Overview | Advanced Q-Switched laser | Chemical peels | Dermapen | Microneedling Radiofrequency
The skin under your eyes is fragile and thin. That is why it is common for it to be affected by aging, pigmentation, lack of sleep, allergies, smoking, excessive caffeine intake, fatigue, and more such factors that make the area darker compared to its surrounding region. According to Stanford Health Care, excessive exposure to sun can make the skin under the eyes appear aged, too. Even though under eye dark circles are not medical conditions, they surely can make you appear dull.
The good news is that a proper dark circle treatment can help you get rid of them. You do not have to live with them. I offer a series of dark circle treatment options, which can help you get rid of the unhealthy-looking under-eye shadow. Let’s dive into them right now.
Advanced Q-switched laser
A Q-switched laser is a relatively newer technology, which is used to remove spots and dark areas from the skin. I use this effective technology to remove the dark circles and provide you with lighter skin around the eyes. The laser device sends the laser energy pulses into the targeted areas to release the pigments, which enables your body to absorb and dispose of them. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, laser treatment can successfully remove wrinkles too, to make your face appear even more youthful.
The laser may feel a little warm on your skin. I take every measure to ensure your comfort, which allows me to remove the dark circles from under your eyes without causing any pain. It generally does not take more than one session to completely remove dark circles. However, if required, I will ask you for an additional visit for touchups. It takes two to four sessions to see the results. You also have to keep a bandage on the area until it is completely healed, which generally takes around two weeks. You also have to keep a bandage on the area until it is completely healed, which generally takes around two weeks.
The Q-switched laser treatment for dark circles is safe. However, after the pigmentation or spots are removed, there can be some red spotting. These spots fade soon and generally do not cause any irritation. In rare cases, infections or scars are possible. However, they can be successfully managed. The advanced Q-switched laser therapy will make the skin around your eyes appear lighter and brighter, and can be combined with other treatments to achieve an even greater result.
We perform this therapy as a four-step treatment, which starts with cleansing of the skin around the eyes followed by exfoliating the skin with Jet micro current of water. After covering the eyes with eye shields, the surrounding area is treated carefully with the Q-switched laser. The treatment is completed with a Brightening Eye Repair Mask to soothe the skin. After the treatment, there is no redness or any downtime. The skin around the eyes look better after few days and with the use of effective eye creams it continues to appear better.
However, the final outcome may vary from patient to patient, depending on the condition and skin type.
Chemical peel
If you have dark circles under the eye due to pigmentation and if you have fine lines as well, chemical peels can help you get rid of them. The skin under the eye is thin; hence; a deep or even a medium depth peel can harm the area. That is why I recommend gentle skin peels for dark circles removal using Retinol, glycolic C or, Lactic Acid. These are weak chemicals that do not penetrate too deep into your skin, and only remove the damaged, aged out layer.
The newer peels like Mandelic Acid peel, Arginine peel, and Kojic Acid peel are also effective. The newer generation peels are liposomal in nature; hence, they allow greater penetration without side effects. We also offer combination peel treatments for better results.
The gentle chemical peel removes the dead skin cells, which allows a newer layer to surface. This new layer does not have the dark spots and wrinkles, making your face appear young, fresh, and healthy. However, this treatment only works if you commit to a undereye skincare routine after the therapy to maintain the skin’s youthfulness. The result may vary depending on your skin type and how dark the areas under the eyes have become.
If you are worried about the safety of the procedure due to the use of chemicals, let me assure you that I take every required measure to ensure your comfort and wellbeing. I use only the highest-quality products. I also have the expertise and experience to determine your individual needs. A gentle chemical peel requires multiple sessions to achieve the desired result. The number of treatments depends on the depth of the dark circles and if there is any puffiness. Each session takes around half an hour to be completed successfully.
One of the best things about gentle chemical peels for dark circles is that it requires no downtime. You can return home or to the office right after the treatment. As precautionary measure, I advise you to avoid touching or rubbing of the treated area. You will also need to avoid direct exposure to sunlight by wearing protective glasses.
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) treatment
The darkened skin around the eyes can often become a little loose, especially due to aging. If you want to completely get rid of dark circles and look young and healthy again, tightening the skin can help. HIFU is one of the newest treatments that I offer to provide you with the younger-looking skin you desire.
HIFU was first introduced to treat tumors, but in 2009 it was discovered that the technology can help enhance aesthetic beauty, too. The procedure is painless and completely non-invasive. It also uses your body’s natural ability to heal itself to form tighter skin by encouraging collagen production. The ultrasound energy of the HIFU treatment helps with that process. Apart from tightening the skin, the treatment can also eliminate wrinkles and fine lines.
There is no special skincare procedure to be followed before the HIFU therapy. I will start by thoroughly cleaning your face to remove any makeup or dirt from the targeted area. If needed, I will apply an anesthetic product under your eyes to make them numb so you do not feel any discomfort. A special ultrasound gel will also be applied on the targeted area before the procedure begins. Next, I will set the HIFU device as per the requirements and place it on the loose skin under the eyes. The device will then emit ultrasound energy into the skin, and its heat will trigger collagen production. The entire process takes only ten minutes to complete.
The treatment does not require any downtime. You can go back to your daily routine without any delay. However, the final outcome often depends on different factors; hence, it can vary from patient to patient.
Dermapen
The Dermapen is a microneedling device that has recently become very popular due to its effectiveness and minimally-invasive nature. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, microneedling works best when it is performed by an experienced professional. So, I will recommend avoiding the at-home devices available and consulting a trained dermatologist on how to achieve the best result with the Dermapens.
The device has micro-fine needles attached in the front, which create microscopic punctures on the outer layer of the skin. When these controlled wounds are created, your body starts to produce elastin and collagen in order to heal the punctures. These are amino acids that are responsible for creating your skin. Hence, when their production increases, your skin starts to heal completely. The skin becomes healthier and smoother, resulting in firm and spot-free areas under the skin. At The Bombay Skin Clinic, I use the latest device, the Dermapen 4.
We not only perform the Microneedling treatment but also after-treatment care. We apply a mixture of our cocktail, which contains hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C, peptides, and other anti-oxidants to penetrate deeper into the skin and repair the skin around the eyes. We also apply a gentle peel, which helps treat the dark areas and pigmentation around the eyes.
Dermapen offers fast recovery, allowing you to resume your daily routine within 48 hours. It also utilizes your body’s own ability to heal the skin, which makes Dermapen free of side effects and completely safe. Another advantage of the treatment is that the new skin will absorb vitamin C and other minerals from your skincare products better, making your face appear healthier and more evenly toned. However, the results may vary from person to person due to different skin types and conditions.
Microneedling Radiofrequency (MnRF)
This is another procedure that improves collagen production, but the MnRF device uses radio-frequency energy. The best part about the MnRF treatment is that it uses two-way method to increase collagen creation. First, it creates tiny wounds on your skin using fine needles; this triggers your skin to produce collagen to heal the area. Secondly, it sends radio-frequency energy into the deeper layers of your skin. The heat generated from the procedure enables even better collagen synthesis, ensuring that dark circles, fine lines, and pigmentations under the eyes heal naturally and effectively.
The procedure does not take more than 20 minutes, and you can return home immediately after the treatment. The procedure can cause little redness and swelling; but they can be easily treated by applying a cold-press. The final result may vary from patients to patient as it depends on your skin condition and type.
The Bombay Bright Eye Treatment
At the Bombay Skin Clinic, I perform my specially-designed Bombay Bright Eye Treatment, which is a medi-facial. It is a combination of all of the five above-mentioned treatments for reaping maximum results. My patients have reported seeing dramatic results with superior lightening around the eyes and less wrinkling and pigmentation.
Fillers
Fillers are commonly used to sculpture the face, including the areas under the eyes. It adds volume to the undereye section to fix the shadow created by dark circles.
Mesobotox
This treatment combines Botox with Mesotherapy to make your skin texture more uniformed. To treat the dark circles under the eyes, a medicine is injected into the targeted areas. It provides an instant result.
Carboxytherapy with MCT injector
Medical-grade carbon dioxide has the ability to fix stretch marks, wrinkles, and signs of aging from the skin around your eyes. For this treatment, MCT injector is used, which comes with fine needles that insert the carbon dioxide into your subcutaneous tissue.
Closing thoughts
Dark circles under the eyes are not any medical condition, but they can make your skin appear dull, unhealthy, and aged. If you have been struggling to look at yourself in the mirror or step out confidently, worry no more. There are many treatment procedures which can help eliminate dark circles. Book an appointment with me today and together we can chart out the best treatment plan for you.
References
- Stanford Health Care:
- Johns Hopkins Medicine: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/skin-conditions
- American Academy of Dermatology: https://www.aad.org/news/microneedling
Dr. Batul Patel is a celebrity dermatologist and the medical director of The Bombay Skin Clinic an award winning clinic located in South Mumbai & Bandra. She is a passionate and dedicated dermatologist with expertise in all fields of dermatology, trichology and aesthetic dermatology. She has been practicing for more than a decade. Her range of expertise include emsculpt NEO, coolsculpting, fillers, acne treatment, lasers, skin rejuvenation, hair loss, hair transplant, PRP & pigmentation treatments.
