The Beauty Brains Blog has an interesting post called "Do Eye Creams Really Work?" This blog looks at various cosmetics from a scientific and chemist's point of view. Check it out here.
Do I think eye creams work? Yes... to an extent. Here is how I describe the three major causes (and treatments) of dark undereye circles:
1. Cause: thinning of the undereye skin, making it transparent and allowing the blood vessels underneath to be seen. Treatment: eye creams that thicken the skin, making it appear less transparent and smoother (such as Obagi's Elastiderm).
2. Cause: excess pigmentation (mainly seen in people with darker skin, not usually a concern in Caucasians). Treatment: creams with skin lightening agents.
3. Cause: shadowing from puffy bags under the eyes. Treatment: lower blepharoplasty surgery, which removes the fat that causes the puffiness and hence, the shadowing. Click here for before-and-after blepharoplasty photos.
Removing undereye wrinkles is not an easy task. Unfortunately, there is no 'magic bullet' even when surgery is involved that can make a wrinkled, droopy, puffy lower eyelid look perfect afterwards. If you are considering a lower eyelid blepharoplasty, make sure to avoid bargain-basement cosmetic surgeons, otherwise you may end up with an ectropion. Click here for the gruesome image of it (don't say I didn't warn you!).
Photo credit: beautybrains
Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
