We’re often told that dark circles under the eyes are simply genetic — a trait passed down like eye colour or bone structure. But at Mesglo Aesthetic Clinic London, we know that the story is more complex. In fact, the vast majority of patients we see with persistent under-eye darkness aren’t suffering from pigment issues alone — they’re showing signs of structural ageing, lifestyle impact, or skin degeneration that can be corrected.
In this deep-dive article, we explore three of the most common but underserved aesthetic causes of dark circles, what makes them different from hereditary hyperpigmentation, and how to treat them with modern, non-surgical, regenerative solutions.
Cause 1: Midface Volume Loss and Shadowing
What’s really happening?
As early as your late 20s, your midface fat pads begin to shrink and descend, leaving the under-eye area unsupported. This creates a shadow in the tear trough (the groove between your lower eyelid and cheek), making the area look darker — even if there’s no pigmentation.
It’s not about colour. It’s about anatomical light loss. You can brighten the area with every eye cream on the market, but unless you address the midface structure, the hollowness — and its shadow — will remain.
How we treat it at Mesglo
We take a layered approach using non-volumising, precision-targeted injectables. Instead of “filling the trough,” which can lead to puffiness, we support the structure from the cheeks upward:
- Cheek Enhancement restores midface volume to reduce downward shadowing.
- Polynucleotides for Face strengthen skin and boost fibroblast activity without heaviness.
- For select cases, we use micro amounts of filler in a blended tear-trough-cheek technique, which provides lift rather than weight.
This restores smoothness and light reflection under the eyes — correcting the “dark” effect at its structural root.
Cause 2: Thinning, Ageing Skin
The skin story no one talks about
Your under-eye skin is the thinnest on your entire body — about 0.5 mm thick. Over time, collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid deplete, making the skin even more transparent. When this happens, veins and capillaries beneath the surface become more visible, giving the under-eye a blue, purple, or greyish cast.
This is not pigment. It’s vascular visibility caused by thinning tissue.
Mesglo’s targeted solutions
Instead of pigment-lightening products or lasers (which often miss the mark here), we use regenerative treatments that rebuild dermal density:
- Lumi Eyes Treatment is our go-to solution. It uses high-purity polynucleotides to restore skin integrity, reduce inflammation, and thicken the delicate dermis. Results build gradually and naturally over 2–3 sessions.
- Exosomes for Face offer next-level skin regeneration, delivering cell-derived growth factors that increase collagen and elasticity in the periorbital area.
- Mesotherapy provides localised nourishment with peptides, antioxidants, and hyaluronic acid — ideal for crepey or fragile skin.
By making the skin stronger and more uniform, we reduce vascular show-through — giving the appearance of brighter, firmer eyes without adding volume or pigment changes.
Cause 3: Poor Circulation and Fluid Retention
The hidden link between lifestyle and shadows
One of the most overlooked — yet extremely common — causes of dark circles is poor lymphatic drainage and sluggish microcirculation. This leads to:
- Fluid retention and puffiness, especially in the morning
- A bluish or grey hue under the eye due to lack of oxygen
- Heavier shadows that fluctuate with sleep, salt intake, stress, and sinus issues
This type of dark circle isn’t caused by pigment or hollowness, but by vascular congestion.
How Mesglo treats circulation-related dark circles
We address this with gentle, non-invasive approaches that stimulate oxygenation, lymphatic flow, and capillary health:
- PRX Eye Peel (offered within personalised Mesglo protocols) helps improve dermal circulation and tightens delicate skin without exfoliation or downtime.
- Polynucleotide Injections reduce oxidative stress and support healthy blood flow and lymphatic drainage — especially useful in chronically tired or puffy eyes.
- As part of aftercare, we often advise clients on sleep positioning, hydration, and facial massage tools to maintain results at home.
This is the kind of tailored, physiology-based care that makes our under-eye programmes at Mesglo both high-performance and completely natural-looking.
Evidence-Based Aesthetics, Not Guesswork
Each of the causes above is well-documented in modern aesthetic medicine — and so are the treatments we use.
- A 2023 paper in the Journal of Dermatological Science confirmed that polynucleotides significantly improved dermal elasticity, hydration, and vascular stability in the under-eye area. DOI link
- In 2022, a study in Cells found that exosome-based skin treatments led to increased fibroblast activity and reduced pigmentation pathways, improving tone and resilience in periorbital skin. PMC link
At Mesglo, we don’t follow trends — we follow the evidence.
Which Treatment is Right for You?
Here’s a quick reference chart to help match your concern to the ideal approach:
| Concern | Recommended Treatment |
|---|---|
| Hollow shadows or tear troughs | Cheek enhancement + polynucleotides |
| Thin, see-through skin | Lumi Eyes or exosome therapy |
| Puffy or dark from fluid buildup | PRX Eye Peel + polynucleotides |
| Overall dullness or early ageing | Mesotherapy or Lumi Eyes (course of 3 sessions) |
For many patients, the best outcomes come from a bespoke blend of two or more treatments, spaced over several weeks for cumulative, natural results.
Book Your Under-Eye Rejuvenation Consultation
If you’ve been told that “it’s just genetic” or spent years chasing eye creams and concealers, it’s time to treat the real cause of your dark circles — with medically proven, non-invasive techniques.
📍 Mesglo Aesthetic Clinic London
Unit 4, 10 Portman Square
London W1H 6AZ
🌐 https://mesglolondon.co.uk
📅 Book your consultation and discover the science of brighter, clearer, healthier eyes — the Mesglo way.