Dark Circles: Matching Device Options to the Actual Cause
Dark circles are four different problems wearing the same makeup. Device selection without cause identification is the most common reason periorbital work disappoints.
The Four-Cause Diagnostic
| Cause | What you see | Stretch test | Device logic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vascular | Blue-purple tint, worse when tired | Darkness persists when skin stretched | Gentle vascular IPL/low-fluence, LED support |
| Pigmented | Brown patches, genetic/sun pattern | Stays | Conservative pigment toning only — eye-area fluence floor |
| Structural (tear trough) | Shadow from contour depression | Shadow shifts with light angle | Not a device case — filler/medical referral |
| Skin quality | Crepey texture scattering light | Texture visible | Non-ablative fractional (e.g., 1470 nm) |
The Two Consultation Moves
- Stretch and light-angle tests take ninety seconds and route the client correctly
- Say the structural truth: shadow-casting anatomy will not respond to any energy device — referring it out is the trust play
Safety Floor
Whatever the device, periorbital work runs at the lowest fluence tier with proper ocular protection — the 1470 periorbital protocol covers the texture category end to end.