Dark Eye Circle Guide
By Dr Nicholas Lye, RoyceMD Clinic, Kuala Lumpur.
Concealer stopped working? Dark circles are not one single problem. They have at least three different underlying causes, and the treatment that fixes one can do almost nothing for another. This free guide helps you work out which type you are most likely dealing with, so you walk into a consultation asking the right question instead of asking for the wrong treatment.
Not all dark circles are the same
Before any treatment is discussed, the type has to be identified. Here is what the three main types look like, and a rough at-home check for each.
Excess melanin sitting in the under-eye skin. Often runs in families, and commonly worsened by sun exposure, habitual eye rubbing, eczema and some skin conditions. It is a colour problem in the skin itself.
Quick check: Gently stretch the skin sideways. If the brown colour stays put, pigment is likely part of the picture.
The skin under the eye is the thinnest on the body, so the blood vessels beneath it show through. Poor sleep, dehydration, allergies and nasal congestion all make this more visible. Nothing is wrong with the skin colour itself, you are simply seeing what is underneath it.
Quick check: Press gently on the area. If the colour briefly lightens and then returns, it points towards vascular.
Not a colour problem at all. A groove between the lower eyelid and the cheek casts a shadow, which reads as darkness. This can be natural anatomy you were born with, or it can develop as volume changes with age.
Quick check: Shine a light from directly in front of your face. If the darkness lifts noticeably, a large part of it is shadow, not pigment.
Most people have two or three of these at the same time. This is the single biggest reason patients feel disappointed after treatment: one cause was addressed and the others were left untouched. A proper assessment should tell you the proportion of each, not just name one.
What to ask before you book
The under-eye is one of the least forgiving areas on the face. These are worth asking out loud, and worth writing down the answers.
- Which type of dark circle do I have, and how did you work that out?
- Is this treatable, or is it something I manage long term?
- What happens if I do nothing?
- What is the plan if the first session does not give the result we discussed?
- What are the specific risks of treating this area, and how are they handled?
About Dr Nicholas Lye
Dr Nicholas Lye is the founder of RoyceMD Clinic in Kuala Lumpur, and holds a Medical Aesthetic LCP credential from the Ministry of Health Malaysia alongside qualifications in dermatology and aesthetic medicine. He has spent over fifteen years in medical dermatology and aesthetics, and periorbital rejuvenation, meaning dark eye circles, eyebags and tired looking eyes, is one of his stated areas of focus. He joined BookAClinic's The Beauty Breakdown podcast to talk about why so many patients treat the wrong thing under their eyes.
Best next step
See a qualified doctor, get the type identified properly, and understand the plan before committing to anything. If you'd like BookAClinic to help you check a clinic first (including RoyceMD Clinic or anywhere else you're considering), message us.
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