Despite the fact that dark eye circles are not harmful, many people wish to treat or conceal them. It is possible, however, that they will not be completely removed.
Some people believe that dark circles under their eyes make them look tired and older, so they seek home remedies and treatments to improve their appearance.
What are dark circles under your eyes?
Dark circles under your eyes are caused by darkened skin beneath your eyes. This area may appear blue, purple, brown, or black depending on your natural skin color. Under-eye circles can make you look tired or older than you actually are.
Dark circles under the eyes can be brought on by a variety of factors. They are, however, not always indicative of a medical problem. Dark circles under your eyes are rarely an issue. But you might want to get rid of the dark circles under your eyes for cosmetic reasons.
Causes
To remove dark eye circles, people must first determine what is causing them. Dark eye circles can develop for a variety of reasons, including:
- genetic influences
- the presence of melanin in the skin’s dermal layer
- anemia caused by eczema or allergies
- post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
- poor lifestyle choices
- eye swelling
- the presence of blood vessels on the skin’s surface
- shadowing caused by thin skin
The following are some lifestyle factors that may influence the appearance of dark eye circles:
- lack of sleep
- stress
- excessive alcohol consumption
- smoking
Certain lifestyle factors can be modified to improve health and reduce the appearance of dark eye circles. However, some factors, such as genetics, cannot be changed.
People can try to reduce the appearance of dark eye circles with products or methods, but they may not be able to do so completely or permanently.
How to Remove Dark Eye Circles
People may not be able to completely eliminate dark eye circles, but there are several techniques and remedies that can help minimize their appearance.
1. Getting enough sleep
Some people notice dark eye circles when they have a lack of quality sleep. Sleep deprivation can exacerbate dark eye circles. Rest and good general health have been shown in limited studies to reduce the darkness of eye circles.
2. Sleeping with the head elevated
People who have increased blood vessels or vasculature around their eyes may have darkening of the skin under their eyes in the morning that fades slightly throughout the day. The darker color could also be due to swelling.
Elevating the head while sleeping allows blood to flow away from the head and face, which may reduce swelling and the dark color under the eyes.
3. Use of cold compresses
Cold compresses may help people with increased vasculature under their eyes. Cold compresses can constrict the blood vessels around the eyes, causing them to appear smaller on the skin’s surface. Compresses can also help to reduce swelling around the eyes and lighten the color.
4. Reducing sun exposure
People can reduce dark undereye circles by wearing sunscreen. In some people, ultraviolet radiation can aggravate dark eye circles. Sunglasses, sunscreen moisturizers, and hats can protect the skin from the sun and prevent the worsening of dark eye circles.
5. Cucumber slices and tea bags
Cucumber slices are sometimes applied to the eyes to reduce the appearance of dark eye circles. Although the mechanism of action is unknown, the cold temperature of cucumber slices may reduce swelling caused by sleeping, eczema, or allergies.
Some people use tea bags as well. Allowing them to cool in the fridge before applying to the eyes may have the same effect as cold compresses or cold cucumber slices. Some people recommend using caffeinated tea bags because caffeine can constrict blood vessels and make them appear smaller on the skin’s surface.
Caffeine can also increase blood flow across blood vessels around the eyes, giving the skin a youthful and fresh appearance.
It is important to note that the effects of applying cucumber slices or cold tea bags to the eyes to prevent or treat dark eye circles have not been studied.
6. Vitamin C
Collagen production can be increased by vitamin C. By making more collagen under the eyes, you can prevent blood from pooling, which can cause discoloration. Blood that collects in blood vessels is called blood stasis.
People may notice that dark circles under their eyes look better after using beauty products with a lot of vitamin C.
7. Retinoid creams
Retinoid creams, which are available in beauty stores, can also aid in the promotion of collagen production and the reduction of the appearance of dark undereye circles. These vitamin A creams also reduce melanin levels in the skin. Skin’s color is determined by melanin. Retinol creams are not for everyone. Before using retinoid creams, patients should consult with their doctor or another healthcare professional.
8. Hydroquinone, kojic acid, and arbutin creams
Hydroquinone, kojic acid, and arbutin are all compounds that inhibit melanin production in the skin. Low concentrations of hydroquinone and kojic acid, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, can be effective. Hydroquinone creams are not widely available in some countries due to the risk of side effects.
Kojic acid and arbutin are both naturally occurring substances. Arbutin can improve the appearance of dark circles under the eyes in small doses, but high concentrations can cause hyperpigmentation.
People should consult a doctor or dermatologist before using a beauty product containing hydroquinone, kojic acid, or arbutin. Only those with a prescription from a doctor may purchase hydroquinone. It had previously been available without a prescription, but the FDA changed the status in 2021.
9. Vitamin K
Researchers evaluated the efficacy of an antiwrinkle and dark eye circle pad containing 3% caffeine and 1% vitamin K in one study. For four weeks, participants wore the eye pads for one hour every night. At the end of the study, the researchers noticed a reduction in the appearance of dark eye circles.
More research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of vitamin K and caffeine-loaded pads in reducing dark eye circles.
10. Concealers and makeup
Some people choose to conceal their dark eye circles with makeup. Dark circles under the eyes can be concealed with mineral makeup foundation.
Optical diffusers are cosmetics that reflect light away from the skin and can help to conceal dark circles. These methods do not treat or prevent dark circles under the eyes.
11. Lasers
Laser therapy is a good way to treat dark circles. Less invasive laser procedures, like pulsed dye or diode lasers, can help lessen scarring and other possible side effects.
12. Fillers
If you have dark circles under your eyes because your skin is getting thinner or you are losing fat, fillers may be an option. The area under the eye can be injected with platelet-rich plasma or hyaluronic acid gel.
13. Surgery
A surgery called blepharoplasty can get rid of dark circles around the eyes that are caused by fat deposits or extra skin.
The area under the eye is very sensitive, so people should always talk about potential side effects. They must also make sure that any medical procedures done in this area are only done by a licensed dermatologist.
When people stop taking certain drugs, like bimatoprost for glaucoma, the dark circles under their eyes will go away.
Prevention
People can help stop dark circles from showing up by making changes to their lifestyle.
1. Get enough sleep and cut down on stress
Researchers found that stress made dark circles look worse, while getting enough rest and living a healthy lifestyle made them look better.
2. Keep the eyes safe from the sun
Dark circles under the eyes can be prevented or lessened by wearing sunglasses with UV protection that cover around the eyes and putting sunscreen around the eyes.
3. Give up smoking and drink less alcohol
Smoking and drinking too much alcohol can make you age faster and may make you more likely to get dark circles under your eyes.
When to See a Doctor
Although dark under-eye circles are not harmful to a person’s health, some people may choose to consult a doctor or dermatologist for cosmetic reasons. People who have low self-esteem or a poor quality of life as a result of dark eye circles may benefit from seeking medical attention.
A doctor or dermatologist can assist in diagnosing and classifying dark eye circles, allowing people to select the most appropriate treatment or lifestyle change. Doctors can also assist patients in managing their expectations regarding the effectiveness of each treatment.
Remember that most treatments require months of daily use before a person notices any significant difference.
To reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes, doctors may suggest noninvasive techniques such as intense pulsed light, radiofrequency, q-switched lasers, and pulsed dye lasers.
Some people, however, may require invasive techniques such as:
- medical tattoos
- chemical peels
- ablative laser resurfacing
- soft tissue fillers made of hyaluronic acid gel
- fat transfer
- implants
These options should only be considered in extreme cases.
Conclusion
Even though dark circles under your eyes aren’t usually a health problem, you might want them to go away for a more attractive look.
There are both home remedies and medical treatments that can help get rid of or lessen the look of dark circles. Talk to your doctor to find out which one is best for you.