dark circles

[Unregistered]

I have had dark circles around my eyes for most of my life. I believe it is hereditary. Could you suggest the best method of reducing or removing them permanently. I wear concealer every day, & even that doesn't always cover them completely. I would love to never have to wear concealer any more. Any information would be appreciated.

[danya]

Dark undereye circles are very common, and often times tricky to treat. Several causes exists and there may be more than one factor contributing to the darkness.
Excess pigment in the skin, thin skin permitting visibility of blood vessels or the muscle underneath, and hollowness are the 3 most common reasons.
Options for improvement are removing some pigment with pigment control creams containing hydroquinone, chemical peels or intense pulsed light.
For thin skin, a program of retin-a may help to thicken the skin, as can peels.
Hollowness can be corrected with permanent or temporary fillers, or for more pronounced hollowness or cheek sagging, a midface lift.
Just be careful with the skin treatments, because there may be a tendency to cause your skin to get darker or lighter than you wanted, in response to the treatments.
danya