Also known as periorbital hyperpigmentation (POH), dark circles under eyes are characterized by an area beneath the eye that appears blue, brown, purple or black. These dark circles can make you look tired or old. Continue reading to learn the possible causes and find out the best treatment for dark circles under eyes.
Why Do You Have Dark Circles Under Your Eyes?
Dark circles under eyes can arise from various factors, each contributing to the discoloration in this delicate area:
- Aging: The natural process of aging results in the thinning and loosening of skin under eyes. Blood vessels become more apparent, leading to dark circles.
- Dermatitis: With problems like eczema and contact dermatitis, blood vessels can be more easily seen through the skin under the eyes.
- Genetics: Dark circles may have a genetic basis. Studies suggest that their formation has to do with family history.
- Rubbing Your Eyes: Dark circles sometimes appear due to swollen and broken blood vessels caused by rubbing or scratching the eyes too frequently.
- Hyperpigmentation: Dark circles under the eyes can be caused by exposure to sunlight, which stimulates the production of a pigment, melanin, which is responsible for skin coloring.
- Lack of Sleep: Lack of sleep causes the skin under eyes to appear pale. In such cases, blood vessels stand out.
- Lifestyle Factors: Some of the causes are lifestyle factors such as stress, drinking too much alcohol and smoking.
- Dehydration: Without water, the skin becomes dull. This makes dark circles more noticeable.
How to Remove Dark Circles Under Eyes?
There are several home remedies you can try to remove dark circles under eyes. These include:
- Adequate Sleep: An appropriate amount of good sleep (around 7 to 8 hours) at night can help prevent or reduce dark circles under eyes. Lifting the head up with additional pillows can also relieve puffiness around the eyes.
- Cold Compress: A cold compress on the eyes will constrict blood vessels, thus reducing dark circles.
- Cucumber: Place slices of cucumbers over the eyes to give relief to tired eyes and reduce swelling. Meanwhile, cucumber, rich in water and vitamin C, nourishes the skin. Also, healthy tissues require silica, which is found in cucumber.
- Tea Bags: Tea bags, particularly green, black or herbal, can help diminish dark circles and puffiness. Caffeine in tea has antioxidant properties and promotes blood circulation around the eyes. Boiling tea bags, cooling them, and placing them on each eye can be effective.
- Antioxidant Skincare Products: Choosing facial creams and under-eye products that contain antioxidants could help lessen the appearance of dark circles under eyes. Dark circles can be relieved with antioxidants such as vitamins E and C.
- Facials: For a facial, massage the eye area with soft strokes. This will stimulate circulation and resolve dark circles that occur due to poor blood flow.
Dark Circle Under Eyes: Possible Remedies
For the more long-term solution, there are also many medical treatments to minimize dark circles under eyes. Some of the medical treatments used for this purpose include:
- Chemical peels: They can be used to get rid of pigmentation, dealing with the problem of dark circles.
- Medical tattoos: In order to diminish the appearance of dark circles, a pigment can be injected into thinning skin areas.
- Laser surgery: In this procedure, the skin is resurfaced and tightened, lessening the appearance of dark circles.
- Tissue fillers: These fillers can hide capillaries and melanin, the cause of skin discoloration under the eyes.
- Surgical implants: Dark circles can be treated by surgically implanting fat or synthetic products.
- Fat removal: Removing any excessive fat and skin and revealing a flatter, more uniform surface makes dark circles less apparent.
- Carboxytherapy: This involves stimulating blood flow to the area under the eyes and repairing elasticity. This helps lessen dark circles.
It is important to consult a doctor before having cosmetic treatments. Invasive medical treatments are costly and painful, in addition to often requiring a long time for recovery.
Conclusion
Dark circles under eyes are a common problem that afflicts all age groups. Generally ascribed to causes like genes, allergies, advancing age and lack of sleep, dark circles can be treated in numerous ways, including home remedies and medical intervention. Though home remedies such as enough sleep, cucumber slices, cold compress and antioxidant skincare products may ease symptoms temporarily, laser surgery, chemical peels or tissue fillers might yield more permanent results. But, if dark circles continue or appear with excessive swelling, then one should seek medical advice. A healthcare professional can evaluate the situation and give suitable guidance.
