Author: Dr Brooke R. Seckel

Effective treatment for removal of dark circles under the eyes must be directed at the underlying cause of the dark circles. Millions of people complain of dark circles under the eyes but the underlying cause of the dark circles varies greatly. Treatments for dark circles that do not correct the underlying cause of the dark circle do not work. There is an incredible array of treatments for dark circles including cucumber slices, tea bags, vanishing creams, bleaching creams, lasers, surgery, more sleep, avoid TV and computer, drink 2 liters of water a day etc, yet few of these regimens seem to be directed at the underlying cause of the dark circles under the eyes.

To better understand the treatment of dark circles under the eyes I will discuss the various types of dark circles under the eyes that I encounter in my plastic surgery practice and my understanding of the cause of the dark circles, and what I feel is the most effective treatment to remove the dark circles under the eyes.

Understand that the eyelid skin appears darker than the surrounding facial skin in all people-this is the normal condition and is caused by shadows created by the overhanging brow and the fact that the eyelid skin is much thinner than the surrounding facial skin. Below I am talking about exaggerated dark circles under the eyes that cause people to be unhappy with their appearance.

Causes of Dark Circles under the Eyes

Thin Eyelid Skin

The eyelid skin is the thinnest in the body and many people with dark circles under the eyes have extremely thin skin on their eyelids and around the eyes. This thin skin is an inherited trait. The dark circles under the eyes are caused by the fact that the purple color of the underlying eyelid muscle shows through the thin skin and creates a bluish or purple color. The color is darkest near the nose and on the lower eyelid near the nose.

Treatment of dark circles under the eyes caused by thin skin is very difficult because it is very difficult to make your inherited skin thicker. Cover up make up like Jayne Iredale Eye Cover, Dermablend, and Covermark are very helpful and my first recommendation. Frequent microdermabrasion and Retin A cream over a long period of time will build new collagen in the dermis will thicken the skin and provide some improvement.

There are new lasers on the horizon which are very effective at stimulating new growth of collagen in the dermis and these new technologies may prove very beneficial. Be sure to sign up for my free newsletter to be informed when these new technologies are available.

The Arcus Deformity discussed below creates a very severe dark circle in people with thin eyelid skin and correction of the Arcus deformity with Arcus release and fat grafting can be very helpful treatment for dark circles under the eye in these individuals.

Prominent Eyelid Blood vessels and Veins

Everyone has veins and blood vessels called capillaries in their eyelid skin. In many people however the veins are very prominent and the blood vessels add to the dark color of the eyelid.

To diagnose this cause of dark circles look in a mirror with bright light on your face and gently pull the skin of the lower eyelid tight. You will see many tiny branching red and blue lines which represent blood vessels.

You need blood vessels and veins to keep your eyelid healthy and alive. However when there is an abundance of smaller vessels which create a bluish or purplish hue to the lower eyelid some new IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) or laser therapies can be used to treat dark circles under the eyes in people with an excess of small capillaries and blood vessels. The very large veins cannot be treated.

Laser blood vessel treatment is a serious and potentially dangerous treatment for dark circles under the eyes and must be performed by a physician who is experienced in the use of lasers and IPL. Most importantly the eye must be protected by placing a shield over the eye during treatment so that the laser or IPL light cannot hit the eye. The laser and IPL light can damage the retina and destroy vision if the beams hit the unprotected eye.

Pigmentation of the Eyelids

Hyper pigmentation, too much pigment in the skin of the eyelid is a very common cause of dark circles under the eyes. Treatment of dark circles under the eyes caused by hyper pigmentation is very effective, but the pigment frequently returns after sun exposure.

Hyper pigmentation of the lower eyelids occurs because of sun exposure and prevention with sun block, sun glasses, and a hat are the most important first treatment for this type of dark circles under the eyes.

The treatment of hyper pigmentation begins with bleaching creams such as a combination of Retin A and 4% Hydroquinone, Obagi Blender 5, Epiquin or other prescription bleaching cream combined with microdermabrasion.

After the above treatments have lessened the pigmentation causing the dark circles under the eyes, if necessary I proceed to IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treatments. These treatments do effectively remove pigment causing the dark circle but again experience and eye protection are very necessary to prevent eye injury.

Hollow Eyes

Many people have a deep hollow beneath the lower eyelid which creates a dark shadow beneath the eyelid which people call dark circles under the eyes.

This deep hollow beneath the lower eyelid is caused by an inherited deficiency of fat and or bone and treatment of this type of dark circle under the eye requires surgery.

The hollow eye occurs more commonly in people from Central Asia and the Middle East but it certainly occurs in all races and from people in all regions of the world.

To treat dark circles under the eyes in people who have hollow eyes I do a laser procedure called an Arcus Marginalis release and fat grafting. The Arcus Marginalis is a structure which tethers the lower eyelid to the bone and creates a dark circle when the eyelid skin above the dark circle falls over the dark circle creating a shadow. Releasing the Arcus Marginalis releases the eyelid skin and eliminates the crease or dark circle.

I then transplant fat to fill the hollow in the bone and plump the dark circle and correct the hollow eye appearance.

Usually, to treat the dark circle under the eyes caused by the hollow eye I have to take fat from around the belly button on the abdomen to have enough fat to adequately fill the hollow eye deformity. The incision to remove the fat is well hidden down inside the belly button and is usually not visible.

Treatment of dark circles under the eyes caused by the hollow eye usually takes me 45 minutes to an hour, can be done with you asleep or awake, and recovery is usually 10 days. Patients do not complain of pain afterwards. The main recovery is waiting for bruising to go away and blurred vision from eye ointment that I have you use for the first week or two. Most importantly after this treatment you need to be calm, rest and not exert yourself. Working out or heavy lifting can raise your blood pressure and cause bleeding. Although you will be up and around the first few days with sunglasses to cover your bruising, I do not want you to exercise or lift heavy objects for at least 2 weeks.

The Arcus Deformity-the True dark Circle under the Eye

The most common cause of dark circles under the eyes in patients who seek treatment of dark circles under the eyes in my plastic surgery practice is the Arcus Deformity.

The Arcus Deformity is a dark crescent shaped circle or depression which occurs beneath the lower eyelid starting beside the nose in the corner of the eye and running out toward the side of the face and curving upward towards the outside corner of the eye.

The Arcus Deformity is caused by the fact that a small structure beneath the lower eyelid called the Arcus Marginalis is attached to the bone of the eye socket and also attached to the lower eyelid from underneath. This attachment tethers or holds the eyelid close to the bone of the eye socket while the rest of the lower eyelid is loose and free to move. The normal fat which is beneath the eyeball pushes out against the lower eyelid which creates a visible bulge on the lower eyelid. You can see this by closing one eye and gently pressing on the closed eye. With your other eye you will see the bulging of the fat against the closed lower eyelid on the other side.

The eyelid skin that is tethered by the Arcus Marginalis cannot move or bulge, and as the fat bulges the lower eyelid above the Arcus Marginalis it creates a shadow or dark circle beneath the eyelid where the Arcus Marginalis is attached to the lower eyelid skin. This is the true dark circle under the eyes.

As we age and our eyelid skin becomes loose or lax, the eyelid skin also falls or sags over the depression caused by the Arcus deformity and the dark circle gets worse. With aging and excess protrusion of fat against the lower eyelid the Arcus deformity can become quite pronounced.

older-eyelids.jpg

The Arcus Deformity is the true dark circle under the eye and I use the term Arcus Deformity to differentiate it from the Tear Trough Deformity which is different. The Tear Trough Deformity starts near the corner of the eye in the same location as the Arcus Deformity but the Tear Trough Deformity runs down into the cheek rather than up toward the outside corner of the eye.

The Tear Trough Deformity is a sign of advanced facial aging and is caused by the sagging or descent of the cheek into the middle of the face which occurs with facial aging in your 50’s and 60’s. Tears run down the cheek and out the side of the face through the Tear Trough instead of straight down the cheek as they do in a child.

By contrast the Arcus Deformity occurs in much younger patients including children. Most people seeking treatment for dark circles under the eyes in my plastic surgery practice are in their 20’s and 30’s. Doctors often misdiagnose the Arcus Deformity as the Tear Trough Deformity which is a major problem if a Tear Trough Implant is used to treat the dark circle. The Tear Trough Implant is designed to plump or correct the depression in the cheek out toward the side of the face, and in my experience the Tear Trough Implant cannot adequately correct the dark circle under the eye where it is deepest, near the corner of the lower eyelid near the nose.

The treatment for dark circles under the eyes caused by the Arcus Deformity must include release of the Arcus Marginalis and fat repositioning or fat grafting to plump the area of the dark circle.

The traditional plastic surgery treatment for eyelid rejuvenation called the blepharoplasty, during which fat is removed, can actually make dark circles under the eyes worse and create a hollowed eye appearance.

Treatment of dark circles under the eyes that are caused by the Arcus deformity requires a modern blepharoplasty approach which includes release of the Arcus Marginalis and fat repositioning or fat grafting.

I use a very specific treatment for dark circles under the eyes called the transconjunctival blepharoplasty with Arcus release and fat grafting. This treatment is done through a tiny incision on the inside of the eyelid called a transconjunctival incision because it goes through the conjunctiva, the pink tissue on the inside of the lower eyelid. I also use the laser to make this incision.

The benefits of the laser transconjunctival incision are:

1. No visible scar or incision on the outside of the eyelid
2. No change in the shape of the lower eyelid-the traditional scalpel blepharoplasty through an external incision usually weakens the lower eyelid and causes a sad eyed look
3. Less bleeding during surgery
4. Less bruising after surgery
5. Quicker recovery

My results following treatment of dark circles under the eyes with the laser transconjunctival blepharoplasty with Arcus Marginalis release and fat grafting have been very successful. Most patients have recovered within a week and many who do not bruise are comfortable being seen with make up after 5 days.

Summary- Treatment of Dark Circles under the Eyes

To summarize, effective treatment of dark circles under the eyes requires that you correct the problem that is causing the dark circle under the eye. To accomplish this you must understand what type of dark circle under the eye you have and what is causing it.
Treatment of dark circles under the eyes is possible; the key is understanding the underlying cause of your dark circles. With proper diagnosis and treatment of dark circles under the eyes caused by the Arcus deformity beautiful results can be achieved with the transconjunctival Arcus release and fat grafting.

For more information on dark circles under the eyes contact me and feel free to send me photos of your eyes and I will tell you what I see after reviewing them.

Be sure to sign up for my free email newsletter
http://saveyourface.com/NewsLetter.html
as I often write about dark circles under the eyes and other topics on facial rejuvenation. I suggest you read my book Save Your Face which explains facial and eyelid aging and how to reverse and treat facial aging changes.

Dr Brooke R. Seckel
http://drseckel.com/

Concord, Massachusetts

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/

Author: peterhutch

Burning eyes affects about 30% of reading glasses wearers at one time or another. It is the commonest symptom of dry eyes. Most just suffer in silence, but there are simple steps that can be taken to help the condition.

Eye burning with discharge is burning, itching, or drainage from the eye of any substance other than tears. Lots of different things can make your eyes burn. Smoke, pollen, or a viral infection such as a cold or the flu can cause eyes to itch, burn, water, and redden. In these cases the burning and itching usually go away when the irritant is removed.

Sometimes burning and itching eyes are due to environmental pollutants that might be eliminated by social action. If secondhand cigarette smoke is annoying, say so. If an industrial plant in the area is polluting, contact the EPA for solutions.

Unprotected eyes can also be burned by the ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, tanning lamps or arc welding equipment. Like sunburns to the skin, you won't feel pain until hours later, when the eyes and the area around them swell. Near-UV rays can damage your retina. The risk of sunburn to the eyes is very high when sunlight is reflected off water, sand or snow.

Causes of Burning eyes
Chronic dry or burning eyes can be caused by age, some medications, and disease. Itchy, burning eyelids can also result from infection.
Tears bathe the eye, washing out dust and debris and keeping the eye moist. They also contain enzymes that neutralize the microorganisms that colonize the eye. Tears are essential for good eye health.
Allergy is caused by an oversensitive immune system, which leads to a misdirected immune response. The immune system normally protects the body against harmful substances, such as bacteria and viruses. It reacts to substances (allergens) that are generally harmless and in most people do not cause a problem.

Sometimes burning and itching eyes are due to environmental pollutants that might be eliminated by social action. If secondhand cigarette smoke is annoying, say so. If an industrial plant in the area is polluting, contact the EPA for solutions.

Pink eye or viral conjunctivitis causes a red or bloodshot eye and excessive tearing. If you suspect pink eye, remember to wash your hands often, and avoid touching the unaffected eye. The infection will run its course in about 10 days.

During the normal aging process, our bodies and our eyes produce gradually less and less oil. This reduction in oil in the tear film results in quicker evaporation leading to the formation of dry spots on our eyes.

Treatment for Burning eyes

Artificial tears used four-to-six times a day can also relieve symptoms. Avoid over-the-counter eyedrops other than artificial tears because they will eventually make symptoms worse.

Antihistamines in the form of eye-drops or ointments may be prescribed. Cortisone-like eye ointments are not often prescribed. These medications will reduce many types of inflammation, but can make certain infections, such as herpes, worse.

Conserving the tears in your own eyes is another approach to keeping the eyes moist. Tears drain out of the eye through a small canal into the nose (that is why your nose runs when you cry). Your ophthalmologist may close these canals either temporarily or permanently. This closure conserves your own tears and makes artificial tears last longer.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/

Author: Janet Martin

After crying a river of tears, having too much booze the night before, or spending little time for sleep, you may find yourself with red puffy eyes. Although you can cover your eye bags with a cool pair of sunglasses, you still have to deal with your eye problem when you have to remove your shades. What's more, bags under the eyes are usually accompanied by other problems such as dark circles or extreme redness.

Puffy eyes usually last for hours or a couple of days. If you are not going anywhere, it is actually good for you to just let nature determine when your poofed-up eyes are going to deflate. However, if you have an important meeting, a date, or you are going to attend a special occasion, having eye bag woes can really be annoying. Here are some tricks on how you can de-puff your eye bags in a jiffy:

Prevention Is Best

Some people are prone to eye bags, while others are not. If you are one of the individuals who seem to be prone to having swollen eyes, then you should stay away from things that are causing your eyes to puff.

If you have an important date, you should remember to sleep well the night before. Also, make sure that you don't go on an alcohol spree, which may be responsible for fluid retention. Getting easy with salty foods may also be a good idea because like alcohol, too much salt can also make you retain much water.

Simple Eye Massage

If you were not able to prevent your eyes from becoming swollen, then do not despair. There are plenty of things you can do, such as performing eye massage to help reduce inflammation.

Using your ring finger, simply massage your eye area in circular motion, starting from your nasal sinuses then to the cheeks. Make sure that you slightly push the skin upwards so as not to cause wrinkles. Repeat the massage for about five times on each eye. Gently massaging the area will help flush out pooled fluid faster.

Soothe Your Eyes With A Cool Eye Mask

Placing a chilled eye mask (choose the one without holes for more coverage) on your eyes for 10 to 15 minutes will help soothe your eyes. Moreover, your blood vessels will constrict or tighten due to the cold temperature. This will help facilitate draining of fluid located beneath the skin under your eyes. If you do not have a plastic eye mask, you can use chilled cucumbers or used teabags.

Stay Away From Hot Beverages

If you have swollen eyes, it would be best for you to drink plenty of cold water or other cold beverages. As mentioned earlier, the cool temperature encourages blood vessels to constrict, which will help in promoting better fluid drainage. Basically, the bags under your eyes are simply water or fluid that was not properly flushed out of your system.

Say No To Exfoliation

It would be best for you to skip using products that have ingredients such as salicylic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, and retinoids. These ingredients could irritate your skin and make swelling much worse.

Skip The Eyeliner

If you still have eye bags even after you performed the tricks above, then you need to skip eyeliner for the day. This makeup is used to enhance the shape of the eyes so if you have swollen eyes, the eyeliner will only highlight the flaw. Instead, use an eye shadow that is of the same shade of your upper eyelid to mask the swelling. You can also sweep the same color just beneath your lower lashes to help cover the flaw.

Since puffy eyes are usually accompanied by other eye problems, such as dark circles, crow's feet and wrinkles, you should use natural and high-quality eye creams. One eye product that could help reduce fine lines and skin discoloration around the eyes is Eyevive. For more details, visit http://www.eyevive.com/.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/