The Truth About Dark Under Eye Circles - Central Florida Eye (2024)

FAQs

What actually gets rid of dark circles under your eyes? ›

Topical creams and bleaching agents: Topical creams, such as vitamin C, and bleaching agents, such as hydroquinone, can help lighten the appearance of dark circles under your eyes. Chemical peels: Chemical peels use alpha-hydroxy acids to reduce the pigmentation under your eyes.

In most cases, dark eye circles are caused by blood pooling in the vessels that lie close to the skin's surface. The majority of the accumulated blood is deoxygenated (lacks oxygen) so it presents a bluish or purplish tint.

The area under the eyes can appear darker due to constricted blood vessels causing hyperpigmentation, or from thinning of the skin around the eyes. All causes of dark circles under the eyes include: lack of sleep or poor sleeping habits. allergies, including hay fever.

Vitamin deficiencies, including vitamin B12, E, K and D, have been associated with dark circles.

Yes, dark circles are reversible. There are many things you can do to turn back the clock and restore vigour to your visage. Some measures are simple and temporary — like putting caffeinated tea bags over your eyelids. Other steps, like dermatological treatments and laser therapies, are more permanent and effective.

Dark circles under the eyes are usually caused by being tired. Sometimes, what appear to be dark circles under your eyes may merely be shadows cast by puffy eyelids or hollows under your eyes that develop as a normal part of aging. Dark circles under the eyes usually aren't a medical problem.

Dark circles eyes are an external manifestation of chronic liver disease, especially when liver function is impaired for a long time or people have liver edema, the longer the eyes appear dark circles.

“Very commonly, dark circles worsen with age,” says Dr. McGevna. “That's because there's a natural restructuring of the bones of the cheek, and some skin laxity in the eyelids, which leads to a hollow appearance, and a shadow from above.”

Dark chocolate

Caffeine or caffeinated drinks cause dehydration that worsens under-eye rings. Eating a diet too rich in salt can lead to water retention, which causes the skin beneath the eyes to puff up, making dark circles more noticeable. Moderating your alcohol intake to a glass of wine a day will also be helpful.

Dark circles under the eyes usually aren't a medical problem. If discoloration and swelling appear under just one eye and seem to get worse over time, talk to your primary care doctor. If you want a more lasting solution than concealers and over-the-counter creams can provide, see a dermatologist for advice.

Does drinking water help dark circles? ›

Drinking water helps to reduce dark circles and puffiness below the eyes. Water helps to flush out toxins from the body and reduces salt concentration around the eye area.

Vitamin B12 deficiency makes your skin look pale and lack of radiance. It causes the skin under the eyes to look darker in comparison. To reduce the appearance of dark circles due to nutrient deficiency, you need to improve your diet.

Dark circles under the eyes are usually caused by being tired. Sometimes, what appear to be dark circles under your eyes may merely be shadows cast by puffy eyelids or hollows under your eyes that develop as a normal part of aging.

By narrowing blood vessels and calming skin, caffeine can temporarily reduce under-eye bags. Caffeine can also wake up tired eyes by reducing the appearance of dark circles, informs Dr. Mariwalla.

Cut one cucumber into thick slices. Place the slices in a bowl of cold water and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Remove the slices from the fridge and place them on your closed eyelids for 10 minutes. Do this daily for a few weeks until you completely get rid of the problem.

A dermatologist might suggest a light chemical peel to lighten dark pigmentation under the eyes. Commonly these will include glycolic acid, retinoic acid or hydroquinone. Your dermatologist might also suggest a Jessner peel, which includes a combination of salicylic acid, lactic acid, and resorcinol.

While, unfortunately, Vaseline won't do much to help erase deep-set wrinkles or brighten dark circles, Sakar says the product can provide some of the same hydrating effects as your go-to eye cream — especially when it's paired with a moisturizing cream.

Around one in five Americans and Australians has a fatty liver and many of them don't even realize. However there are several outward telltale signs that your liver may not be in great shape. Some of these signs include: Dark circles under the eyes.

What autoimmune diseases cause dark circles? ›

Dermatomyositis: This is an uncommon autoimmune disease that can cause a dark red or purple rash around your eyelids that may look like dark circles.

Dark circles and under eye bags are a common symptom of the natural aging process. They can start to appear in your 30s and even as early as your 20s depending on several factors such as lifestyle and genetics.

Even though moisturizers are useful in keeping skin from drying out, nothing can take the place of drinking seven to eight glasses of water daily. Circles under the eyes seem to appear during aging.

Dehydration. When your body is not nourished with enough water, the skin beneath your eyes begins to look dull and your eyes can look sunken, due to their close proximity to the underlying bone. This can cause black circles under your eyes.

Lemon has great bleaching properties. Apply lemon juice on the dark circles with the help of your fingers or with a small cotton ball. Leave it for 15 minutes before rinsing your face with cold water. Lemon is rich with vitamin C which removes the dark circles.

“One of the best ingredients to find in eye creams is vitamin C because it gets rid of free radicals and brightens the skin,” says Amiruddin. Vitamin C is also a potent collagen booster, and so the addition of vitamin C to your nightly regimen can help thicken the delicate under-eye area and conceal discoloration.

Anemia or an iron deficiency can result in dark eye circles as not enough oxygen reaches the body's tissues. Liver problems can also be a cause. Any medications that make blood vessels dilate can cause eye circles to darken as well.

If your body lacks vitamin C, iron or zinc from nutritious foods, the first signs of the deficiency may be dark circles under your eyes.

Using gentle pressure, place a cold pack, a cloth filled with ice — or even a bag of frozen vegetables — to the area around your eye. Take care not to press on the eye itself. Apply cold as soon as possible after the injury to reduce swelling. Repeat several times a day for a day or two.

The estimated time frame to diminish the appearance of dark circles is between 6 and 8 weeks.

Can toothpaste get rid of a black eye? ›

It is believed that toothpaste helps break up the clot and increase blood flow. People report noticing a difference after just one night, but it may take several applications to make the bruise completely disappear.

A black eye is bruising and swelling around your eye, usually caused by a blow to the area, such as a punch or fall. It should get better within 2 to 3 weeks.

Used for centuries in skincare for its astringent qualities, witch hazel is also commonly used as a natural remedy for black eyes. Commonly used for its anti-inflammatory effects, witch hazel also helps to reduce discoloration of bruising and eye swelling.

A black eye may occur when blood, originating in the forehead or nose, settles by gravity under the eye. “Raccoon eyes” refers to blood that settles under the eyes and is associated with a fracture in the base of the skull.

Raccoon eyes are dark purple or blue bruises under your eyes. The name comes from their resemblance to the dark circles under a raccoon's eyes. Doctors sometimes call raccoon eyes periorbital ecchymosis.

A blepharoplasty can be performed on the lower and upper eyelids or both. In a lower eyelid surgery, a plastic surgeon removes excess skin and removes or repositions excess fat in the lower eyelid, which has the effect of making dark circles disappear and giving the face a rejuvenated look.

An iron deficiency indicates that the cells do not get enough oxygen, which can lead to the formation of dark circles around the eye area.

Gut health and dark circles under the eyes

If you are struggling with dark circles under your eyes, it might be a sign of gut problems. One study found that people with dark circles had a higher level of gut inflammation than those without dark circles.