Dark circles are often regarded purely as a cosmetic problem. The term does not initially describe a disease, but simply a dark discoloration around the eyes, which can have various causes. Ultimately, there are two main phenomena responsible for the development of dark circles.
One possible cause is hyperpigmentation. This means that the skin where the dark circles appear is simply darker than the surrounding skin. Just as people have individual skin tones depending on how much melanin is stored in their skin, the skin in certain areas can also be more pigmented than in others. It is well known that skin can also react to certain external factors, namely sunlight, by storing more melanin. This is how tanning works – both at the beach and in a tanning salon. However, frequent visits to tanning salons can, for the same reason, actually contribute to the development of dark circles. In such cases, if you want to remove the dark circles, the trigger for melanin production must be identified and stopped. This could mean, for example, reducing tanning salon visits so that the dark circles can disappear. Another trigger could be frequent rubbing of the eyes, which is usually caused by itching. In such cases, it can be useful to book an appointment here at Augenland Frankfurt, especially if the cause is completely unknown. Some people simply have generally dry skin, which can be treated with moisturizing cream. Another possible cause of itching is hay fever, for which appropriate medication can of course help.
Sometimes the slightly darker skin tone is simply genetic. In these cases, it is common to find other family members who also have dark circles. In such cases, the dark circles are always present; they do not only appear when the person is tired or stressed. All these can be reasons – however, the second way in which dark circles form is much more common.
Many people who deal with dark circles know that they are especially noticeable when they have slept little the night before. There are several possible causes for this, but they all lead to the second way dark circles develop: dark circles occur because the blood vessels around the eyes become visible through the skin.
This can have several reasons. One is factors that make the skin thinner, allowing blood vessels to show through more easily. These factors include the thickness of the skin and the fat beneath it. Under thinner skin, blood vessels are more visible, and because particularly slim people tend to have thinner skin, they are more likely to get dark circles. As people age, the skin in this area also becomes thinner, which is why older individuals are more affected. People with darker skin are less affected, as the contrast between their skin tone and the dark blood vessels beneath is much less visible.
The second reason is the color of the blood itself: dark circles are especially noticeable when the blood under the eyelids is unusually dark. This happens when the blood is low in oxygen. There are several possible reasons for low oxygen levels in the blood, most of which are not dangerous. For example, if you stay awake for a very long time at night, the muscles around the eyes are strained and consume more oxygen. After a few days, the muscles recover and the dark circles disappear on their own.
Another possible reason is that the blood darkens due to iron deficiency, as without iron it cannot transport much oxygen. More iron in the diet can help in such cases.
If your dark circles are permanent and you want them removed, there are also surgical methods that can be applied depending on the cause. Augenland Frankfurt offers a particularly gentle PRP autologous blood therapy, in which the skin in the affected area is stimulated to regenerate by plasma (the so-called PRP) with growth cells from the patient’s own blood. This helps with dark circles caused by aging or thin skin; for other causes, such as skin pigmentation, different methods are available. The details of any possible procedure, which can be performed here at Augenland Frankfurt, would of course be discussed with you individually beforehand.
Augenland Frankfurt will be happy to advise you on your options.
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