How To Get Rid Of Dark Under-Eye Circles
Do you get plenty of sleep every night but still wake up with dark circles under your eyes? Dark under-eye circles (under the lower eyelids) can be caused by many other issues beyond simple fatigue including genetics, heredity, and normal aging. There are some simple lifestyle changes, skincare products, and cosmetic treatments that help to prevent and treat dark circles.
Lifestyle changes
Get Your Beauty Sleep
One significant factor in dark circle development is inadequate sleep. A sleep deficiency results in eye puffiness (expansion of the skin around the eye) as well as the systematic reduction of blood circulation through the area; both of which cause the appearance of darkness. For this reason and others related to good health, get plenty of sleep each night. For healthy adults this equates to at least 8 hours of sleep each night.
Address Your Allergies
Common seasonal allergies like hay fever can cause discoloration under the eyes. The only way to treat dark circles resulting from allergens is to treat the allergy itself. This may mean avoiding contact with a specific allergen or taking prescribed medications. If you are unsure what is causing your allergies, schedule a visit with an allergist. They can run tests to see exactly what is causing your reactions and provide guidance on a treatment plan.
Treat Nasal Congestion
You may have noticed that during periods of nasal congestion dark under-eye circles develop. This is because this congestion is darkening and dilating the veins around your sinuses. If you routinely experience bouts of nasal congestion you may want to consider using a neti pot.
Eat Healthy
Dark circles and eye puffiness can both be attributed to lacking vitamin K and antioxidants in your diet. Additionally, B12 deficiency has also been tied to darkening the under the eye area. To combat any vitamin related deficit, eat a well-balanced diet and take vitamin supplements.
Quit Smoking
Yet another reason to quit smoking: regular cigarette use causes vascular issues that will make your blood vessels all over the body appear more prominent. This includes blood vessels under the eyes which causes darkening.
Products for getting rid of circles
Eye Creams
Regardless of the cause of your dark circles there are some fantastic eye creams on the market that can address discoloration and puffiness. A few of our favorites include Skinceuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex, Revision Teamine Eye Complex, and SkinMedica TNS Eye Repair. With long term use these products can dramatically improve the appearance of your under-eye area.
Concealer
While addressing dark circles through lifestyle changes and eye creams can take time, there is something you can do right now more immediate results: use a good concealer to hide the discoloration. For the best results choose high quality concealer that matches your skin tone and dust light translucent powder over the area after application.
Cosmetic Treatments
In some individuals, dark circles are the result of normal aging, which can puff the eyelids and hollow areas under the eyes. For others, heredity and genetics can play a role. If you’ve tried changes to your lifestyle and products but it doesn’t improve, cosmetic treatments would be the next step.
In these instances, non-surgical treatments like dermal fillers or surgical options like blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) may be needed to restore the eyes.
Nicole Butcher is a licensed aesthetician, having received her education at Dermalogica Academy and the International Dermal Institute in New York City. She specializes in laser hair removal, IPL, chemical peels, microneedling, dermaplaning, and eyelash extensions. She is also a certified technician with Coolsculpting, HydrafacialMD, and Ultherapy.
I’ve been dealing with dark circles for a few years now. I really like this cream (https://beautynskincare.com/revitol/eye-cream/) and wanted to share that. Also I try to get microneedling treatments regularly which seems to help!