Under-eye bags are characterised by a slight puffiness, looseness of skin, or darkened pigmentation under the eyes--or a combination of these issues. They can be temporary, caused by many things from a poor night's sleep to allergies (such as a sensitivity to feathers in a pillow).
However, for some people, eye bags and dark circles can be a long-term issue.
Bags and dark circles under the eyes are, at the basic level, caused by thin, sagging skin. Our skin health is dependent on a good supply of nutrients and oxygen, sufficient moisture, and the skin proteins collagen and elastin.
Collagen is the skin's scaffolding protein, giving it structure, plumpness and firmness, while elastin gives the skin its ability to stretch and 'bounce back' into its resting position.
Genetics
Puffiness and dark circles under the eyes can be due to thin skin, and genetics can play a part here. If a parent has thin skin, it you may inherit this tendency.
Aging
Aging reduces moisture in the skin and depletes the proteins, collagen and elastin. It also causes the muscles around the eyes to weaken and sag, which can in turn allow fat in the lower eyelids to sink downwards.
Aging thins the skin and reduces its fatty layer, making it more translucent. This makes the reddish-blue blood vessels under the eyes more visible, resulting in dark under-eye circles.
Falling hormone levels can reduce collagen production and the skin's moisture retaining properties, making the skin drier and thinner. In turn, this makes skin more prone to sagging, and also more transparent, revealing blood vessels underneath.
When fluid accumulates in the lower eyelid, it leads to swelling and a puffy appearance. This fluid accumulation can be exacerbated by a lack of sleep, stress and a poor diet, especially one that includes a lot of salt.
Disorders and medical conditions
There are various medical conditions and disorders than can cause or exacerbate under-eye bags and dark circles. Thyroid Eye Disease can cause swelling in the lower or upper eyelids, causing tear glands, muscles and fatty tissues behind the eyes to become red and inflamed.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) affect the connective tissues of the body, and can result in thin, fragile, stretchy skin, making under-eye bags and dark circles more likely.
Both alcohol and tobacco can affect your sleep. Alcohol can also affect fluid accumulation, while smoking can reduce the flow of oxygen and nutrients to your skin and deplete your stores of the collagen and elastin.
Certain medications can play a part by affecting your sleep, digestion, blood vessel dilation and fluid levels .
If you have rosacea, seek professional advice first. The suitability of microneedling for your condition may depend on the type of rosacea you have and what triggers it.
Microneedling isn't suitable for use on areas with keloid scars (raised or 'bubble'-like' scarring). You should also avoid microneedling if you:
Make sure you stay well-hydrated in the days before your microneedling treatment to reduce bruising and inflammation afterwards and avoid anything that could irritate your skin.
First, the practitioner will use a numbing cream on the area they will be treating. Then they will use a microneedling device that holds very fine, small needles (around 0.5mm–1mm long) to create tiny puncture wounds on your under-eye area.
After treatment, they may apply a soothing aftercare cream to the treated area.
In response to the pinprick wounds made by the microneedling device, your skin is kickstarted into healing mode. This includes the production of the skin proteins collagen and elastin. That's why microneedling is sometimes also called 'collagen induction therapy'.
Microneedling treatments are usually given a month or six weeks apart, and significant results aren't achieved until you've had a few treatments. By that stage, you should be able to see firmer, smoother and more resilient skin under your eyes, with reduced puffiness and dark shadows.
Your skin may be a little inflamed or even bruised after microneedling, but these side-effects won't last more than a few days. Avoid direct sunlight and strenuous exercise for a few days after treatment to give your skin time to heal.
**Further Reading **
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