger and only available via prescription in Australia.

Does hyaluronic acid help with dark circles?

Hyaluronic acid helps by hydrating and plumping the under eye area, reducing the sunken appearance that can make veins more visible. It pairs well with niacinamide in a combined skincare routine.

Can you permanently get rid of dark circles?

Dark circles driven by genetics or your skin type may never fully disappear, but they can be significantly reduced. The most effective long term strategy is a consistent routine tailored to your specific type of dark circles under eyes, ideally combining multiple active ingredients.

If dark circles under your eyes have been bothering you and over the counter products are not cutting it, a customised prescription formula could be worth exploring. At Prescription Skin, our doctors assess your skin and build a formula around your skin concerns, combining active ingredients like niacinamide and prescription retinoids in a single personalised treatment. Starting is as simple as completing an online skin assessment.

Summary

This article covers the most common causes of dark circles under eyes and the full range of treatment options, from home remedies and lifestyle changes to targeted skincare ingredients and professional procedures. Prescription Skin offers customised prescription formulas that combine active ingredients in a single treatment tailored to your skin, providing a more targeted approach than over the counter eye creams alone.