Summary: Goggle marks are caused by pressure, not damage. They fade on their own in 15 to 60 minutes. To speed that up, gently massage the area with an eye cream containing niacinamide, which dilates blood vessels and restores circulation to the compressed skin. To prevent them, loosen your straps outside of racing and switch to a wider-profile goggle for training.
If you have just stepped out of the pool with raccoon eyes, you are in the right place. Goggle marks (also called goggle rings) are harmless, but they are annoying - and they linger longer as you get older. Here is what causes them and how to get rid of them fast.
What Causes Goggle Marks
The short answer is pressure. For swimming goggles to work properly, they need to create a tight seal around the eyes to prevent water from seeping in. When the goggles press down on your face, they displace the blood and fluid within your skin tissue. After you take off your goggles, that pressure leaves a temporary yet visible impression on the skin until the blood and fluid are restored to the affected area.
How to Get Rid of Goggle Marks Fast
Restoring the natural flow of blood to the affected area is the best way to reduce the appearance of goggle marks. By gently massaging the skin with an eye cream, you can stimulate circulation and help alleviate the indentations and discoloration.
Eye creams containing restorative ingredients such as Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) and citric acid are typically the most effective. Niacinamide, in particular, aids in blood vessel dilation and skin plumping, causing the marks to disappear more rapidly.
Apply immediately after you take your goggles off, while the skin is still compressed. Use your ring finger, work in small circles, and do not press hard - the goal is circulation, not pressure.
What an Olympian Uses
Two-time Olympic artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez recommended Dermasport's Eye Cream for this exact problem in NBC Select's guide to the best skincare for swimmers:
"I personally struggle with goggles squeezing around my eyes all day and going home having puffy, irritated under-eyes. This is great for alleviating goggle marks."
Formulated for aquatic athletes and recommended by dermatologists for sensitive skin, it uses niacinamide and citric acid as part of our proprietary Ageless Recovery Complex (ARC).
How to Prevent Goggle Marks
Adjusting the fit of your goggles is the easiest way to prevent the appearance of goggle marks. You want to find the right balance between comfort and a secure, leak-proof fit. Avoid over-tightening the straps, as this can increase pressure on the skin.
For competitive swimmers, I recommend tightening your goggles before races and then loosening them back up for practice.
Another preventive measure to consider is larger swimmer goggles. Compared to thinner racing goggles, larger swimming goggles have a broader surface area, which reduces pressure on the skin.
Why Do Goggle Marks Get Worse As I Get Older?
As we age, our skin becomes thinner and less elastic. Consequently, goggle marks tend to appear more pronounced and linger for longer. This is also why a daily eye cream matters more for masters swimmers than it does for age-groupers - you are working against reduced collagen and slower capillary refill.
Common Questions
How long do goggle marks last?
Usually 15 to 60 minutes for younger swimmers. Thinner, less elastic skin holds the impression longer, so masters swimmers may see them persist for several hours.
Are goggle marks permanent?
No. They are pressure impressions, not damage. Repeated daily pressure combined with sun exposure can contribute to long-term darkening under the eyes, which is a separate issue treated with sunscreen and niacinamide.
Do goggle marks cause wrinkles?
The marks themselves do not. Chronic pressure on thin periocular skin, combined with chlorine exposure and UV, can accelerate the appearance of fine lines in that area over years of training.
What is the best eye cream for goggle marks?
Look for niacinamide (Vitamin B3) and citric acid. Niacinamide dilates blood vessels and plumps the skin, which is exactly what compressed periocular tissue needs.
How do I stop getting goggle marks in the first place?
Loosen your straps for practice and only tighten for races, and switch to a wider-profile goggle that spreads pressure over more surface area.
