How to Reduce the Look of Dark Circles: Start With the Cause

Key Takeaways

• Visible dark circles aren’t one thing. DermNet lists extra pigment, thin see-through skin, hollowing below the eye, and shadowing from puffiness or fatigue as separate causes, and many people have more than one.

• Color isn’t a reliable guide on its own. Cleveland Clinic says the area can look blue, purple, brown, or black depending on your natural skin color, and DermNet notes that a correct diagnosis can be difficult.

• Habits may help whatever the cause: enough sleep, no rubbing, cold compresses, sunglasses, and broad-spectrum sunscreen around the eyes.

• Topical ingredients, such as Vitamin C, may help with the look of pigment-type circles, but DermNet notes that pigment sitting deeper in the skin responds poorly and that eyelid skin is easily irritated.

• Dark circles usually aren’t a sign of a medical problem, according to Cleveland Clinic, but a board-certified dermatologist can tell you which type you have.

The Short Answer

To reduce the look of dark circles, work out what’s causing them first. Cleveland Clinic points to aging, genetics, allergies, lack of sleep, and dehydration, and suggests sleep, cold compresses, sunscreen around the eyes, and concealer. Cleveland Clinic also says topical creams, such as Vitamin C, can help lighten their appearance.

Visible Dark Circles Are a Different Concern From Eye Bags

It’s easy to lump the two together, but they’re not the same. Eye bags are about puffiness or fullness, while dark circles are about color and shadow. Puffiness can cast a shadow that reads as a dark circle, and that’s where they overlap. If swelling is your main concern, our guide on how to get rid of eye bags covers it. This guide focuses on color and shadow.

Four Causes, and What Each Can Look Like

DermNet describes dark circles as a common look of the lower eyelids with several possible causes, and notes that a correct diagnosis can be difficult. Color alone won’t settle it, since Cleveland Clinic says the area can look blue, purple, brown, or black depending on your natural skin color. What you notice in daylight can still be a starting point.

Pigment-Type Circles

Here it’s the skin itself that looks darker. DermNet says this pigment often follows inflammation, such as sun exposure, eczema, contact dermatitis, or rubbing and scratching. Cleveland Clinic adds that too much sun triggers the body to make more melanin. Both sources note that dark circles are more common in people with darker skin tones.

Thin-Skin Circles

Here’s where collagen comes into it. Cleveland Clinic explains that with age, the skin below the eyes can loosen and thin, so the blood vessels underneath may become more visible. DermNet notes that blood vessels sitting close to the skin’s surface can add to the darkened look. Cleveland Clinic’s wrinkles overview describes the dermis as holding a network of collagen and elastin fibers that offer support and elasticity, so as that network loosens with age, the under-eye area may look more see-through.

Hollow-Type Shadows

As we age, hollowed areas called tear troughs may develop, Cleveland Clinic says, and they cast shadows. DermNet links this loss of fullness to aging, genetic factors, and smoking. A cream isn’t likely to add volume, so this type may respond least to skincare.

Habits That May Help Every Type

These come straight from Cleveland Clinic and DermNet, and they don’t cost anything:

1. Sleep at least seven hours: Cleveland Clinic says poor sleep can make the skin under the eyes look pale, so blood vessels show through more easily.

2. Raise your head at night: DermNet suggests sleeping with extra pillows to help reduce eyelid swelling, which may cut down on shadowing.

3. Use something cold: Both sources suggest cold compresses, and DermNet says they can minimize the look of prominent blood vessels. Cleveland Clinic’s version is cold spoons.

4. Stop rubbing: Cleveland Clinic says rubbing and scratching can make the under-eyes swell and blood vessels break, and DermNet lists it as a cause of pigment.

5. Protect from the sun: DermNet recommends sunglasses, and Cleveland Clinic reminds readers to put sunscreen on the face, especially around the eyes.

6. Cut back on smoking and alcohol: Cleveland Clinic’s list of contributing factors includes stress, excessive alcohol use, and smoking.

If itchy, irritated skin around the eyes is part of the picture, it may be worth getting it checked for eczema or contact dermatitis, since Cleveland Clinic says both can make the blood vessels under the eyes dilate and show through.

What Topicals Can and Can’t Do

A topical product may help with the look of pigment-type circles and may help keep the area comfortable and hydrated. It won’t fill a hollow, and it’s unlikely to change how translucent the skin is in the short term.

• Vitamin C: Cleveland Clinic names topical Vitamin C among the creams that can help lighten the appearance of dark circles. Our guide to Vitamin C serums compares options; choose a gentle formula for this area.

• Other pigment-fading ingredients: DermNet cautions that topical agents work poorly on pigment that sits deep in the skin, and that the eyelids are sensitive, so stronger products may irritate.

• A hydrating eye cream: It won’t change pigment, but a moisturizing formula may help the area look smoother and feel more comfortable. Our roundup of fragrance-free eye creams is a place to start for sensitive skin.

Whatever you use, apply it gently. The AAD suggests using your ring finger around the eyes, because it’s the weakest finger and won’t pull too hard on the delicate skin.

A Simple Eye-Area Routine

It’s best to keep the eye area plain. A short routine is easier to stick with, and less product may mean less chance of irritation. DermNet lists inflammation from eczema, contact dermatitis, and rubbing among the triggers of under-eye pigment.

Morning

1. Rinse or cleanse gently, patting the eye area dry rather than rubbing.

2. Apply a gentle Vitamin C product if you’re using one for pigment-type circles, keeping it away from the lash line.

3. Tap in a light eye cream or your usual moisturizer with your ring finger, as the AAD suggests.

4. Finish with broad-spectrum sunscreen over the whole face, including under the eyes, and wear sunglasses outdoors.

Night

1. Take off makeup and sunscreen gently, and don’t drag the skin.

2. Apply a moisturizer or eye cream.

3. Sleep with an extra pillow if morning puffiness adds to the shadows.

Concealer, Done So It Works

Makeup is a fair part of the plan, and both Cleveland Clinic and DermNet include it. DermNet’s specific advice is useful:

• Choose a light-reflecting concealer, often yellow or gold in color.

• Apply it in the shadowed areas, not on top of any puffy-looking skin, which can make the puffiness stand out.

• Set it with a translucent powder.

Three Mistakes Worth Avoiding

• Bringing strong face products up to the eyes: DermNet notes that eyelid skin is sensitive and that stronger pigment products may irritate it. A Retinoid or exfoliating acid that’s fine on your cheeks may be too much here.

• Skipping sunscreen under the eyes: It’s an easy spot to miss, and Cleveland Clinic specifically reminds readers to apply sunscreen around the eyes, since sun exposure can trigger more pigment.

• Scrubbing off makeup: Rubbing is one of the causes both sources list. A balm or micellar cleanser held on the area for a few seconds, then wiped gently, asks less of the skin.

How Long to Give It

Habit changes, such as more sleep and cold compresses, may make circles look lighter fairly quickly if shadowing or tiredness is behind them. Pigment-type circles tend to change more slowly, so it’s fair to give a fading ingredient and daily sun protection a few months of consistent use before deciding whether they’re working. Hollow-type shadows aren’t likely to change much with topicals.

When to See a Board-Certified Dermatologist

Cleveland Clinic says dark circles typically aren’t a cause for concern, but it’s worth seeing a doctor if:

• A dark circle or swelling shows up under just one eye, which Cleveland Clinic says is a reason to call a healthcare provider

• You’d like faster or longer-lasting results than home care offers, which Cleveland Clinic says is the point to contact a healthcare provider

• Swelling around the eyes doesn’t settle

• The skin around your eyes is itchy, red, or flaky, which may point to eczema or contact dermatitis

• You’ve tried the habits above for a couple of months with no change

A dermatologist may use a Wood lamp to judge how deep the pigment sits, according to DermNet. In-office options named by Cleveland Clinic and DermNet include chemical peels for pigment near the top of the skin, and laser or intense pulsed light treatments. DermNet adds a caution: Done with the wrong technique, some procedures can make dark circles look more prominent than before.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get rid of dark circles?

Start by working out which type you’ve got. For most people, the plan is enough sleep, cold compresses, no rubbing, and sunglasses and broad-spectrum sunscreen around the eyes. If pigment seems to be behind them, a gentle Vitamin C product may help lighten their appearance over time. Concealer, applied to the shadows, can cover the rest. Hollow-type shadows usually need a dermatologist’s opinion.

Why are dark circles more common in darker skin tones?

Cleveland Clinic and DermNet both list people with darker skin tones among those more prone to dark circles. Pigment may be part of it, and DermNet says under-eye pigment can follow sun exposure and irritation, such as rubbing or eczema, so sun protection and gentle care matter.

Does rubbing my eyes make dark circles worse?

It can. Cleveland Clinic’s explainer says rubbing and scratching can make the under-eyes swell and blood vessels break, and DermNet lists rubbing as a cause of under-eye pigment.

Can allergies cause dark circles?

They can play a part, and they’re on Cleveland Clinic’s list of causes. It also notes that eczema and contact dermatitis can make blood vessels under the eyes widen and show through the skin.

Where should I apply concealer for dark circles?

In the shadows. DermNet’s advice is a light-reflecting concealer, often yellow or gold, applied to the shadowed areas rather than on puffy-looking skin, and set with translucent powder.

Related Reading

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• How to build a skincare routine from scratch

• The best fragrance-free eye creams

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