Medical Dermatology
Dark Circles in Islamabad
Assessed before it is treated
Indian Journal of Dermatology · CC BY-SA 3.0
In plain terms
Understanding dark circles
What it is
Dark circles are three different problems wearing the same face. In some people it is pigment sitting in the skin. In others it is a hollow beneath the eye casting a shadow. In the rest it is skin thin enough to show the blue of the vessels underneath. Plenty of people have a mixture of all three.
Why it happens
The pigment type runs in families and is far commoner in brown skin, and rubbing from allergy or hay fever darkens it further. Hollowing comes with age and with fat loss beneath the eye. The vessel type is inherited and shows more when you are tired, dehydrated or unwell, which is why sleep changes it a little and never fixes it.
What you might notice
Which type you have shows itself in the light. Pigment holds the same colour however you tilt your head. A hollow changes as the shadow moves. The vessel type has a blue or purple cast while the skin itself looks fine rather than stained. She will also check whether allergy is driving the rubbing.
How it is treated
Pigment responds to prescription creams and gentle peels. Hollowing responds to filler placed carefully beneath the eye, which is delicate work and not a quick appointment. Thin skin responds to treatment that builds collagen. Creams help only the first type, which is why so many people feel they have wasted money on this.
When to get it seen
When you want to know which type you actually have before spending anything more. One examination usually settles it, and it saves people a long run of products aimed at the wrong problem.
Questions about dark circles
How long before dark circles shows a result?
Depends on the cause. Skin is slow, and anyone quoting you a faster number is selling something.
Who will actually be treating me?
Associate Professor Dr. Lubna Rani Faysal. MBBS (Gold Medalist), FCPS (Dermatology), MHPE, 13 years in dermatology, and Associate Professor of Dermatology, Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi.
Do I need to be seen in clinic, or is video enough?
Send a description and a clear photograph on WhatsApp and she will tell you which. Anything needing close examination or a procedure has to be in clinic, tuesday – saturday, 4:00 – 7:00 pm at F8 Markaz, Islamabad.
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Book your dark circles consultation
Tuesday – Saturday, 4:00 – 7:00 PM at F8 Markaz, Islamabad. Or ask first on WhatsApp at +92 370 549 7242.
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