The skinny on what causes dark circles, and how to treat them
Dark circles have become quite prevalent in today’s times. Both men and women are being plagued by these raccoon-eyes. While fatigue is one of the most common causes of dark circles, there can be other reasons as well.
Generally, bluish or purplish to dark brown or black, dark circles aren’t really a cause for concern but for cosmetic reasons, people wish they’d go away. Preferably forever.
In this article, we will talk about the causes of dark circles and how you can treat them efficiently.
Causes of Dark Circles
We've already discussed that there can be many reasons for dark circles ranging from natural factors, genetics or bad lifestyle issues. Some of these include:
Age: It's found that often with age, people develop dark circles under the eyes. This is because as you grow older, our skin reduces elasticity and becomes thinner. We also lose collagen and fat. Every one of these reasons causes the blood vessels beneath the skin membranes to become more visible which, in turn, gives rise to dark circles.
Genetics: If your predecessors suffered from dark circles, then there is a high chance that you’ll inherit that trait too. Also, a few diseases can also cause dark circles underneath your eyes. If these diseases are part of family history then your chances to develop dark circles will be greater. Dark circles due to genetics can be a little tricky to handle. It is better to visit a dermatologist for such cases.
Constant Strain on Your Eyes: Spending too much time looking at your television or computer screen can cause a lot of strain on your eyes. On being subjected to this constant strain, the blood vessels around the eyes become darker and enlarged. This, in turn, causes the eye area to become darker in appearance.
Too Much Exposure to the Sun: You might have realized that staying out in the sun for so long leads to the appearance of freckles. In the same way, overexposure to the sun can cause dark circles. This is because an excess production of melanin in the body is stimulated.
Allergic Reactions: During allergic reactions, our body releases histamines. Histamines are basically our bodies’ response to the virus or bacteria. This can cause the blood vessels under the eyes to expand and become darker.
Even the increased tendency to rub the area around the eyes can cause dark circles as a result of swelling, broken blood cells, and inflammation.
Treatments of Dark Circles
You can use home remedies as well as medical treatments to help reduce the appearance of dark circles on your face. And then, of course, investing in the best concealer for dark circles is always a solution, particularly if you use the right methods to apply said concealer. Some of the other treatments include:
Catching Extra Zzzzz’s Whenever You Get Time: Sleeping is actually a very effective treatment when it comes to dark circles. When you don’t get enough sleep, your skin will become pale, making the darker skin even more obvious. Also, the body repairs and replenishes itself when we sleep helping to keep diseases at bay.
Using Cold Tea Bags as a Compress: Tea contains antioxidants and caffeine that helps to stimulate blood circulation while simultaneously shrinking our blood vessels.
You can place cold tea bags under your eyes to reduce the appearance of dark circles. Just soak green tea or black tea bags in hot water for about 3 to 5 minutes. Then, refrigerate it for around 30 minutes. Once cold, use them as a compress.
Chemical Peels: By opting for chemical peels, you can lighten the pigmentation under your eyes. These peels can be done using glycolic acid or alpha hydroxy acids. A lot of people have this misconception that chemical peels can damage their skin. This, however, won't be a problem if you hire an experienced dermatologist or skin specialist.
Fillers: Fillers are basically injections of hyaluronic acid gel or platelet-rich plasma. As mentioned above, the thinning of skin and fat can cause dark circles under our eyes. It is due to this reason that using fillers can be beneficial since the skin becomes plumper.
Facials: Gently massaging the area around the eyes using antioxidant products can help to reduce dark circles. This is because the blood circulation can be improved and even the skin around the eyes will become healthier. Even hydrating face masks can help with dark circles.
Try opting for antioxidants such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E in your facial treatments as they help to reduce dark circles quite efficiently.
Resources— Healthline, MedicalNewsToday
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