The skin around the eyes is a delicate area where under-eye bags and dark circles can easily appear, often linked to poor blood or lymphatic circulation. Drainage, performed as a massage, is frequently considered a solution to stimulate microcirculation and reduce these signs of fatigue. But is this method truly effective? Read on to find out whether drainage can eliminate dark circles and puffiness.
Drain the periorbital area to eliminate under-eye bags and dark circles?
Summary
Published on September 17, 2025, updated on September 17, 2025, by Pauline, Chemical Engineer — 7 min of reading
Themes:
Key points to remember.
Dark circles and bags can be due to disorders of the blood and lymphatic microcirculation, but this is not systematic.
Manual drainage of the eye contour is often proposed against vascular circles and aqueous bags, but no clinical study has demonstrated its effectiveness in this specific context.
The supposed mechanisms are based on stimulating circulation and reducing water retention, but this remains hypothetical.
The eye contour being fragile, it is important to practice very gentle massages, ideally in combination with draining active ingredients such as caffeine or immortelle essential oil.
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Dark circles and under-eye bags: what is their connection to microcirculation?
The eye contour is an very thin and fragile area, where the skin measures on average 0.5 mm thick, compared to 2 mm on the rest of the face. This thinness easily reveals alterations in blood and lymphatic microcirculation. When venous return slows, blood tends to pool in the capillaries, resulting in the bluish or purplish coloration characteristic of vascular dark circles. Likewise, if lymphatic drainage is insufficient, interstitial fluids accumulate and create visible swelling under the eyes, responsible for under-eye puffiness. Fatigue, stress, a high-salt diet, or hormonal variations can exacerbate these phenomena by disrupting circulatory flow.
However, the dark circles and the bags do not all stem from the same mechanisms. Some dark circles, called pigmentary, result from localized melanin overproduction, producing a brown tint unrelated to blood circulation. Others, called structural, appear due to a loss of skin density and age-related atrophy of fatty tissues, creating a hollow that accentuates shadows. As for bags, they can also be fatty in nature and are linked to laxity of the tissues that normally support lipid deposits.
| Types of dark circles and under-eye bags | Cause | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Vascular dark circles | Blood stasis in the capillaries, slowed venous return | Bluish or purplish tint |
| Pigmented dark circles | Localized excess of melanin | Brown tint |
| Structural dark circles | Loss of adipose tissue and skin laxity | Pronounced shadow resulting from the depression |
| Malar pockets | Slowed lymphatic drainage, fluid accumulation | Soft, transient swelling |
| Fat pockets | Relaxation of the tissues supporting orbital fat | Firm, persistent swelling |
The different types of dark circles and under-eye bags and their causes.
Microcirculation plays a role in the appearance of fluid-filled under-eye bags and vascular dark circles, but it does not explain all existing forms.
Does massaging the eye contour help alleviate dark circles and under-eye bags?
Eye contour drainage involves manually stimulating blood and lymphatic circulation through gentle, rhythmic movements. It can be performed simply with the fingertips, applying light pressure from the inner corner toward the temple, or using tools such as gua sha instruments. These actions are often combined with the application of a serum or an eye contour cream, in order to enhance active ingredient penetration and boost the decongestant effect. Eye contour massage is frequently cited as a remedy for vascular dark circles and the under-eye puffiness.
However, despite its theoretical appeal, scientific evidence on the actual effectiveness of eye contour drainage remains limited.
21,7%
Of individuals believe that eye-contour massage can reduce under-eye bags (survey conducted among 23 individuals exhibiting under-eye bags).
Indeed, to date, there is no clinical study that has evaluated the effectiveness of drainage or massage on dark circles and under-eye bags. Yet, the lymphatic drainage is a well-documented medical technique, particularly for treating lymphedema, where it helps reduce fluid retention. By analogy, one might expect that applying these maneuvers to the periocular area would also help reduce swelling associated with fluid-filled under-eye bags and improve venous return in the case of vascular dark circles. However, in the absence of clinical studies on this topic, these benefits remain hypothetical.
In practice, it is still possible to integrate lymphatic drainage techniques into your skincare routine, but with caution. The eye contour area is particularly delicate, so pressure should remain light and movements slow, always from the inner to the outer corner. Ideally, it is best to combine the massage with a targeted treatment, rich in lymphatic drainage–enhancing agents such as caffeine, known to stimulate microcirculation, or the immortelle essential oil, renowned for its ability to reduce vascular permeability and vasodilation. For more lasting results, aesthetic medicine solutions can be considered, provided one carefully evaluates the options and consults qualified professionals.
Sources
GUPTA N. & al. Lymphatic drainage from the eye: A new target for therapy. Progress in Brain Research (2015).
LIPLAVK O. & al. New medical approach for rejuvenation of the periorbital area. Clinical and Medical Investigations (2016).
ASHTON M. & al. The lymphatic anatomy of the lower eyelid and conjunctiva and correlation with postoperative chemosis and edema. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (2017).
KOELMEYER L. A . & al. Manual lymphatic drainage treatment for lymphedema: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Cancer Survivorship (2020).
KORRAPATI N. H. & al. Effective home remedies that provide quick relief for puffy eyes. International Journal of Progressive Sciences and Technologies (2021).
WANG B. & al. Effectiveness of facial massage and exercise in alleviating visual fatigue: A systematic review. Asian Journal of Sports Medicine (2024).
