Under-eye circles refer to the darkened appearance of the skin beneath the eyes, which can range in colour from blue, purple, and brown to black, depending on your skin tone. These circles can give the impression of tiredness or age beyond your actual years.
The causes of under-eye circles can include ageing, genetics, tiredness, and other factors, but they are usually not indicative of a medical issue. While they are generally not a cause for worry, you might want to reduce their visibility for cosmetic reasons. If so, there are a lot of treatment options available, from home remedies to medical procedures.
Read more to find out “how to remove dark circles under eyes permanently.”
Home Remedies for Dark Circles Under the Eyes
It’s not always possible to permanently get rid of dark circles under the eyes. However, treatments and some consistent lifestyle changes can help significantly reduce their appearance. Dark circles are usually not harmful and don’t always mean that a person is tired or unwell. If you want to reduce them for cosmetic reasons, you might find the following tips helpful:
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Quality of Sleep
Many people link the presence of dark circles under the eyes to a lack of sleep. Individuals who are sleep-deprived tend to notice their dark circles more, rather than the actual colour of the circles changing. It is crucial to establish and stick to a consistent sleep schedule in order to minimise dark circles. Aim to get 7-9 hours of sleep every night to give your body sufficient time to repair and revitalise the skin.
Sleeping on your back with your head slightly raised can prevent fluid from accumulating under your eyes. This can reduce puffiness and dark circles.
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Diet and Hydration
Your diet is important for your skin health, including the skin under your eyes. Deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals can exacerbate dark circles, so it’s important to follow an anti-inflammatory diet that includes the following nutrients in your daily diet:
– Vitamin C
Vitamin C boosts collagen production, helping to strengthen the delicate skin under the eyes and reduce discolouration. You can increase your intake by including citrus fruits, berries, bell peppers, and leafy greens in your diet.
– Vitamin K
Vitamin K improves blood circulation and strengthens capillaries, which can reduce the appearance of dark circles. Leafy greens like kale, spinach, and broccoli are great sources of vitamin K.
– Iron
Iron deficiency is a common cause of dark circles, as it leads to poor oxygen flow in the blood. If your dark circles are due to iron deficiency, you can add more iron-rich foods, such as red meat, lentils, spinach, and fortified cereals.
– Hydration
Staying well hydrated is essential to having supple, healthy skin. Dehydration can make the skin around your eyes look dull and sunken. Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to keep your skin hydrated and plump.
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Tea Bags
Applying tea bags can reduce puffiness and dark circles under the eyes. Caffeine possesses antioxidant qualities and promotes circulation around the eyes.
To apply, soak two tea bags in warm water, then chill them in the refrigerator for a short time. Place one bag over each eye. After five minutes, take off the tea bags and rinse the area with cold water.
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Cucumber Slice
Cucumbers contain 96% water and are rich in nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Cucumber slices are a traditional solution for under-eye circles due to their high antioxidant content and their ability to produce a cooling sensation.
Cut a refrigerated cucumber and place the slices over your eyes for approximately 10-15 minutes. This can decrease puffiness and illuminate the skin under your eyes.
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Cold Compress
Using a cold compress is a simple and quick method to minimise dark circles and puffiness. Your under eye area may occasionally appear darker due to dilated blood vessels. The blood vessels may contract while using a cold compress, which could minimise the appearance of dark circles. Cool spoons can be used to compress dilated blood vessels in the eyes. This might lessen the visibility of dark circles and swollen eyelids.
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Minimise Sun Exposure
Make sure to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Every day, put on sunscreen with at least SPF 30 on your face, even if it’s cloudy. This can prevent dark spots and make your dark circles less noticeable.
Also, you should wear sunglasses that have UV protection. This will help keep your under eye area safe from sun damage. Find sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays for the best protection.
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Avoid Smoke and Excessive Alcohol
Smoking increases the ageing process of your skin. Excessive alcohol use and smoking can both be harmful to a person’s skin tone, especially around the eyes. They may cause the skin to seem dehydrated and older by decreasing blood circulation. If you reduce and quit your alcohol consumption and avoid smoking, your skin may improve with fewer dark circles.
8. Proper Skincare
Taking care of the skin around your eyes with the right skincare products can make a big difference. Use a gentle, moisturising eye cream with ingredients like hyaluronic acid or retinol to keep the skin hydrated and smooth. Always remove makeup before bed and avoid rubbing your eyes, as the under eye skin is more delicate and prone to damage.
Medical Treatments for Dark Circles Under the Eyes
If you want to get rid of your dark circles quickly, you should contact your doctor. They can tell you about the different treatments available for your skin issue. Medical treatments for dark circles under your eyes may include:
Chemical Peel
A chemical peel is a treatment that makes the skin smoother by removing its top layers using a special chemical solution. This can help with dark circles and scars, especially on the face. There are different types of chemical peels: light, medium, and deep. Light peels are for fine wrinkles, acne, and uneven skin tone and can be done every 2 to 4 weeks. Medium peels target wrinkles, acne scars, and uneven skin tone, and may require multiple sessions. Deep peels are for deeper wrinkles, scars, and precancerous growths, but they usually only need one treatment for full effect.
Chemical peels can be done alone or combined with other treatments. The results are more significant with deeper peels, but the recovery time is longer.
Tear Trough Fillers
Tear trough fillers can help reduce the look of hollows and dark circles by adding volume to the area. It’s a simple and gentle treatment that doesn’t involve surgery. You’ll be given a numbing cream so you won’t feel any pain. The results can last from six months to a few years, and there’s not much downtime after the procedure.
Laser Resurfacing
Laser resurfacing is a good way to make dark circles under the eyes look better. It uses laser energy to get rid of damaged skin cells and increase collagen production in the skin. This can make the skin look and feel better. Laser treatments work fast, and you don’t need a lot of time to get better. They can also help with other things like wrinkles and loose skin around the eyes.
Polynucleotides
Polynucleotides are fragments derived from fish DNA suspended in a saline gel for injection, designed to promote tissue repair by stimulating fibroblasts, enhancing cell turnover, improving skin elasticity, and increasing collagen production and hydration. They improve skin quality and reduce dark circles by repairing damaged blood vessels. Polynucleotides (PDRNs) function by signalling specific cells in the body to change their activity and produce collagen, hyaluronic acid, and fat.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a nonsurgical, minimally invasive procedure that can help lessen the appearance of dark circles around the eyes. PRP can repair age-related volume loss, which can result in under-eye shadows. This treatment is administered by injecting the patient’s own blood plasma under the eyes. The plasma encourages the skin to produce more collagen and blood vessels since it contains growth factors and healing capabilities. As a result, dark circles appear less noticeable since the skin is thicker and has more flesh between the blood vessels.
Final Thoughts
For many people, dark circles around the eyes are a common problem. They can be caused by getting older, genetics, allergies, or not sleeping enough. However, home remedies and medical treatments might help reduce the dark circles. But if they don’t go away or if you have a lot of swelling, it’s important to talk to a doctor. They can help you figure out if there’s any medical issue that needs special care.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it possible to get rid of dark circles forever?
It might be possible to get rid of dark circles permanently, but it depends on what’s causing them. Dark circles can have multiple causes, some of which may be temporary and others may be permanent.
2. Can you naturally reduce dark circles?
Mild to moderate dark circles can often be improved with simple habits and home remedies. For example, you can try placing something cold on the area under your eyes to help reduce the appearance of dark circles caused by visible blood vessels.
3. Why do I have dark circles under my eyes?
Dark circles under your eyes can be caused by being tired, but there are other reasons, such as:
Allergies
Hay fever
Eczema
Contact dermatitis
Genetics
Skin pigmentation issues
Rubbing or scratching your eyes
Sun exposure
4. Do dark circles fade on their own?
Dark circles may become more noticeable and lasting as time goes on. This is because as we get older, our skin loses collagen and becomes thinner and more see-through.
5. Can coconut oil get rid of dark circles?
As we get older, our under eye skin becomes thinner, which makes the blood vessels more visible and causes dark circles. Coconut oil may help as it strengthens the skin, making these blood vessels less visible.
