“Dr. Seckel, I have primary open angle glaucoma and have had it for 20 years. My present medication is travatan .004% and all the meds I’ve taken over the years have given me dark circles under the eyelids. Is there any treatment to lighten the skin around and under my eyes that will help to lighten this area. I’m a very active person and I have used cover up concealer but it really doesn’t make it. I am a male 69 years of age. Thanking you in advance,” - Norman
Dear Norman,
Unfortunately there is no cream that will remove the dark color on the eyelids.
The dark color is actually caused by the purple color of the eyelid muscle, and because the eyelid skin is so thin you can actually see the color of the muscle through the skin causing the dark color under the eyes.
Dark circles under the eye are a different problem and can be corrected surgically (see What’s New category Bags/Dark Circles).
In addition skin pigment deposits on the eyelid that are superficial, they appear as brown patches, can be removed with some bleaching cremes and the laser(see category Brown Spots).
For now the concealor is your best option unless you have brown pigment or want to correct the dark circles. There are creams and lasers that can remove dark pigment from the surface of the skin
Thank you for your question. Please visit my Boston Plastic Surgery Practice or read Save Your Face.
Boston, Massachusetts
Peabody, Massachusetts