What’s the most effective treatment for dark under-eye circles? It depends on what caused them, says Lisa Donofrio, M.D., an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale University School of Medicine.

Dr. Donofrio tells The New York Times some people have dark “bags” or “allergic shiners” under their eyes because of allergies or congestion, preventing the normal draining of blood from that area.

But lack of sleep can lead to bags, too. She and other specialists advise the following:

• For puffiness, to treat the allergies, get enough sleep, or cover up the bad days with cosmetics.
• For darkness under the eyes, try cold compresses. The tannic acid in cold tea bags might also help constrict the blood vessels under the eyes and lighten the color.
• For people with thin skin, topical treatments like retinoids might also help.
• In rare cases, the skin under the eyes becomes stained because of natural skin pigment or leaky blood vessels. Topical cosmetic treatments like brightening and vitamin creams might help, and laser treatments that target pigment discoloration are also more effective.
• Bags under your eyes can also be caused by extra fat deposits in the lower eyelid, which can be removed through a surgical procedure.