Under-eye dark circles can make the face appear tired, stressed or older—even after adequate rest. They are rarely caused by one factor alone. Pigmentation, visible blood vessels, thin skin, allergies, eye rubbing, loss of collagen and under-eye hollowness may all contribute.

This is why a cream or a standard salon treatment may not work for everyone. Effective treatment begins by identifying what is actually creating the darkness.

At RD Clinic, Dr. Rachita Dhurat assesses the colour, skin quality, vascular visibility and under-eye contour before designing an individualised treatment plan.

Dark circles may result from one or more of the following:

• Familial or genetic pigmentation
• Naturally thin under-eye skin
• Visible underlying blood vessels
• Allergies and repeated rubbing of the eyes
• Chronic irritation or eczema
• Excessive sun exposure
• Loss of collagen and skin elasticity
• Tear-trough hollowness or age-related volume loss
• Dehydration, fatigue and irregular sleep
• Smoking and other lifestyle factors
• Shadows created by the natural facial structure

Most patients have a mixed pattern, involving more than one of these factors.

Dark circles may be broadly classified as:

• Pigmented: Brown discolouration caused by increased melanin
• Vascular: Blue, purple or reddish darkness caused by visible blood vessels beneath thin skin
• Structural: Shadows caused by tear-trough hollowness, under-eye bags or loss of volume
• Mixed: A combination of pigmentation, vascular visibility and structural shadowing

Correctly identifying the predominant type is essential because pigmentation, visible vessels and hollowness cannot all be treated in the same way.

Improve circulation. Support collagen. Refresh tired-looking eyes.

RD Clinic offers dermatologist-administered carboxytherapy for appropriately selected patients with under-eye dark circles.

During carboxytherapy, a controlled amount of medical-grade carbon dioxide is carefully introduced beneath the skin using a very fine needle. This produces a temporary increase in local blood flow and oxygen delivery and may support collagen remodelling in the delicate under-eye area.

Carboxytherapy may help improve:

• Vascular or bluish under-eye darkness
• Dull, tired-looking under-eye skin
• Thin or crepey skin texture
• Mild loss of elasticity
• Selected mixed-pattern dark circles

The procedure is performed under medical supervision, and the amount and depth of carbon dioxide are carefully controlled for the sensitive periorbital area.

Treatment is usually completed within a short clinic visit. Patients may experience a temporary sensation of pressure, mild discomfort or brief swelling as the gas disperses beneath the skin.

Temporary redness, puffiness, tenderness or bruising can occur. These effects generally settle, although recovery varies between individuals.

A planned series of sessions may be required because dark circles usually develop from multiple long-standing factors. The number and interval of sessions are decided after clinical assessment.

No single procedure can correct every type of dark circle.

Carboxytherapy may be particularly useful when vascular visibility, reduced circulation or thin, dull skin contributes to the appearance. However:

• Predominantly brown pigmentation may require medical skincare, sun protection, chemical peels and Q-switched laser treatment.
• Allergy-related darkness requires control of the underlying allergy and eye rubbing.
• Deep tear-trough hollowness may require structural correction in carefully selected patients.
• Under-eye bags or marked skin laxity may need a different treatment approach.

Dr. Rachita Dhurat may therefore recommend carboxytherapy alone or as part of a personalised combination plan.

At RD Clinic, dark circles are not treated using a standard package. Your treatment is selected after assessing:

• Whether the darkness is brown, blue, purple or shadow-based
• Thickness and quality of the under-eye skin
• Tear-trough depth and facial anatomy
• Allergies, eczema and eye-rubbing habits
• Sun exposure and pigmentation tendency
• Previous treatments and medical history

The aim is to improve the factors responsible for your dark circles while preserving a natural and refreshed appearance.