elvirapistolesi, Autore presso Dott.ssa Elvira Danila Pistolesi

Dark circles are a dark, bluish shade under the eyes. Due to hereditary factors and aging, they are present at any age. They should not be confused with "bags under the eyes" (prolapsed fat), which can only be corrected surgically.

More frequent causes and medical treatments:

Very thin lower eyelid skin that lets the vessels show through.
Excessive vascularisation with important capillary fragility.

Bluish dark circles under the eyes as a result of blood pigment deposition due to rupture of the capillaries (eye rubbing, thermal stress), or vasodilation with blood stagnation (smoking, alcohol, water retention from excess salt, lack of sleep, etc.).
There are no effective treatments if the genetic component is predominant. The filler helps us if there is also a loss of fat volume ("valley of tears").

Hyperpigmentation by accumulation of melanin, a brown pigment produced to defend against external threats. Dark circles tending to brown. Constitutional or secondary to inflammatory threats (excessive exposure to the sun, dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, stymies, eye rubbing).

Difficult to treat as procedures can be aggressive. A combination treatment is ideal:

- Home application of depigmenting products made by the pharmacist only on prescription as some substances, e.g. hydroquinone, are banned in cosmetics. The treatment is prolonged over time and can be irritating.

- Lightening surface peeling

Specific for the eye and lip contour area is, for example, Enerpeel® El.Also suitable for young people (from 25 years of age), as a prevention of ageing. It is applied with a special pen. Enerpeel® El.Suitable also for young people (from 25 years), as prevention of aging. It is applied with a particular pen.

- Lasers and pulsed light.

- Biorevitalization with antioxidant-based injections.

Imperative is total sun protection after treatment and long-term to avoid recurrence.

Valley of tears or “tear through”

Accentuation of the lacrimal sulcus due to loss of volume of the subcutaneous fat with its sliding downwards. Linked to aging and excessive slimming, or genetic factors.

Specific for the eye area is Teosyal's Redensity II. Mix of hyaluronic acid, amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, which requires little water. Not recommended, however, for those suffering from eyelid swelling.

General preventive treatments

Sun protection with 50+ creams and sunglasses.
Don't rub your eyes. Do not use aggressive cosmetics.
To reduce edema: adequate sleep, sleep with an extra pillow, apply cold compresses and do not smoke.
Food rich in fruit and vegetables, low in salt, limited alcohol intake.

In the evening after many hours of work standing or sitting, especially during the hot season, leg disorders such as heaviness and swelling of the ankles can appear. The swelling is due to excessive accumulation of fluid in the crevices (edema). It is rarely a symptom of systemic diseases (heart, kidney, liver, hypothyroidism, etc.) especially when it occasionally appears in the evening and reduces at the end of the summer season.

The most common cause of bilateral swelling in the legs is venous insufficiency of the lower limbs, i.e. a difficult return of venous blood to the heart. Overweight, obesity and cellulite are often present.
It is precisely the autumn-winter season that is suitable to intervene in order to contain and avoid the worsening of symptoms with the arrival of heat.

What's venous insufficiency in the lower limbs?

When standing or sitting upright the venous blood goes from the bottom to the top, against the force of gravity; walking the muscle pumps of the foot and calf squeeze the veins and the blood proceeds upwards. The valves of the veins prevent the blood from flowing down.

In case of venous insufficiency, the blood slows down on the way back to the heart (e.g. defective valves, obstruction due to thrombosis, obesity and sedentariness), increases the pressure in the veins (with dilation of the same = varicose veins), and in capillariesFrom here, liquids flow out and accumulate in the interstitial tissues (edema) where they are not sufficiently drained by the veno-lymphatic system. The heat, causing vasodilation, aggravates the stagnation and accentuates the disorders.

An angiological examination, accompanied by ecocolordoppler, may highlight venous obstructions, valve incontinence and plan treatment of varicose veins and dilated capillaries to reduce the vascular bed, increase blood velocity and counteract venous stasis.

PRACTICAL REMEDIES

The strategy is to increase the speed of venous return from the lower limbs to the heart by moving the legs more and controlling overweight.

Wear elastic stockings with gradual compression: high at the ankle, descending towards the thigh.
Walk at least 45 minutes a day.
Correct changes in foot posture (e.g. flat foot) with appropriate insoles, wear comfortable shoes with a 3-5 cm heel;
Avoid overweight and obesity, which favor the flat foot, increase the load on the veins.
A low-calorie draining diet is useful.
Check constipation, avoid tight waist clothing that obstructs venous outflow;
Don't stand still for long.
When seated, lift the heel and toe alternately, and stand up frequently.
Sleep with your legs higher than your heart (lift under the mattress or better raise the feet of the bed).
Do not expose your legs to the heat, the sun during the hottest hours: hot baths, mud, etc. are not recommended. Useful cold water shower.
Don't smoke. Avoid alcohol (peripheral vasodilation);
Avoid, if possible, drugs that cause vasodilation (e.g. antihypertensives, estroprogestinics, corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, some antidepressants).
Useful manual lymph drainage

PHARMACOLOGICAL REMEDIES

Mesotherapy
Cycles of intradermal injections with vasoactive and draining drugs can relieve symptoms, e.g.: cynara scolymus extract; lymdiaral (homeopathic); glucosamine sulphate (Dona) aesculus hippocastanus (homeopathic); mesoglycan (Prism).

carboxytherapy
Cycles of superficial micro-injections of medical carbon dioxide induce a real rehabilitation of the microcirculation determining direct vasodilation, formation of new vessels, with an increase in blood flow and greater oxygenation of the tissues.

Oral medications

Phlebotonic drugs: based on diosmin, oxerutin. Antithrombotic drugs based on mesoglycan .
Diuretics are not useful since there is no plasma volume overload.

Natural phytotherapeutic extracts

on capillaropa-protective, antiedemigenous, oral or locally applied, e.g:

Centella asiatica (Centella asiatica L.); Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum); Red screw (Vitis vinifera) with draining action:
Dry extract of. Orthosifon (Java Tea) contains flavonoids type Sinensitin
Birch dry extract (flavonoids such as quercetin, hesperetin, etc.).