Dark circles under the eyes tend to age your appearance more than facial wrinkles or white hair. However, you can still minimize the appearance of these dark circles and in certain cases, eliminate them entirely. Read Step One for more information.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Recognizing the Cause
Step 1. Get enough sleep every night
It's not entirely clear why sleep deprivation can lead to dark circles under the eyes, but lack of sleep tends to make the skin paler (thus increasing the dark under-eye skin tone), and reduce circulation. It is also believed that too little time to rest is the underlying cause. Before going to sleep at night, delete ALL eye makeup. If you don't, as you age, your eyes will look a lot more tired during the day.
- Determine how much sleep you need (generally 7-9 hours per night, but varies for each person in their life). Try to get regular breaks for two weeks to see if that helps.
- Alcohol and drugs can negatively affect the quality of your sleep. Avoid these kinds of products or use them only in moderation for best results.
- Get enough vitamins that can help sleep. Lack of sleep, coupled with poor absorption of vitamins tends to decrease kidney function. The less kidney function you have, the less vitamin B6 you can absorb. The less vitamin B6 you absorb, the lower your kidney function will be and this is a vicious cycle. Sleep, regular vitamins (if needed), good calcium/magnesium support in the form of green vegetables (which contain more calcium and magnesium than dairy products) and good mineral supplements can restore kidney function.
Step 2. Treat your allergies
Allergies are a common cause of discoloration of the skin under the eyes. If allergies are at the root of your problem, treat the allergy or eliminate the cause. Seasonal allergies such as hay fever can generally be effectively treated with over-the-counter and prescription medications.
- For other allergies, the best course of action is to avoid them. If dark circles or swelling in your eyes are constant, you may have an undetected food allergy or an allergy to chemicals in your home or workplace. See a dermatologist to help determine the type of allergy you have. People who have allergies tend to be deficient in vitamin B6, folic acid and vitamin B12. Taking a multivitamin can also help.
- Intolerance to gluten. One common allergy that causes dark circles under the eyes is intolerance to gluten, which is an allergy to wheat flour specifically. A more serious problem is celiac disease. To test for this disease, ask your doctor to do a blood test. It's important to remember that you can be gluten intolerant, but not have celiac disease.
Step 3. Get rid of a stuffy nose
A stuffy nose can result in dark circles under the eyes as the vessels around your sinuses darken and enlarge.
Step 4. Eat well
Eat a balanced diet, drink vitamins, and lots of water. Many cosmetic problems are caused by a lack of vitamins. Dark circles and swelling are often thought to occur due to a lack of vitamin K or sufficient antioxidants. Similarly, vitamin B12 deficiency (commonly associated with anemia) can result in dark circles under the eyes.
- Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, especially cabbage, spinach, and other leafy green vegetables. Take daily vitamin supplements if necessary. Don't forget to drink plenty of fluids to improve circulation.
- Reduce your salt consumption. Excess salt can cause the body to store water in unusual places, and this can result in swelling under the eyes. Too much salt can also impair blood circulation and cause the blood vessels under the skin to appear bluer.
Step 5. Research your smoking habits and decide to quit
Smoking can cause blood vessel problems that can not only threaten your life, but also make them more prominent and bluer.
Step 6. Relax
Relaxing can help remove sources of stress and anxiety that are preventing you from sleeping, eating, and resting well. In the end, getting enough rest can help the condition of the skin under your eyes improve once you start to feel less stressed and more relaxed. Skin tends to reflect physical and emotional ailments you're going through, so don't ignore the need to relax.
Step 7. Accept what you cannot change
There are several causes of dark circles under the eyes that unfortunately you cannot cure. These causes include:
- Pigmentation irregularities. This can lead to circles under the eyes.
- Exposure to the sun. This exposure can increase melanin production.
- Thinning with age. Aging can thin the skin, making the veins and blood vessels more visible as your fat and collagen diminish over time.
- Descendants. Find out if this condition runs in your family, as dark circles under the eyes are believed to be hereditary. This doesn't mean that you can't do something about the condition, but that you should be prepared for little success in getting rid of it.
- Your facial features. Dark circles can be shadows created by your own facial features. There is nothing you can do to overcome this other than the use of cosmetics that need to be careful.
Method 2 of 3: Natural Treatment
Step 1. Use cucumber slices
Cucumber slices have long been used to reduce puffiness and refresh the skin around the eyes, providing a "stimulus" for tired and puffy eyes. Place a slice of cucumber in each eye, covering the dark areas. Do this every day, lying down for 10-15 minutes. Close your eyes.
Step 2. Place a cold teabag or ice cube wrapped in a cloth over your eyes every day
Tanning in tea bags can reduce swelling and discoloration. Lie down, preferably in the morning, and place a cool, damp used teabag on your eyelid for about 10-15 minutes. Close your eyes. You can refrigerate the tea bags at night so they are ready to use in the morning.
Step 3. Make a salt solution
Put two cups of water with teaspoon of sea salt and/or half a teaspoon of baking soda into one of your nostrils. Tilt your head to the side so that the water exits through the other nostril. This is best used if you have a stuffy nose.
Step 4. Use potatoes
Place a raw potato in a juicer and grind it into a pulp. Take a spoonful and apply it over your closed eyes. Leave it for 30 minutes by lying on your back. Rinse with warm water. This method works well for some people.
Step 5. Use a frozen spoon
Place a spoon in the freezer for 10-15 minutes. Remove and cover the eye circles with the spoon. Hold until the spoon is warm again.
Method 3 of 3: Cosmetic Solution
Step 1. Apply an eye cream containing vitamin K and retinol
Dark circles can be caused by a lack of vitamin K. Whatever the cause, skin creams containing the two ingredients above can significantly reduce puffiness and discoloration in many people. Long-term daily use can provide maximum effect.
Step 2. Apply under eye cream
Use a foundation that can disguise dark circles under the eyes. It's important to use a foundation that matches your skin tone (eg olive or peach for bluish circles). After applying the foundation, blend it using a thinly brushed transparent powder.
Step 3. Do a patch test on the skin
Before using cosmetics, do a patch test on the skin first. Stop using products that irritate your skin, cause itching, or make your eyes sting and water.
Tips
- Drink water. Drinking water will always help in any case, but when it comes to dark circles under the eyes, it really works. Drinking water also helps you relax because of its cooling properties.
- Avoid rubbing the eyes. Usually rubbing the eyes is triggered by allergies, but this is not always the case. It can also be due to anxiety habits or reflex actions. Whatever the reason, it's best to stop because rubbing can irritate the skin and break the capillaries under the skin, which can cause swelling and discoloration.
- Have a healthy diet that is fortified with vitamins C, D and E.
- Make sure you don't drink too many fluids before bed. This can increase the bags under your eyes.
- Focus directly on the skin under the eyes. Remember that direct contact with the skin under the eyes should be gentle, as this is the most delicate part of the skin on your body.
- Wear sunglasses to protect your skin from changes in melanin.
