The Causes of Dark Circles in Mok-dong and Why Treatment Differs by Type

Hello.

I’m Kim Ha-won from Beauty’s Doctor.

If your dark circles remain unchanged even after switching eye creams or getting more sleep, the cause may not be limited to products or sleep.

This is because not every case of dark-looking skin beneath the eyes is caused by increased pigmentation.

Some people have residual brown pigmentation,

while in others, blood vessels show through thin skin.

For some people, hollowness and fat create shadows that look like dark circles.

Dark circles are not so much a single medical diagnosis as a term used to describe various conditions that make the area beneath the eyes appear dark.

Different factors may be involved, including hyperpigmentation, visible veins beneath the skin, fine lines, and under-eye fat.

Therefore, the first thing to determine when considering dark-circle treatment is not the name of the procedure, but whether the darkness beneath your eyes is caused by pigmentation, blood vessels, or shadows.

1. If brown coloration remains, consider the pigmentation type

Pigmentation-type dark circles are characterized by the skin beneath the eyes itself appearing brown or grayish-brown.

Repeated inflammation around the eyes caused by habits such as frequently rubbing the eyes, ultraviolet exposure, atopic dermatitis, or contact dermatitis can also lead to hyperpigmentation.

If the brownish tone remains relatively unchanged even when you change the lighting or gently pull the skin, pigmentation may be a significant factor.

In this case, rather than automatically starting with a pigmentation laser, it is important to first check whether there is itching, redness, or flaking around the eyes.

If you repeatedly apply brightening products or exfoliating ingredients while dermatitis is ongoing, the irritation may cause pigmentation to recur.

Reduce the habit of rubbing the eye area and focus on moisturizing and sun protection as a foundation. Depending on the depth of the pigmentation and the condition of the skin, topical products or pigmentation treatments may then be considered.

2. If it looks blue or purple, it may be the vascular type

The skin beneath the eyes is thinner than skin in other areas, so the color of the veins and muscles underneath can show through easily.

In these cases, dark circles often appear bluish or purplish rather than brown.

They may also look darker when you are sleep-deprived or tired, when allergic rhinitis is severe, or when the area around your eyes is puffy in the morning.

However, becoming darker when you are tired does not necessarily mean that lack of sleep is the cause.

You may already have had thin skin and visible blood vessels, with swelling and changes in your condition making them more noticeable.

When blood vessels are a major factor, a vascular laser or care that takes the condition of the thinned skin around the eyes into account may be discussed as an option.

However, if pigmentation or hollowness is also present, treating only the blood vessels may not make the area look as bright as expected.

3. If the intensity changes depending on the lighting, consider the structural type

A deeply recessed tear trough or under-eye fat protruding forward can create deep shadows even when there is no actual discoloration in the skin.

This is especially noticeable in places where light comes from above, where the hollow beneath the eyes may look darker. It may appear relatively lighter when light shines directly from the front.

This structure, rather than pigmentation, may be why the area remains unchanged even after long-term use of brightening products.

If hollowness is the main issue, volume correction such as filler or fat grafting may be considered after assessing the shape connecting the tear trough and the upper cheek.

Conversely, when under-eye fat protrudes significantly, adjusting the structure through procedures such as fat repositioning may be more appropriate than automatically filling the hollow area.

The area beneath the eyes has thin skin and complex blood vessels and anatomical structures.

Therefore, it is not simply a matter of “adding filler because it is hollow.”

It is important to carefully determine whether protrusion or hollowness is the greater issue and how much correction is needed in which areas.

4. In reality, two or three types often overlap

When you examine the area beneath the eyes closely, it is not uncommon to see blood vessels showing through brown pigmentation, with shadows from the tear trough underneath.

With this type of mixed dark circle, it is difficult for a single procedure to address all the causes at once.

If pigmentation is the most prominent factor, examine skin irritation and pigmentation first.

If shadows are the main issue, priorities should be set accordingly, such as adjusting the structure first.

Current studies have reported various options for dark circles, including lasers, topical products, fillers, peels, fat grafting, and surgery.

However, there is no single standard treatment that works for every type.

Treatment should be selected according to the cause, and individual judgment is necessary because the quality of the available evidence also has limitations.

Observe these three things at home

Compare how much the darkness beneath your eyes changes in natural light and under ceiling lighting.

If it changes significantly depending on the lighting, shadows may be a substantial factor.

Also observe whether it is particularly severe in the morning and becomes lighter as the swelling subsides.

If it looks darker the day after eating salty food or when your rhinitis is severe, swelling and visible blood vessels may be contributing together.

It is also important to note whether the area around your eyes is frequently itchy, becomes red, or flakes.

If these symptoms are present, it may be necessary to focus on reducing dermatitis and friction before brightening care.

However, these observations are only reference points for estimating the cause and cannot replace an accurate diagnosis.

Wrapping up

When consulting about dark circles, rather than asking, “Which is better, a laser or filler?” it may be better to ask the following first:

“What is the biggest cause of the darkness beneath my eyes: pigmentation, blood vessels, or structure?”

“If more than one factor is involved, which area should be addressed first?”

Dark-circle treatment is not simply a process of making a dark color lighter.

It should begin by distinguishing whether pigmentation needs to be reduced, whether visible blood vessels need to be addressed, or whether shadows caused by hollowness and protrusion need to be reduced.

Rather than focusing on the name of a particular device, check whether the provider explains why the area beneath your eyes looks dark and what should be changed first.

Frequently asked questions

Q1. Will dark circles disappear if I get enough sleep?

Lack of sleep and fatigue can make swelling or visible blood vessels more noticeable.

However, if pigmentation or the structure beneath the eyes is the main cause, sleep alone may not produce a significant change.

Q2. If the area beneath my eyes is hollow, is filler the answer?

When hollowness is the main cause of the shadow, volume correction may be helpful.

However, if protruding fat and swelling are also present, or if the skin is exceptionally thin, another approach may be more appropriate.

Thank you for reading this lengthy post.

This was Kim Ha-won from Beauty’s Doctor.