One of the most persistent questions I get here at New You has to do with dark circles and under-eye puffiness. Because the eyes are where everyone looks when they see us (and where we look in the mirror every morning!) it's natural to be self-conscious about how this area looks.

The skin around the eyes is the thinnest skin on your body and so it's very fragile. The dark circles are the result of blood vessels under the eyes that can be seen through this thin skin which gets thinner as we mature. The swelling is the result of lymph accumulation usually overnight. Often people wake up with swollen eyes only to have them go down as the lymph works its way out as you go through the day...then you have those dark circles exposed!

There are several solutions that are available:

Over the Counter Creams with Vitamin C or K--There are several over the counter creams with high concentrations of vitamin C or K out on the market. These have been reported to plump the skin and reduce the appearance of dark circles. The problem is that results normally take 4-6 months of continual use to appear. Results are usually minimal for the majority of people.
Caffeine Creams-- These are short term fixes to get the blood and lymph moving and can be pricey. An alternative quick fix is to use a wet green tea bag that you popped into the fridge for a few hours. The cool will diminish the swelling and the caffeine in the green tea will get the blood and lymph moving.Results last a few hours. (An important note: Make sure you're not allergic to caffeine!)
Make-up--Another quick fix is to use a light reflecting cover up that's a shade lighter than your natural skin tone. Just go easy dabbing this on.
Lasers and Fillers--By using the XC laser I can tighten saggy skin around the eyes. The laser also thickens the skin by increasing the development of underlying collagen. An artistic application of dermal fillers will further decrease the sunken look. Initial results will last for months and longer when maintained with periodic light support and maintenance care to keep your skin building collagen. Fillers are metabolized so some people find their fillers last a little longer than others.

With a laser and filler mix you won't be at the mercy of quick fixes. You'll know your eyes will look their best without having to remember to look good!