A doctor has issued a stark warning against splurging “hundreds of pounds” on beauty products that falsely claim to resolve a specific skincare issue – dark undereye circles.
Dark circles under the eyes are a widespread concern, with some individuals experiencing more pronounced shadows than others. The causes can be varied, including genetics, lack of sleep, stress, allergies, and more.
While in some fashion circles dark circles are celebrated, even enhanced with makeup for aesthetic effect, many still seek to eliminate them. These leads countless people invest in eye creams hoping for a cure, but caution is advised by Dr Ree Adel, who boasts a growing following on TikTok through sharing insights and advice on skincare.
Identifying herself as a medical doctor in her profile, Dr Ree shares her passion for skin, hair, and beauty – an interest she holds in common with her twin sister, Dr Aamna Adel, a dermatology registrar who is very popular on TikTok.
In one of her recent videos, Dr Ree confronts the efficacy of undereye creams in treating dark circles, explaining that in certain cases, no eye cream will effectively remove them.
Speaking directly to the camera, she said: “I hate to be the one to tell you this but if you have dark circles and you think an eye cream alone is going to fix that, it’s not.”
Dr Ree reiterated her message was “specifically” for individuals with “hereditary dark undereyes” which are often passed down from parents or grandparents, indicating a genetic cause.
She explained: “Don’t get me wrong, eye creams can somewhat help, especially if they’ve got things like retinol, SPF or vitamin C in them. However, the only real solution for genetic dark circles is going to be something like lasers or PRP.”
PRP, or Platelet-rich plasma, is a procedure that utilises a patient’s own blood to promote healing of injuries and various conditions. It’s sometimes used in cosmetic treatments for the face, earning it the nickname “vampire facial”.
Dr Ree added: “It’s going to need a combination of things so if you are spending hundreds of pounds on eye creams hoping that they will fix everything, they won’t.”
In the comments section, people shared their views and experiences. One individual agreed with Dr Ree’s assessment: “Agree with this, no amount of eye creams helped my undereyes”, to which Dr Ree responded: “Eye creams are better for dark circles that are not genetic”.
Another commenter recounted their less-than-favourable experience with PRP: “I will never do PRP again. The swelling was mortifying, I couldn’t look in the mirror and it takes several treatments to see results. I work full time and don’t have the time to look that crazy”.
Meanwhile, another person added their own struggle: “Makes sense. I’ve tried soooo many eye creams but none of them work.”