While dark circles of the eyes are not dangerous, many people are looking for ways to treat or conceal them. However, they may not be completely removed.
Some people may think that dark circles under their eyes make them look tired and older so they’re looking for home remedies and treatments that can improve their appearance.
Keep on reading to learn more about eliminating or enhancing the appearance of dark circles under your eyes.
How to remove dark eye circles
Once a person understands why dark circles are developing under their eyes, they may choose a suitable treatment. Some people change their lifestyle habits while others turn to beauty stores for the treatments and products they need. While these may be safe, most of the home treatments may be ineffective.
People may not be able to completely remove the dark eye circles, but several strategies and treatments that help to reduce their appearance.
1. Getting adequate sleep
Some people notice dark circles under their eyes when suffering periods of low quality sleep. Lack of sleep will exacerbate the circles of the dark eyes. Few studies have shown that the darkness of the eye circles is reduced by rest and good general health.
2. Elevating the head during sleep
People who experience skin darkening in the morning under their eyes that gradually fades through the day may have increased blood vessels or vasculature around their eyes. Also the darker color can be the product of swelling.
Blood can move away from the head and face by elevating the head during sleep, and may reduce swelling and decrease the dark color under the eyes.
3. Applying cold compresses
People with an increased vasculature can benefit from applying cold compresses under their eyes. Cold compresses will constrict the blood vessels around the eyes, reducing their presence at the surface of the skin. Compresses can also minimize eye swelling and reduce dark colour.
4. Minimizing sun exposure
Through covering their skin from the sun, people will may dark-eye circles. Ultraviolet radiation in some people can exacerbate dark-eye circles. Sunscreen covers, sunscreen moisturizers, and hats can shield the skin from the sun and avoid a worsening of dark eye circles.
5. Cucumber slices and tea bags
Sometimes it does. People apply slices of cucumber to their eyes to lessen the appearance of dark eye circles. Though its impact mechanism is uncertain, the cold temperature of the slices of the cucumber can boost swelling due to sleep, eczema, or allergies.
Some may use tea bags, as well. Letting them cool down in the fridge and then placing them on the eyes may produce the same effect as cold compresses or slices of cold cucumbers. Some recommend using caffeinated tea bags because caffeine can also block blood vessels and reduce skin surface appearance.
Caffeine can also stimulate blood flow through the blood vessels around the eyes and give the skin a young, fresh look.
It is important to note that the effects of applying cucumber slices or cold tea bags to the eyes were not examined by researchers in order to prevent or treat dark eye circles.
6. Vitamin C
Vitamin C can also increase the development of collagen. Increasing the development of collagen under the eyes can reduce the blood stasis, which can cause discolouration. Blood stasis refers to blood pooling within blood vessels.
By using beauty products with high concentrations of vitamin C, people can find an enhanced appearance of dark circles under their eyes.
7. Retinoid creams
Retinoid creams used in beauty stores may also help promote the production containing collagen and improve the appearance of dark eye circles. These creams derived from vitamin A also reduce the skin’s melanin content. Melanin is what gives color to the skin.
The creams of retinoids are not ideal for everyone. Before using retinoid creams people should talk to their doctor or other health care professional.
8. Hydroquinone, kojic acid, and arbutin creams
Hydroquinone, kojic acid, and arbutin are compounds that perturb melanin production in the skin. The low concentrations of hydroquinone and kojic acid can be effective, according to an article in the Journal of Clinical and Esthetic Dermatology. In some countries, people have limited access to creams made with hydroquinone because they can cause side effects.
Naturally derived compounds are kojic acid and arbutin. Arbutin can improve the appearance of dark circles under the eyes for small doses but high concentrations can cause hyperpigmentation.
People should consult a doctor or dermatologist before using a beauty product which contains hydroquinone, kojic acid, or arbutin.
9. Vitamin K
In one study, researchers measured the effectiveness of a 3 percent caffeine and 1 percent vitamin E anti-rinkleand dark eye circle pad. For 4 weeks, the participants wear the eye pads for 1 hour each night. At the end of the study, the researchers found a reduced presence of unexplained eye circles.
More tests are required to confirm the efficacy of pads filled with vitamin K and caffeine to reduce the dark circles of the eye.
10. Concealers and makeup
Some people choose to use makeup to cover up the dark circles under their eyes. The base of mineral makeup will hide dark patches under the eyes.
Optical diffusers are a type of cosmetics that reflect light away from the skin, and can make dark circles appear better. No dark eye circles are treated or avoided by these techniques.
Causes
People need to work out their cause to permanently remove mysterious eye circles. People can develop circles of the dark eyes for several reasons including:
- genetic factors
- presence of melanin in the dermal layer of the skin
- post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
- secondary to eczema or allergies
- anemia
- lifestyle habits
- swelling of the eyes
- presence of blood vessels at the skin surface
- shadowing due to thin skin
Some lifestyle factors that may influence the appearance of dark eye circles include:
- lack of sleep
- stress
- alcohol overuse
- smoking
People can change certain factors in the lifestyle to improve health and reduce the appearance of dark circles in the eye. Nonetheless, some other variables, including genetics, can not be changed by one human.
People may try to use products or methods to reduce dark eye circles appearance, but they may not be able to remove them completely or permanently.
When to see a doctor
Dark eye circles under the eyes are not harmful to a person’s health but for cosmetic purposes some people may choose to consult a doctor or dermatologist. People experiencing low self-esteem or poor quality of life due to dark eye circles can benefit from seeking medical assistance.
A doctor or dermatologist can help diagnose and define the dark eye circles that can help people choose the most appropriate treatment or change in lifestyle. Doctors can also help individuals control their perceptions around the effectiveness of each procedure.
Bear in mind that most treatments need months of daily use before any substantial change is seen.
Sometimes doctors may recommend non-invasive techniques, such as intense pulsed light, radiofrequency, q-switched lasers, and pulsed laser dye, to reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes.
Some people may however need invasive techniques, such as:
- chemical peels
- medical tattoos
- ablative laser resurfacing
- hyaluronic acid gel soft tissue fillers
- fat transfer
- surgery
- implants
People should only consider these options in extreme cases.
Summary
A common reason people visit a dermatologist is dark eye circles.
Many people may not like the presence of dark circles under their eyes, and as a result experience low self-esteem and reduced quality of life, but it is important to remember that they are harmless.
Some medical treatments and home remedies will help reduce dark-eye circle appearance. Those may include slices of cucumber and beauty products.
While most of these treatments are safe to use, researchers have not verified their effectiveness in reducing dark circles of the eye.
