GET RID OF UNDEREYE CIRCLES

GET RID OF UNDEREYE CIRCLES

from the article 'Val Answers Your Top 20 Skincare Questions'
By Val Monroe
O, The Oprah Magazine  |  March 23, 2011

Q. So many products claim to get rid of undereye circles. How do I know which one to buy?

A: If your complexion is fair, your (red or purplish) dark circles are probably caused by blood vessels just below the skin. If you're olive or darker, your (brown) circles are probably caused by pigmentation. Look closely in a mirror, and press on the skin; if the color decreases, your circles are more likely from blood vessels, says Heidi Waldorf, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. In this case, you might consider treatment with the V-beam laser, which zaps the vessels, causing them to disappear. For pigment-related shadows, Waldorf typically starts with creams containing retinoids (prescription tretinoin or tazarotene or over-the-counter retinols), to reduce pigmentation and increase cell turnover, and hydroquinone, a bleaching ingredient. Other helpful ingredients to look for are kojic acid, alpha hydroxy acids, kinetin and azelaic acid.

Keeping the area well hydrated can improve the appearance of either kind of undereye shadow and make it easier to apply concealer; use eye creams containing glycerin, petrolatum, dimethicone or kinetin. Gels containing caffeine will temporarily tighten the skin, too, Waldorf says. If topical creams seem to irritate the area or make the circles worse, or if the skin is burning, itching or scaling, see a dermatologist. The cause of the darkness could be eczema, for which you may need a prescription topical anti-inflammatory cream.

Keep in mind: First figure out what's causing your undereye shadows; creams can reduce only the pigment-related type.

Keep reading: 4 steps to conceal undereye circles

MY THOUGHTS

Don't you just hate those dark undereye circles. I think, among the beauty concerns of women, this is the one that makes people think something's also wrong from the inside.  We always connect dark undereye circles to lack of sleep.  Apparently, for some, getting enough sleep won't do the trick.