Many women and women of color especially suffer from dark circles under their eyes. May resort to various eyecreams, cosmetic surgery, vitamin K and oldwives tales for relief from this problem. While many of the cures above are effective, some women don't want to spend hundreds or thousands on eyecream and potions that don't work or to go under the knife. Dark circles are excess pigment or melanin around the eye area, which explains why it tends to plague women of color more often. We are prone to hyperpigmentation and areas of excess melanin.
Could dark circles under the eyes be another form of hyperpigmentation? Dark circles are For many, dark circles are just hyperpigmentation under your eyes and can be treated the same way you would hyperpigmentation on other areas of your face. According to the Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology "Periorbital hyperpigmentation (POH), also known as periocular hyperpigmentation, periorbital melanosis, dark circles, infraorbital darkening, infraorbital discoloration, or idiopathic cutaneous hyperchromia of the orbital region, is a common condition encountered in dermatology practice." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4756872/
Among the common cures for hyperpigmentation I think there is one that can cause major improvement for women suffering from dark circles and that is SUNBLOCK! It is important to use sunblock on areas with excess pigmentation because they are more sensitive to the sun and the sun is one of the main culprits in hyperpigmentation and aging around the eyes and on the face in general. Women who suffer from dark circles need to be diligent in putting sunblock around their eyes, and I recommend thus with zinc or titanium dioxide as the main ingredient as they are gentle and can be soothing to the skin around the eyes. Paula's choice article on the "How to find the best eye cream" brings home this point "Daily sun protection is key for keeping the appearance of wrinkles and other eye area concerns at bay (you knew we were going to say that, right?). Moreover, if used as directed with other sun protection measures, it decreases the risk of skin cancer.
If the eye cream you're using doesn't provide sun protection, then your best option is to apply your eye cream and then follow with an SPF-enhanced daytime moisturizer or foundation/concealer with sunscreen.
Our SKIN RECOVERY Daily Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30 is a beautiful option that offers a subtle, dewy glow plus gentle, mineral-based sun protection. It's also moisturizing enough to be used on its own!
Sunglasses are a nice extra measure of defense, for the eye itself as well as for skin around the eye, but they don't replace the need for sunscreen. For maximum protection from sunglasses, look for styles that block light from above and from the sides rather than just straight on. Several brands offers this style in various fashionable designs so you don't have to compromise extra protection for looks." http://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/skincare-advice/eye-care/how-to-find-the-best-eye-cream.html
