Best Eye Creams to Get Rid of Dark Circles, According to a Dermatologist

We bet your screen time has shot up significantly, ever since the pandemic broke out. Work meetings have moved online, strolls in the park have been replaced with 'Netflix and Chill' and catching up with friends isn't about the coffee shop round the corner but all about Zoom sessions. Amidst all this, your eyes are surely having a tough time. The result…puffiness, dull and tired eyes, dark circles. So if you can’t cut down on your screen time, make sure you use an eye cream that helps you keep the tell-tale signs of digital fatigue away from your eyes. Dr Geetika Mittal Gupta, dermatologist, cosmetologist and medical director of ISAAC Wellness Centre, says, “Whether you have dark circles, puffy eyes, dry under-eyes, or dark circles, using the right type of eye cream should give you noticeable results. Different types of dark circles require different eye cream. You need to know which type of dark circles you have and based on your problem, find a cure.”

The different causes for dark circles

To help you identify your problem and get the right cream, Dr Geetika lists out the causes.

Vascular dark circlesThese are caused due to poor microcirculation of the blood and lymphatic liquid around the eye. Lymph ensures that blood drains and circulates properly, it also nourishes the skin tissue. If the lymphatic system is disrupted, it no longer eliminates pigments in the blood properly. These will then build up to accumulate under the thinnest layers of the skin. This malfunction is increasingly common with age, or, as we know if we are tired or stressed.

Pigmentary or pigmented dark circlesThese are the result of overproduction or poor distribution of melanin which is responsible for the colour of the skin. “As the epidermis and dermis are very thin around the eyes, any excess pigments are visible. Dark circles tend to occur more in people with dark skin.

It's important to differentiate them so you can deal with them! Genetics, aging, and lifestyle factors all play a part in the development of dark circles. Allergies, nutrient deficiencies, or underlying health conditions can also cause dark circles. See your doctor for treatment options and get your blood test done to get to the root of the problem.

How to find out what kind of dark circles you have

“To know which type of dark circles you have, gently pull your lower eyelid to the side to bring out the colour. If your dark circles are more of a blue/purple colour, it is a vascular dark circle. If it is a dark brown/black colour, this is due to a localized build-up of pigments, meaning that it is a pigmented dark circle,” advises Dr Geetika.

She lists out the creams you need to pick based on your condition: