Skincare Hack for Tackling Dark Circles Without Spending a Penny Goes Viral

While there are a million hacks for covering acne, and a number of methods to reduce the appearance of redness and rosacea, we often overlook the thing most affecting how awake and alive we look: our under eyes.

There's nothing worse than waking up to deep bags under your eyes, but, before you start tracking your sleep cycle, it's important to know that a bad night's sleep isn't the only trigger of dark circles.

With so many causes for dark circles, it can be hard to know where to start if you spot under-eye bags on yourself.

In a now viral video, influencer Elle McNamara, known to her followers at @bambidoesbeauty, shared an easy way to check your under eyes without spending any money or seeing a specialist: the pinch test.

In the video, McNamara demonstrates the test, using her index fingers to gently pinch the skin together, as she explains: "When I lift it up the pigment goes. If that's also you, your dark circles are caused by thin skin underneath the eye.

"If when you pinch, the darkness is still there, you've got pigmentation."

To find out more, Newsweek spoke to Limor Weinberg, founder of The Clinic USA, Miami, who explained that: "Dark pigmentation of the under-eye skin is usually caused by a few factors. The two main ones are genetics and vascularity.

"If it's genetics, usually one of your parents or grandparents possesses the same genes and will therefore have dark pigmentation. As for vascularity under the eye, the under eye is an extremely vascular area full of tiny little vessels. When the skin is translucent, these vessels show up as dark shadowing.

"Other causes of dark circles under the eyes are lack of sleep, lifestyle, seasonal allergies, pigmentation caused by sun damage and lastly long lashes (usually extensions) can also cause shadowing that looks like dark circles!"

Weinberg confirmed that the test is an accurate way to check the cause of dark circles, as she said: "Usually I just pull the skin down to see if the pigmentation is still present, but either way works!"

How to Treat Dark Circles

When it comes to tackling treatment of the area, Weinberg said that approaching the "delicate area under the eyes, known for being the most challenging area of the face to treat, is nerve-wracking even for a seasoned professional like myself.

"Thin skin and poor lymphatic drainage leave this area extremely sensitive. Despite these difficulties, various treatment options are available based on the individual's skin type and the specific nature of their concerns."

For those who have been passed down their bags like a designer piece share from generation to generation, Weinberg says "a combination of chemical peels, skin lightening agents, and regular sessions of microneedling could offer substantial improvement by breaking down and suppressing the melanocytes which are the reason for this type of pigmentation."

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) treatments are also great options, as she explains: "These treatments have shown promising results, but require a commitment to multiple sessions, typically three to four, spaced about a month apart. While effective, the cost may not be budget friendly for some patients."

New developments in treatments prevalent in South Korea, involving polynucleotides (often using salmon sperm) and exosomes (particles naturally released from stem cells), are also a great option, as Weinberg shares: "These options are gaining popularity in the U.S. for their potential to rejuvenate the under-eye area by stimulating collagen and elastin, particularly appealing for skin that exhibits a thin, crepey-like texture."

Dermal fillers are also an effective treatment, however Weinberg warns that "this approach carries the risk of worsening pigmentation issues due to the Tyndall effect, a bluish discoloration that can occur when fillers are injected too close to the surface of the under-eye skin. Dermal Fillers should only be used as a treatment for hollowing under the eyes and never pigmentation.

"The most important thing to remember is that the causes of under-eye pigmentation and darkness vary for everyone. There is no ';one' treatment that fits all, so you need to find a qualified provider to figure out the perfect treatment protocol for you."

What Do the Comments Say?

Viewers were eager to try the hack for themselves, as one commented: "I've seen tips on dark circles, but I could never figure out what the "when u pinch" deal... thanks for the visual!"

Another said: "Really great hacks!"

Others were willing to embrace their dark circles, as one said: "I love my dark circles. I have had them since I was a kid."