How to Get Rid of Dark Circles Under Eyes
Studies Show Supplements and Eye Creams Can Help
Dark circles under the eyes may be caused by allergies or lack of sleep, but many people suffer from them all year around, no matter how much they sleep. There are several possible causes, although dark circles are harmless and generally not a sign of illness. Nonetheless they can cause a lot of distress.
There are many kinds of eyelid creams, masks, gels and serums that purport to reduce dark circles under eyes, often containing vitamins, herbs and exotic chemicals. Some folk remedies exist too. But do any of these treatments actually work?
Only a small amount of scientific research has been done on the subject of dark circles - medically known as "infraorbital hyperpigmentation" or "periorbital hyperchromia". Some studies have found things that help, both supplements and locally applied creams. The research, however, is limited by the fact that their findings have not been repeated by other study groups.
Supplements for Dark Circles
A placebo-controlled study found that the proprietary supplement Imedeen Prime Renewal taken daily for six months the supplement helped with several skin problems, including under-eye dark circles. Imedeen Prime Renewal contains soy, fish protein polysaccharides, extracts from white tea, grape seed, tomato and chamomile, zinc and vitamins C and E.
Eye Creams for Dark Circles
In a small study an eye cream containing the herbs Pfaffia paniculata, Ptychopetalum olacoides B. and Lilium candidum L.-associated compound (PPLAC) was found to produce "a significant improvement in skin luminance and tone in the periorbital area [under the eyes]" in just 28 days of use.
A Japanese study evaluated an eye cream containing 2% phytonadione [vitamin K], 0.1% retinol [vitamin A] and 0.1% vitamins C and E. Of the 57 participants 47% had improvement in dark circles after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. Many eye creams contain these vitamins, but the concentrations may be too low to have an effect.
Six weeks of twice-daily application of an eye cream containing caffeine, bisabolol (from chamomile), glycyrrhetinic acid (from licorice), and sodium hyaluronate (a component of skin) produced "significant improvement" in dark circles. However, "significant" corresponded to just 14%-28%.
In one study that tested the chemical dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) in 3% cream found that it helped in reducing wrinkles and also appeared to reduce under-eye dark circles, though this finding did not reach statistical significance (so, it appears that DMAE may work, but it is not proven).
References
- Skovgaard GR, Jensen AS, Sigler ML. Effect of a novel dietary supplement on skin aging in post-menopausal women. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006 Oct;60(10):1201-6.
- Eberlin S, Del Carmen Velazquez Pereda M, de Campos Dieamant G, et al. Effects of a Brazilian herbal compound as a cosmetic eyecare for periorbital hyperchromia ("dark circles"). J Cosmet Dermatol. 2009 Jun;8(2):127-35.
- Mitsuishi T, Shimoda T, Mitsui Y, et al. The effects of topical application of phytonadione, retinol and vitamins C and E on infraorbital dark circles and wrinkles of the lower eyelids. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2004 Apr;3(2):73-5.
- Lupo ML, Cohen JL, Rendon MI. Novel eye cream containing a mixture of human growth factors and cytokines for periorbital skin rejuvenation. J Drugs Dermatol. 2007 Jul;6(7):725-9.
- Grossman R. The role of dimethylaminoethanol in cosmetic dermatology. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2005;6(1):39-47.
See Also
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