Dark Circles Under Eyes - Causes and How to Treat it

Men and women both have dark rings under their lower eyelids, and these can be the result of a variety of factors. Dark circles, which are often accompanied by bags, may make you seem older than you are and are usually quite difficult to remove. 

Getting rid of those shadowy under-eye circles means appearing healthier, more rested, and much younger looking, despite the fact that they're quite natural and typical for a large portion of the population.

Before you try your hand at getting rid of them, it’s essential to know why you get them in the first place. Once you identify your specific reason, it can get easier to take care of them.

What are the probable dark circle causes?

A number of factors contribute to the formation of dark circles under your eyes and these can include:

• Ageing - Another typical reason for dark circles under your eyes is natural ageing because your skin grows thinner as you get older. You also lose the fat and collagen required to keep your skin supple and the black blood vessels beneath your skin become more noticeable as a result, darkening the region beneath your eyes.

• Lack of sleep - Sleep deprivation may make your skin look dull and pale, revealing dark tissues and blood vessels beneath the surface. Lack of sleep can also cause fluid to accumulate behind your eyes, making them puffy, and as a consequence, your dark circles might be shadows cast by your swollen eyelids.

• Straining your eyes too much - Staring at a television or computer screen for long periods of time may strain your eyes, making the blood vessels possibly expand. The skin around your eyes may darken because of this, resulting in dark circles.

• Dehydration - Dark circles beneath your eyes are frequently caused by dehydration because when your body is dehydrated, the skin behind your eyes becomes dull and your eyes appear sunken because the skin is closer to the underlying bone.

• Contact dermatitis - Because your under-eye skin is so thin, it's a particularly vulnerable region for those with contact dermatitis. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is a term used to describe the post-inflammatory alterations that lead to the appearance of dark circles.

• Seasonal allergies - Allergies have such a prevalent effect on the look of the under-eyes, where allergic conjunctivitis inflammation, along with repeated friction and rubbing of an irritated eye region, can result in ruptured blood vessels and bruises.

• Genetics - The development of dark circles beneath your eyes is also influenced by your family history. It can be a hereditary feature that shows up as early as infancy and may intensify or fade as you become older.

• Sun damage - Excessive sun exposure can cause your body to manufacture too much melanin, the pigment that gives your skin colour. Too much sun, especially around the eyes, can deepen pigmentation in the surrounding skin.

• Anaemia - Anaemia is a medical disorder defined by a shortage of red blood cells, which is mainly caused by a diet lacking in iron. Anaemia occurs when blood cells are unable to transport enough oxygen to the body's tissues, including those beneath the eyes, resulting in dark eye rings.

• Smoking and drinking - By drying the skin, both smoking and drinking can exacerbate dark circles. Drinking alcohol causes blood vessels beneath the eyes to dilate, making dark circles appear more noticeable, while smoking deprives your skin of oxygen. This might make it look darker in areas with thin skin, such as around the eyes. Smoking also accelerates the ageing of the skin by breaking down collagen.

What can you do about your dark circles?

Battling dark circles can be difficult, but not impossible once you have identified your cause and are ready to treat it accordingly.

• Use a good eye cream - There are specially designed eye creams in the market that are made to combat under-eye dark circles. You can seek out a brand that works for you and follow the product instructions to get the best results.

• Get enough sleep - Sleep deprivation can also contribute to the appearance of dark circles. Allow yourself seven to eight hours of sleep every night to avoid dark circles.

• Try a cold compress - A cold compress can help shrink dilated blood vessels and minimise puffiness, also helping with dark circles as a process.

• Apply some tea bags - Cold tea bags can be used to enhance the look of your eyes. Caffeine and antioxidants in tea can aid to increase blood circulation, shrinking blood vessels, and minimising moisture retention beneath the skin.

• Use sunscreen - Wearing SPF helps to prevent DNA damage caused by UV exposure, which can cause discolouration and collagen loss. Dark circles, age spots, loss of skin volume, wrinkles, and fine lines are all signs of this.

• Try a vitamin B12 supplement - A B12 deficiency can cause anaemia, which is when there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout the body. By boosting the oxygen flow in your blood, taking a vitamin B12 supplement can help counteract this and improve the look of dark circles.

• Maybe go for retinol - Retinol preparations are vitamin A derivatives that promote collagen development in the area around the eyes and brighten hyperpigmented skin when used to treat dark circles.

• Apply a hyaluronic acid eye mask - Dehydration may cause dark circles, therefore applying a thoroughly moisturising substance like hyaluronic acid will help fight this. To help lighten dark circles, apply eye masks packed with this substance.

• Concealing with makeup can help - While makeup and cosmetics cannot completely eliminate dark eye circles, they can assist to conceal them. Dark circles and spots may be concealed with concealers, which mix nicely with your natural skin tone.

When should you visit a dermatologist?

Dark circles beneath the eyes are fairly frequent, and they don't always need medical attention. They are a natural part of ageing, with several variables influencing whether or not you get dark circles, including sun exposure and genetics.

However, if your dark circles aren't improving or seem to be getting worse, consult your doctor. Your doctor can assist you in determining the source of your allergy and the best treatment options.

A dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon can undertake in-office procedures, such as laser treatments and fillers, to help make your eyes appear their best, in addition to medical care when needed. These therapies can occasionally outperform at-home treatments or topical ointments in terms of outcomes.