How to restore my skin color after having a black-eye?

Question

i had a black eye last month the bruise itself had healed but lefts me with a dark skin almost black skin under my eye what can i do to restore my original skin color under my eye ? thanks

Michael Constantin Gartner, DO · Answer

Residual bruising can take a little while to heal, but rest assured that it will go away eventually. It's best to let it do this on its own, and in the meantime you can use makeup to cover it up.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Babak Farzaneh, MD · Answer

Timebleaching cream ( hydroquinone , Lytera)Arnica 12c  or bromelainPICO laserAlways wear good sunscreen and reapply

J. Jason Wendel, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question about skin rejuvenation.This should get better with time.  If not, vascular laser or 1064 nm treatments might help.

To be sure, see two or more licensed
and board-certified providers in your area for a complete evaluation to make
sure you are a good candidate and that it is safe for you to have these
treatments.

I hope this helps.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Pigmentation around the eye after an injury may take months or longer to resolve. Topical all ointments can lighten the color. Consideration can be given to IPL for BBL treatments to diminish the color in general this will improve with time

Erik Suh, MD · Answer

Black eye is treated like any other dark pigmented skin treatment.    Q switch laser which is great for tattoo removal will be great to treat the dark skin as well to make it lighter quicker.

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

There are some topical creams which may help the hyperpigmentation that occurs after bruising. The skin under the eye is very thin and such injuries are more likely to leave residual hyperpigmentation than in other parts of the body. It may take > 1 year for this pigmentation to go away.

Vicki J. Levine, MD · Answer

it will certainly take longer than a month for the discoloration to go away especially since you are dark skinned.

Brooke R. Seckel, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

Discoloration after a black eye can often because by residual blood deep in the skin tissues.  This requires time to improve and there is no method to facilitate removal of the blood if that is in the tissue.However IPL (intense pulse light) can be helpful to reduce surface pigmentation.  There are also topical skin care products that can help lighten the skin.  For more information please see the following link: