Dark circles are causes due to many changes to the skin’s structure. The main reason for this is aging. As we age, the fat pad under the eye becomes thinner and causes the area to appear darker.
Other reason for it is damage to the microscopic blood vessel structure and when body attempts to repair this damage it further causes darkening of the area. Lack of appropriate oxygenation to the lower eyelid skin allows this bluish cast to show through the thin skin of the eyelids.
Eye creams are beneficial and also gives significant results in treating dark circles. Apart from this there are many other treatment options available for treating dark circles including Carboxy.
Carboxy works by improving the dermal collagen layer and strengthening the capillary network of the lower eye lids. By infusing the eyelids with carbon dioxide, oxygen and blood flow is increased in the area causing a change in colour and skin texture.
How many treatments are needed?
The number of treatments depends upon the severity of the problem. On consultation Dr. Soliman will assess the area to be treated and will determine an approximate number of sessions required. Treatments are generally spaced one week apart for optimum results.
How long does the treatment take?
It takes fifteen minutes to thirty minutes to complete the treatment.
How does Carboxy Therapy work?
All cells in the body, regardless of their job (heart cells, brain cells, skin cells) release as their waste product carbon dioxide. We breathe in oxygen to our lungs, the red blood cells pick up the oxygen in our lungs and carry it to our tissues until they encounter an area that has an excess of carbon dioxide. When the blood cells are exposed to high concentrations of carbon dioxide, they flip their conformation, release the oxygen molecules, and pick up the carbon dioxide so that we can exhale it from our lungs. In a sense, by injecting small amounts of carbon dioxide gas just below the surface of the skin, we are tricking it into increasing the blood circulation to that area. Dark under-eye circles, cellulite, and stretch marks have all been shown to have some root cause in poor blood circulation.
Carboxy Therapy for under-eye circles
Carboxy therapy can dramatically improve the appearance of dark under-eye circles which are usually caused by poor circulation beneath the lower eyelids [vascular pooling].
Dr. Zdinak designed and conducted the first study in the English literature using carboxytherapy for rejuvenating the under- eye region. She found that by injecting a small amount of carbon dioxide gas just beneath the skin of the lower eyelid, circulation was increased and dark under-eye circles were markedly improved. The treatment takes only five minutes, and is virtually painless and risk-free. A series of 2-6 treatments spaced one week apart is all that is required to achieve a great result.
What causes dark under-eye circles?
Dark circles are typically caused by one of three factors, either alone or in combination. The first possibility is that there is actual deposition of pigment into the skin of the lower eyelid. This pigment deposition is commonly due to post-traumatic hyperpigmentation, where the skin of the lower eyelids has been perpetually irritated, usually from chronic tearing due to allergies or dry eye. Skin pigmentation is the easiest cause of dark under eye circles to treat because it responds well to a combination of carboxytherapy and home bleaching regimens. I do not use hydroquinones, the over-the counter bleaching agent, on delicate eyelid skin because in some individuals this can worsen the dark circles. Instead, I prescribe a combination of kojic acid and arbutin to help reduce the hyperpigmentation. This gives my patients a safe and gentle treatment product that they can use at home while the carboxytherapy sessions are performed in my office. The second cause of dark under eye circles is vascular pooling. The capillary network of the lower eyelids can become congested for a variety of reasons. Normally, the tears drain from the eyelids into the nose, but if there is some obstruction due to chronic nasal congestion from seasonal allergies or a nasal fracture, the drainage doesn’t function well, and the blood flow to the lower eyelids becomes sluggish, giving rise to the boggy blue tinge known casually as “allergic shiners.” The lack of appropriate oxygenation to the lower eyelid skin allows the bluish cast to show through the thin skin of the eyelids. Carboxytherapy works to improve the capillary network of the lower eyelids, as well as to increase the dermal collagen layer in the lower eyelid skin. By injecting a small amount of carbon dioxide gas into the affected areas, blood flow is increased and improved capillary networks are formed for longer lasting circulatory benefit. The bluish cast is replaced with a healthy pink tone. Once a series of four to six sessions is completed, the skin has a more luminous appearance that lasts approximately six months. The third major cause of dark under eye circles is a depression beneath the lower eyelids called a tear trough deformity. Tear trough deformity is a commonly inherited trait in the African American and Indian communities, but it can also develop in Caucasians over time due to the normal loss of bony architecture in the inferior orbital rim, which is the top of the cheekbone area. In the event that a tear trough deformity exists, a temporary filling agent such as Restylane or Juvederm can be placed in the valley to plump up the depression, which improves the appearance of the dark circles. The treatment is not painful, and it is a one-time procedure performed after a small amount of numbing cream has been applied to the skin. Since my specialty is oculoplastic surgery, I perform this procedure in my office at least twice a day with optimal results that last approximately eight months to one year.
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