Chemical Peel Best for Under Eye Circles?

Question

Will chemical peels help improve dark circles under eyes? If so, what type of chemical peel is best for the area? Will chemical peels for home use be also effective?

Kally Papantoniou, MD, FAAD · Answer

In assessing dark circles we have to establish whether it is from volume loss, and is maybe an illusion of shadow and contour, or is this truly a pigmentation issue. Is it brown and velvety, like rubbed skin from a chronic allergy? Or, is it bluish pink discoloration that appears deeper in the skin and is usually familial, and difficult to treat. If it truly seems to be a pigmentary issue where it is a darker shade, then a milder peel 20 - 30% glycolic is a good starting point. We have to be very cautious with using chemical peels so close to the eyes during a procedure.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Lower eyelid circles arise from a variety of conditions, including:

Hyperpigmentation
Hemosiderin deposition
Thin skin
Subcutaneous veins
Loss of subcutaneous and periorbital fat

Chemical peels will reduce the pigmentation and improve the quality of the skin in terms of overall collagen content. It should be used as a combination approach to the management of under eye circles.

David Shafer, MD, FACS · Answer

TCA and Glycolic chemical peels are great for under your eyes.  It really depends on your skin type and your expectations.  I hope this is helpful.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

This would really depend on your skin type and the cause of the discoloration.
TCA peels are commonly used but it would be best to seek a qualified physician who can guide you in the correct choice of peel or other treatments.
Sometimes medications such as those used for the mask of pregnancy may be a better way of treating your condition.

Larissa Miller, MD · Answer

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Our apologies to patients, the doctor's contributions to this business are being deleted.  
Please, remember it's always safer to see your doctor for concerns.

Michele S. Green, MD · Answer

Chemical Peels are a great way to reduce pigmentation under the eyes. They are best combined with other topical products and TCA usually works best in that area.  I often combine these peels with Restylane under the eyes.  Best, Dr. Green

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD · Answer

Most chemical peels will not correct the very dark circles under the eyes. Some of the conditions that lead to dark circles are the thinness of the skin coupled with multiple blood vessels below the skin. Also if there are bags of the lower eyelids this casts a shadow and will accentuate the deepness and the darkness of the area. In my experience chemical peeling is not of much benefit and can also cause a darkening of the skin. Try to use products that conceal the darkness. One such product is Teamine Eye Complex. I hope that this helps.

Stella Desyatnikova, MD · Answer

Chemical peels in general are not a good option for this problem, especially the take-home peels. Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done for pigment deposits in this area, especially for the genetic kind. Seek the opinion of an experienced facial plastic surgeon, dermatologist, or a plastic surgeon.

Bryan K. Chen, MD · Answer

Dark circles of the lower eyelid area can be due to a number of factors including excess pigmentation (hereditary or melasma), allergies, loss of soft tissue resulting in a shadowing effect. If sun-related or melasma-type pigmentation is the problem, consider a Jessners or salicylic acid peel as these peels tend to be safer for ethnic skin.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

If the dark circles are sun damage then any ablative laser or even a TCA medium depth peel may help. SOme skin care regimens can do it more slowly as well. If it is long standing dark circles from thin skin, then a filler may help.

Chemical Peel Best for Under Eye Circles?

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