Dark circles under the eyes appear clearly on the face because the skin around the eye area is the thinnest skin on the body. This makes it easier to see the blood vessels. Think of a "black eye" - it's easier to see because broken blood vessels show through that thin skin.
Dark circles are not normally a health problem. Sometimes just a good night's sleep can fix the problem. But there are other common causes for those gloomy crescents. They include:
Thinning of the skin
The fine skin under the eyes can thin out even more with age. One reason is that the body is not making as much collagen (the second most abundant substance in the body after water) as it used to. Aging produces less collagen, which makes the skin under the eyes even thinner. So the dark blood vessels below the surface become more obvious.
Allergies
Seasonal allergies can trigger histamines in the body. These are chemicals made by the immune system to help the body rid itself of something harmful, like any substance that is causing the allergy. Histamines can cause the blood vessels under the eyes to swell. If that happens, the thin skin can make the vessels appear darker than the rest of the face.
Lack of sleep
Lack of sleep makes the skin on the face appear paler in general. This is what makes the blood vessels near the surface of the skin more visible, giving you that "fatigued" appearance.
Too much sun
Exposure to the sun causes the body to produce more pigment called melanin, which is what gives skin its color. When you take too much sun, the breakdown of collagen is promoted. Less collagen equates to thinner skin, which makes veins more obvious.
Too much stress
Dark circles can be a reflection of stress. When you are under stress, the blood goes to other parts of your body instead of adding a normal flush to your face. Lack of blood will make your face look pale and the blood vessels under your eyes will become more obvious.
Too little water
A common reason for dark circles is dehydration. When the body does not have enough water, the skin under your eyes begins to look dull and the eyes look sunken. The result is more pronounced shadows and blood vessels.
Let's not forget the genes
You may have your family DNA to thank for dark circles under your eyes. In some families, members have a darker pigment in the skin under the eyes than anywhere else on the face and it can lead to dark circles. It is more common for families with darker skin tones to have dark circles. If there are sunken eyes in your family, that is another reason why dark circles can be more noticeable.
Ways to improve dark circles
While it is more difficult to treat dark circles that are caused by family genes or seasonal allergies, there are still several ways to shed some light on how to deal with them.
Change your diet:
- Choose foods with pigments. Some foods contain antioxidant pigments that can help strengthen your blood vessels so they don't lose blood and are more pronounced. Eating foods like blueberries, green or black tea, legumes, onions, and parsley can provide those antioxidants.
- Hydrate yourself in a healthy way. Drink enough water and other healthy fluids every day. Juicy fruits and vegetables are also excellent hydration resources.
- Cut down on the salt. When you eat salty foods, you can retain fluid, which can cause bloating. Aim for no more than 2.400 milligrams of sodium a day.
Protect your gaze:
- Rest well. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep each night.
- Keep the sun at bay. Use sunscreen daily, including on your eyelids. This will help prevent the skin under the eyes from becoming weak due to sun damage. Large sunglasses and a wide hat are useful protection when you go to the beach.
- Don't rub your eyes. Rubbing your eyes too much can break the blood vessels under the skin. It can make the thin skin around the eyes show the underlying broken blood vessels more clearly.
Give love to your look:
- Try the eye tea. Soak two black tea bags and let them cool before putting them in your eyes for about 15 minutes. There is caffeine in black tea that stimulates blood circulation around the eyes and redistributes fluid to help minimize dark circles.
- Cool off with cucumber. Cut two cucumber slices, put them in the freezer for several minutes, and then apply one to each eye for 15 minutes. The cold temperature of the slices, along with certain ingredients in the cucumber, can reduce puffiness and minimize dark circles.
- Apply topical vitamin K to your eyelids. This vitamin is added to certain skin creams and serums. It can help improve circulation and can make dark circles less obvious.
Hyaluronic acid to the rescue of your eyes
And if you are looking for a total solution to your problem, consider the facial filler with hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid hydrates and tones the skin, giving you a youthful and radiant glow. By brightening the skin, it can help mask the darkness under the eyes.
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