Too many products claim to cure dark circles under the eyes. Except for products containing vitamin C, vitamin K and peptides, very few products work better than plain concealers.

Contrary to the name, they are veins that show through thin skin of our eye often due to skin aging, or lack of sleep. Hereditary, hormonal imbalances or poor circulation also play a part. Dark circles can also develop if you have eczema, inflammation, itchy conditions under the eye and by rubbing your eyes too much. In most cases one of your parents has them and it has nothing to do with how much sleep you are getting. Dark circles may also reflect hyper-pigmentation especially in Asian and Middle Eastern skin due to hormones and sun exposure. When the fat pad beneath the eye begins to thin with age, it can create a sunken look to the under eye area. Studies have shown that sluggishness of blood flow underneath the eyes may also contribute to dark circles.

In fact, the proliferation of veins in the area is an important factor in the development of dark circles. Factors may include heredity, the natural aging process and cumulative sun damage. While sheer numbers of veins is on the rise, the thinning of the fat pad brings them closer to the surface increasing their visibility. Larger veins are visible; others – including microscopic capillaries – are not. Both contribute to the characteristic skin tone changes associated with dark circles.

Allergies (sinusitis) and chronic sleep deprevation are also aggrevating factors. Most people would agree that they are a struggle to conceal. Therefore a good way to fix dark circles is to hide them with makeup. Apply foundation on your dark circles then dot it with a creamy concealer, which should be one shade darker than your skin tone. Start blending it with a lipstick brush, starting with the deepest part of your eye. Be sure never to bleach or peel that area. The chemical peels only remove the top most layer of the skin and are completely ineffective in removing dark circles. As an alternative you can also wear tinted sunglasses that can camouflage the skin underneath your eyes making you look trendy too.

Proven efficiency of superficial TCA peels for dark circles: Many patients report moderate reduction of their stubborn dark circles with a TCA peel. The procedure requires topical anesthesia. There is no pain after the procedure. Dryness, swelling and discoloration is the norm for 4-5 days afterward.