Table of Contents
What Are Sunken Eyes?
Sunken eyes, also called tear trough hollows, are characterized by dark circles, shadows, and a hollowed look under the lower eyelids. The condition gives the appearance of deep set eye sockets, often with thinning, transparent looking skin and visible blood vessels underneath the eyes.
The symptoms of sunken eyes include:
- Dark under-eye circles and discoloration
- Shadows under the lower eyelids
- A hollowed or sunken look in the under-eye area
- Deep set eye sockets that appear further back in the face
- Sagging, drooping lower eyelids
- Thin, nearly transparent looking skin under the eyes with visible veins/blood vessels
The hollowness and shadows under the eyes create a perpetually tired or fatigued appearance. Sunken eyes tend to make people look older than their years. The condition is mostly an aesthetic concern rather than a medical one.
What Causes Sunken Eyes?
There are several factors that can cause the appearance of sunken eyes:
Genetics – The structure of the eye socket and placement of the eyes is determined by genetics. Some people are simply born with more prominent or deep-set eyes that can look hollow or sunken. This trait tends to run in families.
Aging – As we get older, our skin loses collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep it firm and supple. This causes the skin around the eyes to become thinner and the fat pads under the eyes to diminish. The bony structure around the eyes also recedes with age, making the eyes appear more sunken.
Nutritional deficiencies – Not getting enough vitamins and minerals can contribute to thinning of the skin and collagen loss. Deficiencies in vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin E, and iron are especially linked to dark circles and hollowness under the eyes.
Dehydration – When the body lacks sufficient water, the skin becomes dry and thin. Dehydration reduces the plumpness of the skin around the eyes, exacerbating a sunken look.
Sun exposure – UV radiation from the sun degrades collagen and elastin in the skin over time. This leads to premature aging signs like wrinkles, sagging, and hollowness in the under eye area.
Lack of sleep – Insufficient or interrupted sleep often manifests as dark under eye circles and a tired, hollow look around the eyes.
Weight loss – Losing a significant amount of weight, especially in the face, accentuates the appearance of sunken eyes. The fat pads under the eyes diminish, creating a hollow look.
Smoking – The chemicals in cigarette smoke break down collagen and elastin. This leads to thinning of the skin, wrinkles, and sunken-looking eyes.
Allergies – Seasonal allergies that cause nasal congestion can create shadows and hollowness under the eyes.
Sinus infections – Like allergies, sinus infections lead to puffiness and dark circles that make the under eye area appear sunken.
How to Get Rid of Sunken Eyes with Lifestyle Changes
Making lifestyle changes can often improve the appearance of sunken eyes without medical intervention. Here are some tips:
Use Sunscreen Daily
Wearing sunscreen daily is one of the best ways to prevent sun damage that can contribute to the hollow, sunken eye look. Use a broad spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen as the last step of your morning skincare routine.
Moisturize with Eye Cream
Using a moisturizing eye cream can help hydrate and plump up the delicate skin around the eyes. Look for eye creams with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, retinol, and caffeine.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking enough water is crucial for healthy, youthful-looking skin. Aim for around eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. Proper hydration from the inside out can help reduce hollowness and shadows under the eyes.
Eat Nutrient-Rich Foods
A diet high in veggies, fruits, whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats promotes collagen production for firmer, fuller skin. Make sure to eat leafy greens like spinach, kale, broccoli, and celery.
Get Enough Sleep
Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Quality rest allows the body to repair itself and reduces inflammation that can contribute to dark circles and sunken eyes.
Quit Smoking
Smoking degrades collagen and elastin, leading to thinning skin and loss of facial volume. Quitting can help improve overall skin tone and reduce the gaunt, sunken eye appearance.
Home Remedies for Sunken Eyes
Some simple home remedies can provide temporary relief for sunken eyes. These remedies are easy to do at home with ingredients you likely already have on hand.
Tea Bags
Placing cooled tea bags under your eyes can help refresh the area. The tannins and caffeine in black tea constrict blood vessels, which can reduce swelling and discoloration. Steep two tea bags in hot water for 3-5 minutes, then allow them to cool completely before applying to the under eye area for 10-15 minutes. Green tea also contains antioxidants that can help soothe the skin.
Cucumber Slices
Cucumbers have natural anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties. Place chilled cucumber slices over your eyes for 10-15 minutes to provide a cooling effect. This can help reduce puffiness and temporarily brighten dark under eye circles. Make sure to use fresh cucumber that’s been thoroughly washed. The vitamin K in cucumbers improves blood circulation, while the caffeic acid helps soothe skin irritation.
Non-Surgical Treatments for Sunken Eyes
If targeted skin care and lifestyle changes don’t improve your condition, consult a medical cosmetic professional about non-surgical options for sunken eyes.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are injectables that fill sunken facial features with a gel-like substance to restore lost volume. Under-eye fillers typically contain hyaluronic acid, which hydrates, plumps, and rejuvenates the under-eye area. The treatment is minimally invasive, quick, and requires no downtime.
Laser Treatment
A laser delivers light energy to the skin, stimulating collagen production, regenerating cells, and improving various skin conditions. Laser treatment for sunken eyes helps replace lost volume in the under-eye region and smooth out the area.
Microneedling
Microneedling is another popular cosmetic treatment for the under-eye area. It uses tiny needles to create micro-wounds on the skin, increasing collagen production. Microneedling effectively reduces under-eye shadows, puffiness, and other aging signs.
PRF and EZGel Injections
A new generation of anti-aging injectables, PRF and EZGel are made from your own blood and contain a high concentration of platelets and growth factors that are slowly released within the tissue to rejuvenate the skin. They are excellent tear trough correction treatments.
Cosmetic Surgery for Sunken Eyes
Cosmetic surgery is the best option for patients who want long-term results for their sunken eyes. It involves more risk and recovery time than non-invasive cosmetic treatments, but the results are more dramatic. The types of surgery used for sunken eyes include:
Blepharoplasty
Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, removes excess skin and fat around the eyelids. It can be performed on the upper and/or lower eyelids. Blepharoplasty helps reduce the hollow, sunken look by tightening the skin and repositioning fat around the eyes.
Fat Transfer Injection
Fat transfer involves harvesting fat from a different body part, like the thighs or abdomen, and injecting it into the under-eye area. The transferred fat fills in sunken spots, restoring a smooth, youthful contour. The body does not reject its own fat, so the results can be very long-lasting.
Tear Trough Implant
Tear trough implants involve inserting silicone implants into the tear trough hollows under the eyes. The implants provide immediate volume and structure. Like fat transfer, tear trough implants offer permanent correction for sunken eyes.
Medications for Sunken Eyes
If allergies or a sinus infection are causing your dark under-eye circles and tired look, medication can help treat the root cause. Antihistamines and antibiotics are commonly prescribed.
Antihistamines – Antihistamines block histamine, the chemical released by the immune system during an allergic reaction. This relieves allergy symptoms like nasal congestion that can contribute to dark circles and sunken eyes. Antihistamines like Zyrtec, Claritin, and Allegra can provide relief.
Antibiotics – If a bacterial sinus infection is causing your sunken eyes, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic like amoxicillin to clear up the infection. As the sinus infection improves, your under-eye area should look less hollow and shadowed.
Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions when taking any prescription medications. Let them know if your symptoms persist or worsen. With the right treatment, allergies and sinus infections can be managed, reducing their impact on your appearance.
When to See a Doctor
If sunken eyes persist after trying the remedies and tips in this article for several months, it’s a good idea to see a doctor. Dark under-eye circles and hollowness that don’t respond to lifestyle changes, skin care, and home remedies may indicate an underlying medical issue that needs attention.
Some symptoms that warrant a doctor’s visit include:
- Severe dark circles or hollowness under the eyes
- Swelling or bags under the eyes
- Redness in the under-eye area
- Itchiness or irritation of the skin around the eyes
- Excess tearing or discharge from the eyes
- Vision changes or eye discomfort
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue, weakness or lightheadedness
Your doctor can perform exams and lab tests to determine if allergies, thyroid disorders, kidney disease, or other conditions are causing persistent sunken eyes. They may prescribe medications or recommend specialists for treatment.
Don’t hesitate to seek medical advice if natural remedies don’t improve the appearance of sunken eyes within a few months. Identifying and properly treating any underlying condition is crucial for your overall health and wellbeing.
Conclusion
Sunken eyes often lead to self-consciousness about one’s appearance. However, there are many effective ways to reduce their appearance, from home remedies to cosmetic procedures. The condition is usually harmless, though in some cases it can indicate an underlying medical issue.
If you’ve tried the tips in this guide but still aren’t seeing improvements, contact our team at Vibrant Skin Bar. We’re experts in cosmetic treatments for sunken eyes and other concerns. Our compassionate staff will discuss the latest proven solutions to refresh the under-eye area. Contact us today to start your journey towards more youthful, vibrant skin!
The Most Important Sunken Eyes Facts
- Sunken eyes are characterized by dark circles, hollowness, shadows, and thin skin under the eyes. They create a tired, aged appearance.
- Genetics, aging, poor diet, dehydration, sun exposure, lack of sleep, weight loss, smoking, allergies, and sinus infections commonly cause sunken eyes.
- You can improve sunken eyes through skin care, lifestyle changes, home remedies, cosmetic treatments, surgery, and medications that treat the underlying cause.
- Sunscreen, eye creams, hydration, nutrition, sleep, and quitting smoking help reduce sunken eyes. Cucumber slices and tea bags can provide temporary relief.
- Fillers, laser, microneedling, PRF, and EZGel injections are effective non-surgical treatments. Blepharoplasty, fat transfer, and implants are surgical options.
- See a doctor if lifestyle changes and cosmetic treatments don’t help, or if you have other concerning symptoms along with sunken eyes.
- With persistence and the right solutions, most people can greatly improve the appearance of sunken eyes. Consult an expert to find your best options.
