10 Causes of Dark Under-Eye Circles (And How to Get Rid Of Them)

Dark circles are not fun. They look at you in the mirror and make fun of you every time you try to cover them up. So what causes dark circles under the eyes? Here are 10 causes of those ugly dark circles that you may not know and how to get rid of them.

Studies show that a woman in the United States, on average, spends about $ 15,000 during her lifetime on cosmetics, and a large amount of that money is spent on concealers under the eyes. It’s no wonder dark circles make you look tired and aged. Depending on the person, dark circles can be due to different factors.

10 causes of dark circles

Sometimes your family history contributes to dark circles, but other reasons come into play.

1 – Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation it is a description of the dark skin under the eyes. Hyperpigmentation is caused by melanin, an amino acid responsible for the darker color of the skin. Melanin helps you tan when you are at the beach. Lack of oxygen in the blood vessels around the eyes is one of the causes of excess pigment under the eyes.

2 – Decreased blood circulation

As you age, you develop poor circulation and fluid buildup around your eyes, making that area appear darker. It’s oxygen-poor blood that causes the darkness you see under your eyes because the skin under your eyes is thin and fragile.

3 – tiredness

Not getting enough sleep also contributes to dark skin under the eyes. Staying up late and then waking up early disrupts your sleep schedule. It is important to maintain a regular sleep routine so that you get full rest.

You should move 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Turn off all your electronic devices for several hours before going to bed. The blue screens of these devices affect your sleep cycle and keep you awake when you need to relax before bed.

Find ways to relax before bed, like reading a book or taking a bath. As you relax, you will fall asleep faster and stay asleep. A good night’s sleep also reduces eyestrain, which contributes to dark circles.

4 – Stress

When your body is stressed, it sends more blood to your organs to compensate. This makes your face look pale and dark circles appear under your eyes. It’s like you are using stress on your face. Try exercise or yoga as a healthy way to reduce your daily stress.

5 – Allergies

If you have nasal congestion due to allergies, it triggers dark circles under the eyes. Congestion from allergies affects the tiny veins under the eyes, making them look puffy and puffy. Blood accumulates in these areas, dilating the veins, resulting in dark circles. Colds and sinus infections will do the same. If you think you have allergies, try to find out what is causing them. The most common sources of allergies include

• Outdoor pollen, hay fever, or seasonal allergies
• Mold, pet dander, or dust mites
• Food allergies
• Smoke, chemicals, or scents

6 – Bad diet

It’s easy to focus more on how to get rid of dark circles under your eyes than what is causing them. A huge contributing factor may be your diet. If you don’t get proper nutrition, you won’t look your best. Here is a list of foods that you may need to add or eliminate from your diet to minimize the dark circles.

There is not enough iron in your diet:

Iron stimulates healthy red blood cells. Lack of iron in the diet causes anemia. A classic symptom of anemia is dark circles. You will also feel extremely fatigued. Foods that are high in iron include:

• Green leafy vegetables
• Lean meat
• Sardines
• Tuna
• Molasses
• Liver

Not enough vitamin K:

This vitamin causes the blood to clot. If you don’t get enough of this vitamin, there may be blood loss in the tiny capillaries around the eyes, making the area appear dark, almost bruised. Sources of vitamin K include

• Green leafy vegetables
• Soy
• Prunes
• Kiwi
• Avocado
• Olive oil
• Canola oil

There is not enough vitamin C:

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects your skin from damage. These things contribute to wrinkles and hyperpigmentation as you age. Eat these foods rich in vitamin C.

• Peppers
• Oranges
• grapefruits
• Kiwis
• Strawberries
• Cantaloupe
• Pineapple
• Watermelon
• Raspberries
• Blueberries

What you may need to limit in your diet.

Excess salt:

If you eat too much salt in your diet, your body retains fluids. This causes puffiness and spots under the eyes. Avoid foods like bacon, canned soups, processed meats, and fast foods, as they are high in sodium. Doctors recommended consuming 2,300 mg of sodium a day to stay healthy. Read food’s labels. Salt food during preparation, not during meals. This reduces the salt.

Excess caffeine or alcohol:

Drinking too much soda, coffee, or iced tea increases your chances of becoming dehydrated. Being dehydrated contributes to dark circles.

7 – Health conditions

If you have thyroid disease, you will have dark circles under your eyes. This is because thyroid disease influences fluid retention around the eyes. The skin under the eyes is pulled down and looks puffy.

8 – Eyestrain

After a long day of studying your Computer screen, your eyes feel tired. This puts pressure on the blood vessels under the eyes, causing the lump and fragile skin under the eyes to darken. Make sure to take breaks from your computer to relax your eyes. You can also do eye exercises to rest your eyes and stimulate blood circulation under your eyes to avoid darkness under your eyes.

9 – Sun exposure

Being in the sun increases vitamin D, but it also causes dark circles under the eyes. Sun exposure increases the melanin in your skin pigment, especially around your eyes, because that’s where your skin is thin. Wear sunscreen and sunglasses when you are outdoors in the sun to avoid too much melanin around the eyes.

10 – Dehydration

If you are dehydrated, you likely have dark circles under your eyes. The fragile skin under the eyes will appear dark and dull. Their recommended that men should consume at least 3000 ml (about 13 cups) of fluids a day and that women should drink 2200 ml (9 cups) of fluids a day. Here are some tips to make sure you are drinking enough fluids every day.

• Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink fluids. Usually this means that you are already dehydrated.
• Sip water between bites of food at meals
• Drink a glass of water when taking pills.
• Drink a full glass of water before exercising.
• Use moderation when drinking alcohol, as it can dehydrate you.

How are dark circles reduced?

You can do some practical things at home to get rid of dark circles.

1 – Decongestant

If you have allergies that cause a stuffy nose, try taking a decongestant to help relieve puffiness and darkness under your eyes. Nasal sprays are also effective in reducing congestion. If possible, try to determine what you are allergic to and eliminate or reduce the allergen in your home.

2 – Moisturizing

Every night before bed, wash your face to remove makeup, dirt or dust, then apply an eye moisturizer under your eyes. Ingredients like vitamin C or retinol are good for removing dark circles.

3 – Cold spoon therapy

Another popular remedy for dark circles is to put cold spoons under the eyes. Leave the spoons under your eyes for 30 minutes. Cold reduces inflammation and swelling. Masks or under-eye patches also work well.

4 – Don’t smoke

Smoking affects your skin cells, causing them to break down, which is why you have wrinkles and dark circles under your eyes. Smoking makes you look old and haggard.

5 – Chilled cucumber slices

Another easy way to reduce under-eye puffiness is to place a cold slice of cucumber under your eyes for 30 minutes. The coolness reduces any swelling or swelling. Also, cucumbers are rich in vitamin K, which improves blood flow to the skin.

6 – Don’t touch your eyes

It’s easy to rub your eyes when you’re tired, but rubbing your eyes frequently makes dark circles under your eyes look even darker. Because the skin under the eyes is so thin, it can accidentally break the blood vessels in the area, making the skin appear darker or bruised. If you wake up with dark circles under your eyes, it could mean that you are rubbing your eyes while sleeping.

Final thoughts on reducing dark circles