Skin concern
Dark circles
Persistent under-eye shadows that look the same no matter how much sleep you get. We treat the underlying cause, whether it is hollowing, pigmentation, vascular shadowing or thin skin.
- 3Key causes
- 4Matched treatments
- 7UK clinics
The condition
What is actually happening with dark circles
Dark circles look the same to the eye but have four different underlying causes, each with a different fix. Hollow tear troughs cast a shadow because the bone and fat support has dropped, most common in patients in their thirties onward. Pigmentation darkens the skin under the eyes through genetics, sun damage or post-inflammatory marking, particularly common on darker skin types. Vascular dark circles come from blood vessels showing through unusually thin under-eye skin, often inherited. And general thin or dull skin amplifies all three.
Concealer works at the surface but cannot lift hollowing, fade true pigmentation or thicken the skin. Each underlying cause needs a specific in-clinic treatment to deliver a lasting change.
At CoLaz we start every dark-circles consultation with a careful assessment to identify which pattern is present, often a combination, and then build a treatment plan matched precisely to your cause. Treating hollowing with skin brighteners alone will not work; treating pigmentation with filler will not work either.
- 01
Thin under-eye skin
The skin under the eyes is the thinnest on the body, so the bluish veins and muscle beneath show through as shadow.
- 02
Hollowing
Loss of volume in the tear trough casts a genuine shadow, which is why dark circles often look worse when you are tired.
- 03
Pigmentation
Some under-eye darkness is true pigment, driven by genetics, rubbing or sun, and needs a different approach from hollowing.
Matched to this concern
Treatments we would consider for dark circles
No single treatment suits everyone. Your clinician pairs the right one to your skin type, how severe it is and where it appears.
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01 · Skin brightening Lumi Eyes Lumi Eyes is a bio-stimulating injectable specifically formulated for the under-eye area, polynucleotides that improve skin quality, brightness and thickness across a course of three sessions two weeks apart. Particularly strong on pigmented and thin-skinned dark circles. Best for: pigmented dark circles, thin under-eye skin, overall under-eye quality From £180 View treatment -
02 · Volume restoration Dermal Fillers Tear-trough filler restores the volume that has dropped from the orbital ridge, lifting the under-eye out of shadow. Delivered conservatively in microdoses with a fine cannula to avoid the puffy or bluish results seen at less experienced clinics. Best for: hollow tear troughs, structural shadowing, mid-thirties onwards From £150 View treatment -
03 · Nutrient infusion Mesotherapy A custom blend of vitamins, antioxidants and amino acids delivered into the upper layers of the under-eye skin. Improves circulation, brightens vascular dark circles and supports collagen quality across a course of four to six sessions. Best for: vascular dark circles, tired-looking eyes, overall brightness, all skin types From £199 View treatment -
04 · Healing support PRP Face Platelet-rich plasma drawn from your own blood, injected into the under-eye area to support collagen, brighten tone and improve overall skin quality. Common for patients with mature under-eye skin or who want a fully autologous (no foreign product) treatment. Best for: mature under-eye skin, patients preferring autologous treatment, post-Lumi maintenance From £375 View treatment
How we approach it
Match the treatment to the cause, not the symptom.
- Phase 1
Identify the pattern
At consultation we look in detail at the under-eye area, is the shadow caused by hollowing (visible only at certain angles, lifts when you look up), pigmentation (consistent regardless of angle, darker in tone), vascular (bluish or purplish, particularly visible in cold weather), or a combination? The treatment plan is built precisely around that diagnosis.
- Phase 2
Treat and maintain
Tear-trough filler is a single or two-session treatment that lasts twelve to eighteen months. Lumi Eyes and mesotherapy are run as courses of three to six sessions and last six to twelve months before maintenance. PRP is run alongside or after the structural work. Strict SPF 50 around the eye area is non-negotiable across all protocols, sun damage is one of the biggest drivers of under-eye pigmentation.
At home
What you can do alongside your plan
- Wear SPF 50 around the eye area year-round, UV exposure is one of the strongest drivers of under-eye pigmentation
- Sleep on your back with your head slightly elevated, reduces fluid pooling that worsens vascular dark circles overnight
- Avoid rubbing the eyes, friction worsens pigmentation, particularly on darker skin types
- Add a vitamin K or caffeine-based eye serum in the morning, supports vascular brightness alongside in-clinic work
- Check iron and B12 levels with your GP, chronic anaemia or deficiency can amplify shadowing under the eyes
The most common mistake with dark circles is treating the symptom without diagnosing the cause. Filler will not lift true pigmentation. Skin brighteners will not lift true hollowing. The first ten minutes of the consultation matter more than the treatment itself.
Common questions
About dark circles treatment
Something else? Message your nearest clinic and a clinician will answer.
What causes dark circles under my eyes?
Dark circles have four main underlying causes that often co-exist: hollow tear troughs (volume loss casting a shadow), pigmentation (genetics, sun damage or post-inflammatory marking), vascular shadowing (blood vessels showing through thin skin) and thin or dull skin amplifying all three. Lifestyle factors, lack of sleep, dehydration, alcohol, allergies and iron deficiency, make all four patterns more visible. The right treatment depends entirely on which pattern you have.
Which treatment is right for my dark circles?
It depends on the underlying cause identified at consultation. Hollow tear-trough shadowing responds best to dermal filler. Pigmented dark circles respond best to Lumi Eyes plus strict daily SPF. Vascular dark circles respond best to mesotherapy and skin brightening serums. Mature under-eye skin often benefits from a combination including PRP. We will be honest at consultation if your dark circles are lifestyle-driven and what you need is sleep and SPF rather than an injectable.
Are under-eye treatments safe?
Yes, when delivered by qualified clinicians using fine cannulas and conservative dosing. The under-eye is a sensitive area with delicate vasculature, which is why we only allow qualified clinicians to inject here and why we use a cannula rather than a needle for tear-trough filler. Short-term mild swelling, bruising and tenderness are normal and self-limiting. Anything more significant is rare and is discussed in detail at consultation before treatment is agreed.
Will my dark circles come back?
Filler lasts twelve to eighteen months before topping up. Lumi Eyes and mesotherapy courses last six to twelve months before a maintenance round. PRP is run on a similar cadence. Pigmented dark circles will gradually return without daily SPF, sun exposure is the biggest external driver. Lifestyle-driven shadowing (sleep, hydration, iron) needs the lifestyle piece addressed alongside the in-clinic plan or the result will not hold.
How long until I see results?
Filler results are visible immediately, with the final settled result at two weeks once initial swelling has gone. Lumi Eyes shows visible brightening from session two onwards, with the full course completing the result. Mesotherapy results build progressively across the course of four to six sessions. PRP delivers a gradual improvement across two to three months. Photographs are taken at the start so progress can be tracked objectively.
Is there any downtime?
All under-eye injectables can leave mild swelling and small bruises for forty-eight to seventy-two hours, occasionally up to a week. We do not recommend booking these treatments in the week before a major event. Mesotherapy and Lumi Eyes leave small bumps that settle within twenty-four hours. The expected recovery is confirmed at consultation so you can plan around it.
How much do dark-circles treatments cost at CoLaz?
Tear-trough filler is priced per area for a single session, with a top-up included where needed. Lumi Eyes is sold as a course of three sessions. Mesotherapy is sold per session with discounts on a course of four or six. PRP is sold per session. The full plan price is agreed in writing at your free consultation before any session is booked.
Our locations
Find your nearest CoLaz
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CoLaz Derby 21-23 Pear Tree Road, Derby DE23 6PZ View clinic -
CoLaz Wembley 17 Wembley Hill Road, Wembley HA9 8AF View clinic -
CoLaz London Paddington 31 Southwick Street, London W2 1JQ View clinic -
CoLaz Slough 183 Farnham Road, Slough SL1 4XP View clinic -
CoLaz Reading 292 Oxford Road, Reading RG30 1AD View clinic -
CoLaz Southall 247 The Broadway, Southall UB1 1NF View clinic -
CoLaz Hounslow 435-437 Great West Road, Hounslow TW5 0BY View clinic - Not sure which is nearest? Maps, opening hours and directions for all seven clinics. All clinics
Bring your skin in, we will match the plan
The first consultation is free and there is no obligation to book. We look at your skin, your history and your home routine before recommending anything.