By Leslie Nesbitt
August 30 2026 | SKINTIPZ — Volume 35
Dark circles are not always about lack of sleep.
You get a full night’s sleep, wake up, look in the mirror and your under eyes still look dark.
That’s because dark circles can have several different causes, and understanding the cause matters before trying to treat them.
What Causes Dark Under Eyes?
The skin around the eyes is naturally thin and delicate. Darkness can come from:
- Pigmentation from excess melanin
- Genetics and natural skin tone
- Visible blood vessels beneath thin skin
- Sun exposure, which can deepen pigmentation
- Allergies and rubbing, which create inflammation
- Hollowing, which creates shadows beneath the eyes
- Dehydration and fatigue, which can make darkness appear more noticeable
For melanin rich skin, pigmentation itself can play a particularly important role.
Protect Your Under Eyes
Sunscreen shouldn’t stop at your cheeks.
Apply appropriate sun protection around the eye area and wear sunglasses when outdoors. UV exposure can contribute to pigmentation and premature changes in this delicate skin.
Clinical Insight
Not every dark circle should be treated the same way.
If the darkness is caused primarily by pigmentation, a brightening approach may help.
If it is caused by hollowing and shadows, applying stronger brightening products will not correct the underlying structure.
And if allergies have you constantly rubbing your eyes, controlling that irritation is an important part of preventing additional pigmentation.
Bottom Line
Dark under eyes don’t automatically mean you’re tired.
Look at the cause before reaching for the cure.
And when it comes to the eye area: protect it, hydrate it and handle it gently.
Ask Leslie
Can an eye cream completely remove dark circles?
Not always.
It depends on why they’re dark.
Pigmentation, vascular visibility, genetics, allergies and structural hollowing require different approaches. Sometimes the best treatment isn’t another eye cream at all.
SKINTIPZ by Leslie Nesbitt
Beauty & Skin Science Column Beauty Expert
Founder of USI & Straberi Skincare
