The appearance of dark circles under the eyes is rather common. These are sometimes accompanied by sagging skin around the eyes, giving them a baggy appearance. Both men and women are prone to develop dark circles. Stress, lack of sleep, and weariness are the most common causes. Show
Your skin starts to lose its original firmness and collagen as you age. Blood vessels beneath your skin may appear more visible due to this, so the thin area under the eyes may appear darker than usual. Other conditions might make your skin appear darker, such as swelling surrounding your eyes or a fluid imbalance around your lower eyelids. In addition, the entire eye can appear darker due to a black eye or an injury to the area. In this post, we have included a list of techniques for reducing the dark circles beneath your eyes. Keep reading. In This Article
What Causes Dark Circles Under The Eyes?
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Symptoms Of Dark Circles
1. Sweet Almond Oil
Shutterstock Sweet almond oil has sclerosant as well as emollient properties (1). It may help reduce the appearance of blood vessels underneath your skin by improving your skin tone. What You Can Do: Dab 2-3 drops of sweet almond oil on a cotton ball. Apply it to the dark circles and massage into your skin. Leave it on overnight and wash off in the morning. Do this every night before sleeping until the dark circles fade. 2. Aloe Vera GelAloe vera gel contains aloesin, a compound that inhibits tyrosinase activity (2). This can help in preventing excessive pigmentation on your skin. It can also hydrate the skin in the surrounding area and make it supple. What You Can Do: Take a teaspoon of aloe vera gel and massage it into the affected area. Leave it on overnight and wash it off in the morning. You can follow this every night until the dark circles fade. 3. CucumberCucumber contains bioactive compounds and vitamins that can inhibit tyrosinase activity (3). This can help reduce pigmentation around the eyes. What You Can Do: You will need one cucumber and a teaspoon of aloe vera gel. Blend the ingredients to make a thick paste. Apply this paste to the affected areas and leave it on for 15 minutes. Wash off with plain water. You can apply this paste once every day. 4. Tomato
Shutterstock Tomatoes are rich in phytochemicals like lycopene and beta-carotene that mitigate oxidative damage to skin tissues and reduce erythema (redness) of skin (4), (5). This can help get rid of the dark circles that develop under the eyes. What You Can Do: Make a paste by blending a tomato and lemon juice. Apply this around your eyes and leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse it off thoroughly. Do this once or twice a week. Note: Lemon juice can cause a stinging sensation on your skin, so you must do a patch test before trying this remedy. 5. Lemon JuiceLemon is a rich source of vitamin C. Vitamin C exhibits anti-pigmentary properties and may help increase the dermal thickness under the eyes (6). This can help conceal the blood vessels that become visible due to the thinning of the skin and lighten dark circles. What You Can Do: Extract the juice of fresh lemon. Dab a cotton ball in this juice and apply it to the dark circles. Leave it on for 15 minutes and wash off. Repeat this remedy twice a week for 3-4 weeks. Note: Lemon juice can cause a stinging sensation on your skin, so do a patch test before trying this remedy. Also, make sure you apply sunscreen before stepping out in the sun as lemon juice can make your skin photosensitive. 6. Rosehip OilRosehip oil contains proanthocyanidins that exhibit anti-melanogenic properties (2). Hence, it may inhibit pigmentation in the skin around your eyes and reduce dark circles. What You Can Do: Take a few drops of rosehip oil. Dilute it with coconut oil and apply it to the dark circles with a cotton pad. Leave it on overnight and wash it off from your skin in the morning. Repeat this remedy every night until the dark circles fade away. 7. Licorice Extract
Shutterstock Licorice extracts contain glabridin, which inhibits melanin synthesis (7). This effect can help in reducing the appearance of dark circles. What You Can Do: Take a few drops of licorice extract and mix well with a vitamin K capsule until you get a smooth paste. Apply this paste on your dark circles and leave it on for 10 minutes. Wash it thoroughly. You can apply this paste thrice a week. 8. YogurtYogurt contains L-cysteine that inhibits tyrosinase activity and prevents pigmentation and dark circles (8). What You Can Do: Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to two teaspoons of yogurt. Mix well, apply this paste to the dark circles, and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. Wash it off. You can do this at least twice a week. Note: Lemon can irritate some skin types. Make sure to carry out a patch test before trying out this remedy. 9. PotatoPotato juice contains azelaic acid that can inhibit tyrosinase activity to reduce pigmentation (9). This may help in fading dark circles. What You Can Do: Extract about 1-2 tablespoons of potato juice in a bowl. Apply the juice on the dark circles and leave it on until it dries. Rinse off with water. Do this at least twice a week. 10. SaffronBioactive compounds, like carotenoids and riboflavin, promote the anti-tyrosinase activity of saffron (10). These compounds may help prevent excessive pigmentation of the skin and reduce the appearance of dark circles. What You Can Do: Take 3-4 strands of saffron and soak them in a quarter cup of milk for about 2 hours. Strain the milk and apply it on the skin surrounding your eyes. You can wash it off in about 10 minutes. 11. Honey
Shutterstock Honey contains polyphenols that inhibit tyrosinase activity (11). This can help reduce excessive pigmentation and fade dark circles. What You Can Do: Mix a teaspoon of lemon juice with a tablespoon of honey. Apply this mixture to the skin surrounding your eyes and leave for about 10-15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with water. Repeat this once a day until the dark circles fade. 12. Green Tea BagsGreen tea contains phenolic compounds that inhibit melanogenesis (12). This may help prevent excessive pigmentation of the skin and reduce dark circles. What You Can Do: Take two green tea bags and soak them in water. Refrigerate for a short while and place them on your eyes. Wash your face after 10-15 minutes. You can repeat daily until the dark circles fade away. 13. Grapeseed OilGrapeseed oil contains bioactive compounds that can inhibit melanogenesis (13). This may help reduce pigmentation and dark circles. What You Can Do: Take 2-3 drops of grapeseed oil and gently massage it into the skin surrounding your lower eyelids. Leave it on overnight and wash off the next morning. You can repeat this every night for a few weeks. Medical Treatment Options For Dark Circles
These methods are invasive and need medical intervention. You must also keep in mind that you will require ample time for recovery from these procedures. When To See A DoctorTypically, dark circles occur due to stress or insomnia. They can vanish over time if you rectify your lifestyle and get adequate rest. However, if the dark circles do not go away with time or if there is a swelling under one eye, you must get it checked by your doctor. Prevention Tips For Dark Circles
Dark circles under eyes can be caused by several factors like stress and fatigue, genetics, allergies, dehydration, aging, and sun exposure. You can use almond oil, aloe vera gel, cucumber, tomatoes, rosehip oil, yogurt, potatoes, or licorice extract to reduce the appearance of dark circles and nourish the thin skin under your eyes. However, you need to properly follow the home remedies you choose as the wrong combination of ingredients, or the wrong proportions may do more harm than good and not be effective. Medical treatment options to get rid of dark circles include blepharopigmentation, laser therapy, and chemical peeling. Frequently Asked QuestionsAre dark circles permanent? Dark circles are not permanent. You can choose from a variety of medical and natural methods to get rid of them. Does sleep help reduce dark circles? Sleep can help you get rid of fatigue and tiredness. This, in turn, reduces the appearance of dark circles and puffiness of eyes. Which vitamins should you take to eliminate dark circles? Vitamin K can help get rid of dark circles as it can help with blood circulation and coagulation. Vitamin A can also help as it can get rid of pigmentation. What foods can you eat to eliminate dark circles? Consumption of foods like green leafy vegetables, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, etc. can help eliminate dark circles as they are rich in vitamin K. SourcesArticles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Check out our editorial policy for further details.
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Shaheen holds a postgraduate degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology. She is a Geneticist with proficiency in Biotechnology, Immunology,... more
Dr. Naveen Sharma is a renowned Ayurveda specialist with an experience of 10 years. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in... more How can I permanently get rid of dark circles?How to get rid of dark circles. Sleep. Fatigue and a lack of sleep can cause dark circles under your eyes. ... . Elevation. When you sleep, try extra pillows under your head to lessen the puffiness of fluid pooling in your lower eyelids.. Cold. ... . Sun. ... . Moisturizers. ... . Cucumber. ... . Almond oil and vitamin E.. Vitamin K.. How can I reduce my dark circles naturally?Cold compress: Apply cold spoons to your eyes to help shrink dilated blood vessels. This can reduce puffy eyelids and the appearance of dark circles. Cucumbers: Lay cucumber slices on your eyes. This can help with puffiness because cucumbers are full of water and vitamin C.
What deficiency causes dark circles?Deficiencies in certain vitamins, such as vitamins B12, E, K and D, cause dark circles. Vitamin B12 is strongly associated with the production of red blood cells in the body. When B12 levels are low, you are more likely to have iron deficiency, which leads to dark circles.
Are dark circles permanent?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.
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