Periocular Dark Circles: Correlates of Severity

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Cosmetic Science
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Periocular dark circles (PDCs) are a prevalent cosmetic concern.
• Current objective grading systems for PDCs lack standardization.
• Understanding factors influencing PDC perception is essential for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors associated with both subjective and objective severity of periocular dark circles.
• To compare the determinants of patient dissatisfaction with objective clinical and colorimetric measurements.
• To evaluate the correlation between subjective grading and objective assessment tools.

Main Methods:

• 100 patients completed questionnaires on demographics, medical history, and PDC self-perception.
• Clinical severity of PDCs was graded (0-4), and subtypes were identified.
• Colorimetry (Konica Minolta CR-400) measured periocular darkness (ΔL*).
• Spearman correlation coefficients were used for statistical analysis.

Main Results:

• Patient dissatisfaction correlated with clinical severity (r=0.46) and objective darkness (ΔL*, r=0.35).
• Subjective factors included female sex, higher Fitzpatrick skin type, less sleep, and concealer use.
• Objective factors included higher Fitzpatrick skin type, family history of PDCs, and eczema history.
• Clinical severity correlated with colorimetric measurements (r=0.36).

Conclusions:

• Subjective dissatisfaction with PDCs is linked to clinical severity.
• Factors influencing subjective PDC perception do not entirely overlap with objective measures.
• Patient-reported grading is important and may enhance traditional objective PDC assessment scales.