One of the most annoying and persistent problems a large chunk of us face daily is dark circles. No matter what we do, they don’t seem to go away, and we end up lathering makeup on to cover up. What causes dark circles, and what can we do to reduce them?
Table of Contents
1. What are Dark Circles?
Dark circles are the appearance of darkened skin below your eyes, usually in the shades of blue, purple, brown, or black; the color it appears depends on your natural skin color. Having dark circles has the effect of making you look tired or older than you are.
2. Why Do They Appear?
Unfortunately, there are various reasons dark circles can appear under your eyes; the most common cause is aging. The skin below our eyes loosens and thins as we age, darkening the area’s appearance. Tear troughs, which are hollowed areas, can also develop with age.
Other causes of dark circles are:
Genetics: Circles under the eyes can also be genetic.
Rubbing: excessive rubbing and scratching of the eyes can cause the skin underneath to swell.
Lack of Sleep: Poor sleep can result in pale skin under the eyes, revealing the blood vessels underneath.
Dermatitis: Conditions like eczema and contact dermatitis can dilate the blood vessels under the eyes and show through the skin.
Dehydration: When we aren’t drinking enough water, our skin can become dull, including the skin under our eyes.
Lifestyle factors: Stress, smoking, and excessive alcohol use in our lives can contribute to dark circles.
Hyper-pigmentation: Dark circles under the eyes can result from too much exposure to the sun, which propels our bodies into making more melanin.
Seasonal Allergies: These can contribute to poor circulation in the lower eyelid, which leads to dilated veins.
Eye Strain: The average person spends several hours a day looking at their phones and other electronic devices. Straining our eyes too much can enlarge the blood vessels around them and create dark shadows.
3. Treatments
There are different ways to treat the dark circles under your eyes. Simple treatments you can accomplish at home are:
Get more sleep: At least 7 hours every night is one way to prevent shadows from appearing around your eyes.
Cold compress: A cold compress or cold spoons can help shrink dilated blood vessels when applied to your eyes. This reduces puffy eyelids and dark circles.
Cucumbers: Cucumbers are full of water and Vitamin C; laying slices on your eyes can help with puffiness.
Teabags: tea bags contain caffeine and antioxidants and can increase circulation under your eyes.
There are also options for medical treatments available.
Topical Creams: Topical creams like Vitamin C and bleaching agents, such as hydroquinone, can lighten the dark circles under the eyes.
Chemical Peels: Chemical peels can reduce pigmentation under the eyes.
Laser Therapy: Laser therapy procedures tighten the skin.
Tissue Fillers: Fillers like hyaluronic acid gel can increase volume and smooth the skin.
Eyelid Surgery: Certain surgical procedures can remove excess fat and skin from around the eyes.
Light Therapy: Light therapy is another option. There are at-home devices to get rid of dark circles.
4. How to Prevent Dark Circles
We can’t always prevent dark circles, but sometimes changes we make in our lives can help.
Wear Sunscreen: UV rays always shine, no matter the weather. Protect your skin when going outside.
Sleep: Try to get at least seven hours of sleep a night. That’s the minimum.
Manage Your Stress: Make time for self-care and find a healthy way to manage the stress in your life.
Quit Smoking: Smoking tobacco can speed up your skin’s aging process.
Getting rid of dark circles under the eyes doesn’t have to be complicated. There are plenty of options available, and you can shuffle through them to see what works for you.
