Different Ways to Reduce Dark Circles

The skin beneath the eyes is extremely sensitive, and it needs a lot of care. Dark circles are one of the most common problems that most people face today. No matter how much makeup you apply, these circles will not go away unless you treat them from the inside.

Dark circles typically occur because of heredity, allergies, stress, and illness. Other common contributors include lack of sleep, a poor diet, and dehydration. Certain medical conditions such as eczema and a hormonal imbalance can also contribute to their formation.

There are multiple causes of dark circles under the eyes including: swelling, puffiness, increased melanin, thin skin, genetics, loss of volume, deep set eyes, shadows, allergies, and/or lack of sleep. Our dermatologist can help diagnose your reasons for under eye circles and create a custom plan for you.

In this post, you will learn about some remedies that can help in reducing dark circles.

Treat Your Allergies

Many people suffer from seasonal and environmental allergies that cause nasal congestion, leading to dark circles under the eyes. If you also have allergies that trigger nasal congestion, try taking an antihistamine or decongestant to reduce symptoms like sneezing and a runny nose. You can also try using over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops to reduce eye redness and swelling that may be causing your allergic shiners.

Get Adequate Sleep

Fluid retention from lack of adequate sleep causes puffiness and dark circles under your eyes. Try to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night. You may also want to limit your alcohol intake before bedtime since having even one drink can disrupt your sleep cycle.

Cucumber

Cucumber is a natural skin toner and has soothing properties that can reduce the appearance of dark circles.

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. You can also use cucumber juice or cucumber paste instead of cucumber slices.

Cold Press

Soak two cotton pads in chilled rose water or green tea and place them on your eyes for about 15 minutes. This will help in constricting the blood vessels and thus reduce dark circles. You can also use ice cubes wrapped in a muslin cloth but make sure not to apply ice directly on your skin as it may cause some damage. Repeat this 2 to 3 times a day to eliminate dark circles.

Caution: Do not use a cold compress if you have an eye infection.

Vitamin E Oil

Vitamin E is another nutrient that’s good for the skin, and many natural beauty products use vitamin E oil to treat dark circles and wrinkles. You can buy it from any pharmacy or health food store, but it’s important not to apply undiluted oil directly to the skin because some people are allergic to it. Instead, mix a few drops with coconut oil or olive oil and rub gently into the eyes with your fingertips until fully absorbed. Repeat once daily as needed.

Cold Tea Bags

Teabags are a great way to get rid of dark circles. Tea contains tannins, which are natural astringents that reduce swelling and constrict blood vessels to help reduce darkness and redness around your eyes.

How to use tea bags to reduce black circles;
Steep two black or green tea bags in hot water for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags, cool them in the refrigerator for half an hour, and then place them over your closed eyes for 10-15 minutes. Repeat this daily until you see improvement.

There are many ways to reduce dark circles. It’s only a matter of finding what works best for your skin type, and when you take the right steps, you can get instant results to minimize their appearance—quickly and easily. One thing’s for sure: these efforts are well worth it since dark circles are a significant problem that can make even your most perfect makeup look less than stellar.

We offer multiple prescription and cosmeceutical skincare products which can address the individual reasons for your dark circles. For example, some products can be used to improve increased melanin in the skin, swelling, and/or puffiness.

For patients with under eye circles due to volume loss, treatment options include off-label usage of injectable hylauronic acid fillers placed under the eyes. In patients with extensive volume loss, fat transfer and/or blepharoplasty may be needed.

Most patients with increased melanin, called hyperpigmentation, under the eyes will see improvement with the above treatments. For those with more resistant cases, we recommend a series of treatments with nonablative, fractionated lasers with one of our board certified dermatologists. These lasers create microscopic channels of heat under the skin surface to boost collagen, thicken the skin, and create a bridge to allow the increased pigment to be removed.

For more information, contact The Pearl Dermatology today!