Eyes

Dark circles: pigment, vessels or shadow, and what softens them

Dark circles rarely have a single cause: extra pigment, vessels showing through very thin skin, or the shadow of a hollow under the eye, and often a mix. A 2016 review puts it this way: before treating anything, you need to know which causes combine in your case. 👁️

Updated November 7, 2026 · By Julien Rayes · Version française

Three types of dark circles

Look at them in daylight, facing a window:

• Pigmented: brown. They can run in families, are more common on olive and darker skin, and sun darkens them.
• Vascular: bluish or purplish. The skin of the lower eyelid is among the thinnest on the body, so the vessels show through. It thins further with age.
• Structural: a shadow from the hollow between the lower lid and the cheek (the tear trough), or from a bag just above it. They fade when light hits you from the front and deepen under overhead lighting.

Sleep: less decisive than you think

In a 2013 Swedish study, ten people were photographed after a normal night, then after 31 hours awake: observers rated them as having darker circles, puffier eyes and droopier eyelids. In 2019, researchers from the same team revisited the question with 181 people, split between a sleepless night and a normal one, using computer measurements: a sleepless night did not make the under-eye area measurably darker. Sleeping well still helps, but if your circles are there even after good nights, the cause is elsewhere. 😴

What softens them

• Sunscreen every day, eye area included, plus sunglasses: sun stimulates pigment. ☀️
• Treat allergies: a blocked nose slows blood flow in the veins under the eyes, which then look darker and puffier.
• Stop rubbing your eyes.
• Drink less alcohol and don't smoke; the Cleveland Clinic lists both as factors.
• A retinoid or a depigmenting active for pigmented circles, introduced slowly, since the skin there irritates easily. For a prescription product, see a dermatologist.
• Makeup: a peach or orange corrector cancels the bluish tint, then a concealer close to your skin tone evens it out.

Options to discuss with a doctor

Depending on the type, a dermatologist may suggest a peel, a laser or, when the circle comes from a hollow, a hyaluronic acid injection in the tear trough. The 2016 review notes that filling alone can clearly soften the shadow of a hollow. On dark skin, peels and lasers call for caution because they can leave dark spots. These are medical procedures: discuss them with a qualified doctor. GlowUpTogether never recommends surgery. 🩺

What the scan measures

The GlowUpTogether scan compares the brightness under your eyes with your cheeks on your front-facing photo, and an AI scores the area: dark circles, bags, redness. This measurement depends heavily on light, so to track your progress, keep the same lighting from one photo to the next.

Sources: Vrcek, Ozgur and Nakra, "Infraorbital Dark Circles: A Review of the Pathogenesis, Evaluation and Treatment", Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2016; Sundelin et al., "Cues of Fatigue: Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Facial Appearance", Sleep, 2013; Holding et al., "The effect of sleep deprivation on objective and subjective measures of facial appearance", Journal of Sleep Research, 2019; Cleveland Clinic, "Dark Circles Under Eyes" and "Allergic Shiners" (accessed 2026).

Frequently asked questions

Are dark circles genetic?

They can be: the Cleveland Clinic notes they often run in families, and they are more common on darker skin. Sun, allergies and makeup still change how visible they are.

Does sleeping more make dark circles disappear?

Rarely on its own. In a study of 181 people, a sleepless night did not make the under-eye area measurably darker. If your circles stay after good nights, look at pigment, vessels or a hollow.

Which cream works for dark circles?

For pigmented circles: sunscreen first, then a gentle retinoid or a depigmenting active recommended by a dermatologist. For circles caused by a hollow, no cream can fill the volume.

Is a dark circle on one side only serious?

Not necessarily, but the Cleveland Clinic advises you to see a doctor when a dark circle or swelling shows up under one eye only. ⚠️