Dark Circles Under My Eyes

Hello, my dermatologist at Group Health referred me to Dr.Reichel for this but wanted to find out some information. I’m 29 years old and have dark circles and bags under my eyes. It doesn’t matter how much sleep i get, they never seem to go away. I have been trying to cover them up but that doesn’t help very much. My dad had the same thing. I was wondering if there is anything that can be done to make them go away. What are my options and how much would it cost? I have group health coverage but I’m sure since it’s cosmetic, insurance wouldn’t cover it anyways. Any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

Answered by Dr. Jennifer Reichel of Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center: 

Thank you for the email. We do have some options for treatment for under eye “dark circles” and bags. First of all, are you using an eye-cream? Although an eye-cream will not erase the under eye circles or completely heal the bags, it is important to add extra moisture to the eye area every night before you go to bed. We carry an eye cream here called A.G.E. Eye Complex from Skinceuticals. I really like it and do think it helps to firm the skin around the eyes.

On treatments – the first step is to come in for a consultation. I can personally go over options and also do an examination to determine what will be the best treatment. Sometimes using just a touch of Botox under each eye can make a big difference in a young person. We may want to consider using filler, such as Juvederm or Restylane to fill in the “groove” or dark circle. Finally, even at a young age, sometimes the best answer is a laser treatment or a lower eyelid surgical rejuvenation procedure called “blepharoplasty”. For more information on under-eye treatment, please visit the section on our website (pacificdermcenter.com) and go to cosmetic procedures and then “under eye treatments”.

I look forward to seeing you for a consultation.