Bags and dark circles under the eyes, no one likes it. If you do have them, then you are one of those persons wishing them to disappear. Sadly, they do not vanish magically but there sure are ways on how to reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffy eyes.
There are a number of different reasons why a person has dark under-eye circles. Identifying the cause of those under-eye circles enables us to proceed with the right treatment. Determining what exactly is the culprit behind those eye bags would solve the problem faster. Fed up with looking tired and appearing older than you really are? Here are the most common reasons for having dark circles under the eyes and how you treat them.
What Causes Dark Circles?
Fatigue
Fatigue would be the number one reason causing those circles to appear darker and those lids to puff. Extreme fatigue, oversleeping, lack of sleep, or just staying up late can cause dark under-eye circles. Not getting enough sleep can cause your skin to become rather dull and pale, hence the dark tissues and blood vessels underneath your skin becomes more visible.
Sleep deprivation can also cause fluid to build beneath your eyes, making them to look puffy. Resulting in the darkened circles that you see, which may actually be mere shadows your puffy eyelids are casting.
Allergies
Allergic reactions and eye dryness can trigger dark circles. During an allergy attack, your body releases histamines as a response to an irritant or a foreign substance. Aside from causing itchiness, redness, and puffy eyes, histamines also cause the veins and arteries to dilate and become more noticeable underneath your skin.
Allergies trigger itching, increasing your urge to rub and scratch the skin around your eyes. This usually worsens the symptoms, which in turn causes inflammation, swelling, and broken blood vessels, resulting in dark shadows under your eyes.
Take some antihistamine to stop your symptoms and refrain from rubbing your eyes.
Dehydration
Dehydration is a common cause of under-eye circles since we don’t take notice when we are dehydrated. When the body is not receiving the proper amount of water, due to their close proximity to the underlying bone the skin beneath the eyes begins to look dull and the eyes look sunken.
Stay hydrated, make sure to drink plenty of water, your skin will thank you for it.
Overexposure to the Sun
Excessive sun exposure can cause the body to produce more melanin. Too much sun, particularly in the area of the eyes, can cause pigmentation in the skin to darken.
Genetics
Family history also plays a part in why you have dark circles under your eyes. Studies show it can be an inherited trait seen early in childhood and may worsen as you age or slowly disappear. A medical condition such as thyroid disease can also result in dark circles beneath your eyes.
Aging
The natural aging process is another cause of dark circles under-eyes. When people age, they tend to lose fat and collagen, and the skin often thins. This can make the reddish-blue blood vessels under the eyes more noticeable.
As people grow older, they usually develop puffy eyelids or hollows under their eyes. These physical changes can cause shadows that can appear to be dark circles under the eyes.
How to Get Rid of Dark Circles?
Quality Sleep
Catch up on sleep and watch those circles fade away. Give yourself 7 to 9 hours of sleep to prevent the appearance of dark under-eye circles. If you’d had enough sleep and still experience darkening of the under-eye area, the problem might lie on how you sleep. Elevate your head with an extra pillow to lessen the puffiness of fluid pooling in the lower eyelids. Hygiene is equally important, make sure your face is clean, rid your face of makeup before you go to bed.
Cold Compress
A cold compress can help reduce swelling of puffy eyes and shrink dilated blood vessels. This can reduce the appearance of puffiness and help eliminate the circles beneath your eyes. Apply compress by wrapping a few ice cubes in a clean washcloth and place over your eyes for a few minutes.
Tea Bags
Soak two black or green tea (caffeinated tea) bags in hot water for five minutes and then chill 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. This treatment improves the appearance of your eye area. Tea contains caffeine and antioxidants that can help stimulate blood flow, shrink visible veins, and reduce liquid retention beneath your skin.
Limit Sun Exposure
Reduce or eliminate sun exposure to your face and always protect your skin by using sunscreen.
Moisturizers
There are a number of over-the-counter moisturizers that might help you with the darkening circles under your eyes. Caffeine, vitamin E, aloe, hyaluronic acid, and retinol, or a combination of these ingredients, are used in moisturizers. Make sure to use SPF with these products, since hyaluronic acid and retinol causes photosensitivity.
Almond Oil and Vitamin E
Mix equal parts of the natural ingredients, almond oil, and vitamin E, apply just prior to bedtime by gently massaging the mixture into the eye area. In the morning, wash the area with cold water. Repeat the process nightly until the circles disappear.
Makeup
While makeup and cosmetics do not cure dark eye circles, they can help to camouflage them. Concealers can cover dark marks so they blend in with your normal skin color. However, as with any topical treatment or makeup product, use proper care. Some products can cause your symptoms to worsen and may trigger an allergic reaction. If you begin to experience irregular symptoms from any topical treatment, stop use immediately, and schedule a visit with your doctor.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C can increase collagen production. Increasing collagen production under the eyes can reduce blood stasis, which may cause discoloration. Blood stasis refers to blood that pools in the veins and arteries.
People may notice an improved appearance of the dark circles under their eyes when using beauty products with high concentrations of vitamin C.
Skin-lightening Cream
To lighten circles under the eyes, a professional might prescribe a skin-lightening eye cream. The usual ingredients for these eye creams are azelaic acid, kojic acid, glycolic acid, or hydroquinone. You can also buy eye creams without a prescription in formulas with lower percentages of the active ingredient.
Chemical Peels
A light chemical peel can be beneficial in lightening dark pigmentation under the eyes. Commonly these will include glycolic acid, retinoic acid, or hydroquinone. This kind of treatment improves the appearance of the skin by removing the outer layer of old skin. The new skin that replaces it tends to be smoother and lighter in color.
Fillers
A hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler such as Restylane or Juvederm can be injected into the tissue under the eye by a professional injector. Fillers help with volume loss under the eye, which can cause dark circles.
Blepharoplasty
It is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of fat in the lower lid. This operation is supposed to decrease the shadow cast by the eyelid, thereby decreasing the appearance of dark circles under eyes.
*Information in this article is not medical advice and may not be factually accurate. It is intended for entertainment purposes only. Consult with a physician before attempting any tips in this blog post and to get the most up to date factual data about any procedure or treatment.
