The skin under the eye is one of the most delicate areas that do not have profound oil glands. Due to this fact, this area is highly susceptible to dark circles.

 

What Causes Dark Circles?

Most of the time, the dark circle does not imply any serious health conditions. But in some cases, if you have any rashes or prolonged itchiness along with dark pigmentation, it is time for you to consult your doctor. 

Some common causes of dark circles are:

• Genetic factors

• Aging
• Lifestyle habits
• Straining the eyes
• Dehydration
• Shadowing of the skin
• Melanin pigment’s presence in the dermal layer of your skin
• Anemia
• Swelling of eyes
• Blood vessels exist on the skin’s surface
• Alcohol and smoking habits
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Exposure to the sun
• Skin allergies

How to get rid of dark circles?

There are plenty of ways through which you can remove the dark pigmentation under your eyes. 

1. Getting adequate sleep

As much as sleep is essential for your body and mind, it is also necessary for your skin. Quality sleep rejuvenates your skin cells and keeps them looking fresh. If your sleep gets affected, your skin will tend to stress, resulting in dark eye circles.

A sound sleep of 7 – 8 hours every night will help rejuvenate your skin cells and replenish your skin. 

2. Elevated position during sleep 

If you sleep in a declined position with your head leveled below your leg level, some bodily fluids may pool under your eyes. This causes your skin under the eye to look swollen and dark. 

So, make sure to place your head higher than your leg level using pillows. This will highly reduce the occurrence of dark circles. 

3. Avoid sun exposure 

If you are exposed to direct sunlight for a long time, then your body will produce more melanin pigments. This melanin is responsible for the darkening of your skin. This can lead to dark circles. 

You can avoid dark circles by wearing sunglasses, moisturizers, and creams with SPF content and keep yourself from overexposure to the sun. 

4. Almond oil 

Gently massage your eyes with a mixture of almond oil and vitamin E. You can use vitamin E capsules that are widely available in pharmacies and mix them with almond oil. 

Apply it under your eyes and massage your skin gently before going to sleep. It will highly diminish the dark complexion under your eyes. 

5. Cucumber

Placing cucumbers on your closed eyes can be another best home remedy to avoid dark circles. Close your eyes and place cucumber slices over your eyes for around 10 minutes.

This relaxes your eyes and improves the complexion and eye bags under your eyes.

6. Cold compress

Sometimes dilated blood vessels can darken the area under your eyes. A cold compress can cause the blood vessels to constrict, which may result in a lessening of the dark circles.

7. Tea bags

Natural healers suggest soaking two teabags — use caffeinated tea — in warm water and then chilling the bags in the refrigerator for a few minutes. Place a bag on each eye. After five minutes, remove the tea bags and rinse the area with cold water.

8. Vitamin K

Placing a pad (which contained a mixture that included caffeine and vitamin K) under the eye resulted in a reduction in wrinkle depth and dark circles.

9. Moisturizers

There are a number of over-the-counter moisturizers that might help you with the dark circles under your eyes. Many of them contain caffeine, vitamin E, aloe, hyaluronic acid

10. Retenoid cream

Retinoid or retinol eye creams come as a remedy from the cosmetic basket. Commonly known as an under-eye cream, it prevents and combats not only the dark pigmentation under your eyes but also the wrinkles and eye bags. 

Medical Treatment for Dark Circles

Your doctor might offer a medical option, depending on their diagnosis of the cause of the circles under your eyes. That recommendation might include the following.

Skin-lightening cream

To lighten under-eye hyperpigmentation, a dermatologist might prescribe a skin-lightening cream with azelaic acid, kojic acid, glycolic acid, or hydroquinone. Some of these creams, in formulas with lower percentages of the active ingredient, are available over the counter.

Laser therapy

Laser treatments use heat energy to vaporize damaged cells. The darker pigment under the eyes can be targeted. Along with lightening darker skin tones, laser therapy may induce new collagen formation.

Chemical peels

A dermatologist might suggest a light chemical peel to lighten dark pigmentation under the eyes. Commonly these will include glycolic acid, retinoic acid, or hydroquinone. Your dermatologist might also suggest a Jessner peel, which includes a combination of salicylic acid, lactic acid, and resorcinol.

Blepharoplasty

Fat can be surgically removed in a lower lid blepharoplasty by a plastic surgeon, oculoplastic surgeon, or dermatologic surgeon. The procedure can decrease the shadow cast by your eyelid, which can decrease the appearance of dark circles.

How to Prevent Dark Circles Under Your Eyes

• Understand the underlying cause. Understanding why you have dark circles under your eyes is the first step to treating them. For example, if it’s a lack of sleep that’s to blame, aim to get to bed a little earlier so that you can lock in at least 7 to 8 hours per night. If allergies are the culprit, speak to your doctor about treatment options. If your genetic makeup means that your skin is prone to hyperpigmentation, a retinoid cream high in vitamin A may fade the dark melanin pigment and increase collagen to make your skin less transparent. And don’t forget to drink plenty of water for overall good health and hydration.

• Treat your dark circles. Rinse your face with cold water. Hot water can worsen puffiness and make the dark circles more obvious. Use a cold compress such as chilled cucumber slices, tea bags, or a damp washcloth. Lay flat and set the compress on your eyelids for at least 10 minutes.

• Protect your face with moisturizer. You should use a moisturizer with SPF protection daily, especially on the face. Sun damage can worsen and exaggerate dark circles under your eyes. Keep the thin, delicate under-eye skin moisturized to prevent drying.

• Apply concealer under your eyes. Use a brush, blender sponge, or your ring finger to dab on some concealer. To create the illusion that your face is lifted, apply it in a downward-pointing triangle. A little goes a long way, so blend well to get just the right amount of coverage.

Don’t let dark circles under your eyes ruin your look! If home remedies don’t work, consult a professional aesthetician to see if there’s a facial or skin therapy treatment that will combat this skin discoloration.

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No material on this blog is intended to be a substitute for professional medical help including diagnosis or treatment. It is always advisable to consult a medical professional before relying on the content.