Brown tones
Extra melanin under the eye — often genetic, hormonal or sun-related, and more common in deeper skin tones. It doesn't fade when you press the skin.
Concern
Dark circles & under-eye
Dark circles, puffiness and a tired look under the eyes have many causes — and the right approach depends on yours. Here's how the under-eye area is assessed and approached.
In short
Dark circles are not one condition. Some are vascular, where the skin under the eye is thin enough to show the blood vessels beneath as blue or purple. Some are pigmented, where extra melanin sits in the skin itself, which is more common in deeper skin tones and can run in families. Some are structural, where a hollow beneath the eye casts a shadow that reads as darkness. Many people have a combination. A simple self-check helps: gently stretch the skin sideways, and if the colour fades it is more likely vascular. The distinction matters because each is approached differently, which is why a single eye cream so rarely solves it, and why an aggressive treatment aimed at the wrong cause can make the area look worse. What suits you, including how your skin tone shapes the plan, is assessed in person.
Dark circles & under-eye · SkinMedics Pyrmont
What's happening
The why behind it
Under-eye concerns can come from genetics, thin skin, pigmentation, shadowing from volume loss, or simply fatigue and fluid. Because the skin here is delicate and the causes differ, there's no single fix — it starts with understanding what's actually driving it.
Depending on the cause, options range from gentle skin-quality treatments to approaches best discussed privately in consultation. We assess the area carefully and tailor a considered, realistic plan — never a one-size promise.
Read the full guide: Dark circles & under-eyes: why they happen, and what actually helps →
Understanding under-eyes
The four kinds of dark circle
"Dark circles" aren't one thing — they have different causes, and the right approach depends entirely on which kind you have. Most people are a blend of two.
Blue & purple
Thin under-eye skin letting the vessels beneath show through. Often worse when tired — and it tends to lighten when you gently stretch the skin.
Shadow & hollow
A tear-trough hollow from volume loss casts a shadow — so it isn't pigment at all, but light. Most visible from above and in harsh lighting.
Puffiness & bags
Fluid retention or fat pads create puffiness, which then casts its own shadow. Often worse in the morning, with salt, or with allergies.
A quick self-check: gently stretch the skin sideways. If the colour fades, it's likely vascular or pigment; if a hollow or shadow remains, it's structural. We confirm yours in person — and most people are a mix. How your skin tone guides the approach →
What drives it
The contributing factors
Under-eyes are shaped by things you can't change — and several you can. An illustrative picture; yours is assessed individually.
- Genetics & skin tone
- Ageing & volume loss
- Sleep & fatigue
- Sun exposure
- Hydration & diet
- Allergies & fluid
The good news: several of these respond to considered skin-quality treatments and good habits — while structural shadow is approached differently again. That's exactly why a tailored plan matters more here than almost anywhere on the face.
Matching the approach
Different cause, different plan
Because each kind has a different cause, each is approached differently — which is why a single "eye cream" rarely solves it. In a consultation we identify yours (usually a blend) and tailor accordingly.
PigmentedCareful, tone-appropriate skin-quality treatments and diligent daily sun protection — approached gently, especially in deeper skin tones, to avoid worsening pigment.
VascularSupporting the quality and resilience of the under-eye skin so the vessels beneath show through less. Assessed individually.
StructuralA shadow cast by lost volume is addressed quite differently again — reviewed privately in a consultation, never advertised from a menu.
Fluid & puffinessOften habits first — sleep, salt, hydration and allergies — alongside gentle measures to ease puffiness. Talked through together.
Tone matters
Why your skin tone guides it
Pigmented circles are more common — and need more careful handling — in deeper skin tones, where an over-aggressive approach can make pigmentation worse rather than better. Your tone is always assessed first.
- IVery fair — pigment less common, vascular more visible
- IIFair — often vascular or fatigue-related
- IIIMedium — a mix is common
- IVOlive — pigment more likely; gentler approach
- VBrown — pigment common; careful, conservative care
- VIDeep — pigment most likely; the most cautious settings
There's no single right answer across tones — the plan is matched to your phototype and history. More on skin types & tones →
Where to start
Treatments that help
These are common starting points — the right combination for you is confirmed in a complimentary consultation and skin analysis.
The first step
Let's look at it together.
A complimentary, no-pressure consultation and skin analysis is the best way to understand your skin — and what, if anything, is worth doing.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Why do I have dark circles?
There are several causes — pigment, visible blood vessels, a shadow from volume loss, or puffiness — and most people are a mix. The right approach depends entirely on which kind you have, which we identify in person.
Can dark circles be treated?
Depending on the cause, skin-quality treatments and good habits can help — while a structural shadow is approached differently again. A one-size 'eye cream' rarely solves it.
Are treatments safe around the eyes?
The under-eye skin is delicate, so it's approached gently and conservatively, tailored to the cause and your skin tone, after a careful assessment.
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