Many patients come to me with the same story:
"I like the way my skin looks ... for the most part. But whenever I look in the mirror, I'm bothered by the darkness under my eyes. What's going on and how can I make it stop?"
It can be a frustrating problem, and is primarily caused by one (or sometimes two) intrinsic factors:
1. Slow blood flow. This hereditary cause of under-eye darkness often occurs in people of Latin American and Mediterranean descent. Slow blood flow results in an accumulation of hemosiderin (a pigment that contains iron oxide) in the skin.
This kind of darkness can be hard to eliminate, but some studies have shown that a combination of vitamin K and retinol helps, however none of my patients have thought that these were wonderful. Vitamin K alone is in many products - but again- I have not seen it work well.
2. Melanin: Pigmented types make more melanin (a.k.a. skin pigment). When exposed to sun, that melanin causes the skin to darken - particularly under the eyes (another reason that under-eye darkness is more prevalent in people who live near the equator than in residents of, say, Alaska).
Wearing sunscreen every day is crucial. Sisley makes an eye cream with sunscreen, but any facial sunscreen that doesn't sting the eyes will work. I like products with Zcote and titanium dioxide sunscreens because they're affordable and won't sting.
What about sleep? Sleep-deprivation is an extrinsic factor that can increase under-eye darkness by restricting blood flow and creating puffiness in that delicate skin. All the more reason to prioritize your shut-eye.
Now, I think I know what some of you are thinking: "Now what am I supposed to do?" My advice? Don't waste money on skin care products (except sunscreen) and avoid expensive laser treatments or peels because they just don't work and are a waste of money.
Have you found something that works? Let's work together to come up with a solution. I challenge you all to come up with an idea that works. We can all benefit! Use the comment section here to give me your ideas.
Wishing you great skin!
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Dr. Baumann is author of the best-selling book, " The Skin Type Solution." To learn more about her revolutionary skin typing system, visit her Web site, SkinTypeSolutions.com.
All of Dr. Baumann's recommended skin care products are available online, and a portion of proceeds goes to The Dermatology Foundation.
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