ERASING Dark Circles

It's not your lifestyle that causes those dark circles under your eyes. For some people, the discoloration is from the blood vessels that lie close to the surface. Age exaggerates the problem, With aging, we lose the covering of fat under the eye, says Carolyn Jacob, M.D., associate clinical instructor of dermatology at Northwestern University in Chicago. You can try a wrinkle cream, such as ELASTIderm, which boosts elastin production, thickening under-the-eye skin and hiding veins. Injectable fillers like Restylane can be used to replace lost fat tissue. Concealers provide a temporary fix, as do creams, such as RevaleSkin, that contain light-refracting particles, making the area appear less dark. If excess pigment is the cause, ask your doctor about the safety and efficacy of using bleaching preparations.