Dark circles under eyes

By Lee Sung-hun

Last week, a reader who read my column on cosmetic acupuncture inquired if acupuncture can treat dark circles under the eyes. Dark circles and bags under eyes not only make you look older than your age, but also make you look moody and exhausted. Some women cover them up with makeup, but even skilled experts find them difficult to conceal completely. Oriental medicine generally treats dark circles with the combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine. I would like to address the individual treatment methods depending on the underlying causes.

The reason why the skin around the eye (periorbital skin) appears dark is because the skin tissues around the eyes are very thin. As such, any changes in the circulation of blood and bodily fluids can be easily revealed through the very thin layer.

There are largely three causes for the dark circles under your eyes. The first is where the vein passing through the thin periorbital skin has bluish tint (hence, the dark circles) when expanded and seen through the skin. The dark circles that appear after a couple of days of extended shifts, or a stressful work are generally caused by this. In such cases, Oriental medicine regards that the “qi” in the kidneys have weakened or that “dam-eum” (roughly meaning phlegm-retained fluid) has accumulated in our body. Kidneys are important organs. All the qi throughout our lives, from the qi that we inherit from our parents upon our birth to the qi that we have ingested with food, have concentrated and accumulated in the kidneys. Continued overwork or fatigue can deplete the kidney’s qi, which causes the dark circles under the eyes.

In Oriental medicine, specific parts of the face reflect the state of a specific internal organ. The eyes are connected with the liver, while the eyelids are connected to spleen and stomach. If the digestive system does not function well, dampness piles up in our body, which is called dam-eum. Dam-eum can cause the bags and dark circles under the eyes. In such cases, herbal medicine is prescribed to strengthen the kidneys’ qi and to improve digestive functions in order to remove the dampness. Such treatment can improve the overall physical condition and enhance blood circulation.

Another vascular cause is when the patient suffers from sinus related illnesses such as rhinitis or sinusitis. Then the mucous membrane inside the sinus can inflame and cause mucus buildup in the paranasal sinuses and hinder the blood circulation around the nose and the eyes. This hindered blood circulation can cause dark circles under eyes. If a child has dark circles under the eyes, he or she may have rhinitis or sinusitis. In such cases, treating underlying sinus related illnesses becomes the priority. Oriental herbal medicine is prescribed to treat the inflammation and the mucus and to enhance the body’s natural immunity to fight off future occurrences.

A second cause for dark circles is the general aging of skin tissue. With aging skin, the lipid layer under the eyes sags and bulges out to created shadows and to make the area darker. In such cases, cosmetic acupuncture can be effective. Cosmetic acupuncture has a skin lifting effect as it is administered for the neck, head and entire face that restore elasticity to the entire face. With the lifting, the sagging of lipid layer is reduced and thus the dark circles and puffiness under the eyes are also reduced.

Last the main cause for dark circles is hyperpigmentation around the eyes. It is more common among Asians or Africans, and often familial. If you pull the facial skins backwards and the dark circles under eyes become spotted, you can suspect that hyperpigmentation is the cause. It is nearly impossible to completely treat, and thus the aim of treatment is to lessen the symptoms. Cosmetic acupuncture can help to a certain extent albeit incomplete.

Monitoring what you eat is the first step in preventing dark circles. Food that can cause indigestion, or with high salt contents, or instant food should be avoided. Reducing the amount of stress from overwork is also important. Smoking and exposure to UV rays can weaken the collagen in the skin tissue, which can cause wrinkles and sagging of skin. Applying moisturizers around the eyes before going to bed can also be helpful.

Tired eyes can cause dark circles to worsen. Finger pressure on the acupuncture points surrounding the eyes can alleviate the tiredness. The locations are at the ends of the eyebrows, the lateral ends of the eyelids and the temples where the bones form a crevice. Gently applying pressure with your fingertips can help remove stress from the eyes.

The writer practices Korean Oriental medicine at the UN Oriental Medical Clinic in Hannam-dong, Seoul. He can be reached at sung_hun@naver.com.