Fighting Dark Under Eyes Circles

Dark under eyes circles is a common problem and can really be quite a depressing one as it is not easy to rectify. No one wants to walk around looking like a raccoon on the prowl, it just does not look aesthetically appealing, regardless of your sex.

Before we look at the remedies for rectifying dark under eyes circles, it is useful for us to gain an insight as to why dark under eyes circles and eye bags occur. By understanding the causes, we can take effective steps to prevent the problem from worsening.

Some factors contributing to dark under eyes circles are as follow:

1. Heredity- Like varicose veins, dark circles under the eyes are usually an inherited trait. If you have dark circles, there is a good chance that others in your family also have them. The skin under the eye is very thin. When blood passes through the large veins close to the surface of the skin it can produce a bluish tint. The more transparent your skin (also an inherited trait), the darker the circles appear.

2. Exposure to the sun -Even in darker skinned people, exposure to sunlight, especially during the summer months, can cause a higher-than-normal level of skin pigmentation (melanin) under the eyes. People get sun tans because exposure to the sun increases the natural pigmentation of the skin and draws that pigmentation to the surface. The same principle applies to the skin under the eyes.

3. Allergies, asthma and eczema – Underlying medical conditions can cause your eyes to itch and result in dark circles under the eyes because rubbing or scratching the skin can darken the skin. Hay fever sufferers in particular will notice under-eye "smudges" during the height of the allergy season. Some food allergies can also cause the area under the eyes to appear darker.

4. Medications -Certain medication can cause blood vessels to dilate and result in the under eyes area to darken. As the skin under the eyes is very delicate, any increase in blood flow shows through the skin.

5. Nutrition - The lack of essential nutrients (for e.g. potassium)in the diet, or the lack of a balance diet, can contribute to the discoloration of the area under the eyes.

6. Fatigue, lack of sleep - A lack of sleep or fatigue can cause paleness of the skin, which again allows the blood underneath the skin to become more visible and appear more blue or darker.

7. Pregnancy, menstruation - The skin can also become paler during pregnancy and menstruation, which again allows the underlying veins under the eyes to become more visible.

8. Age - If you have a propensity to have dark circles under your eyes, you might note that the problem seems to become more prominent as you grow older. Excess folds of skin under the eyes will also make dark circles more pronounced.

To prevent the under eyes dark circles from worsening, you can do the following:

1. Avoid rubbing. Any touch that is too harsh for the delicate skin around your eyes can cause rupture in the small capillaries which in turn causes leakage of hemoglobin. Avoid rubbing the skin altogether. When drying the skin, dab it gently with the towel. During the application of eye care products, do so gently with your finger, avoiding touching it with nails.

2. Sleep enough. It is essential to have a good sleep as the body repairs and regenerates itself during the sleeping process. This helps to pump up the oxygen in the body and improves the blood circulation.

3. Eat healthy. To avoid deficiencies that cause dark circles, it is vital to have a varied, nutritious diet that includes a lot of vegetables and fruits. Salt intake should be reduced to avoid puffy eyes.

To lighten existing dark circles and/or eye bags, the following options can be considered:

1. Home Remedies

There are plenty of simple home remedies for reducing dark circles, with various degrees of efficacies. Here are a few examples:

• Almond oil, rich in vitamin E and has anti-aging benefits.

• Cold tea bags, like chamomile tea. The tannins in the tea remove discoloration.

• Cucumber slices, it is very refreshing and hydrating, and cucumber does have a lightening effect.

• Slices of avocado, which is rich in vitamin E.

All of the above items can be left on the eyes area for about 20 minutes per session.

2. Eye Serum

A suitable eye contour product can provide improvements in the appearance of the dark under eye circles pretty quickly, sometimes within 4 to 8 weeks. When choosing a eye care product, do choose one with ingredients that have been proven effective in reducing dark circles. Ingredients, such as peptides which are fragments of proteins, are especially effective as they help to boost blood circulation, thicken the skin and strengthen the capillaries.

3. Multivitamins

Nutrients deficiency can cause dark circles, puffiness and other aging signs to happen around the eyes area. A good multivitamin can help to supplement your daily diet and replenish "missing" vital nutrients.

4. Exercise

One of the most effective ways of increasing the blood circulation in your whole body is simply to exercise. During exercise, the blood flow is increased and the dark hemoglobin accumulating under your eyes is reduced, hence improving the appearance of the dark circles.

Regardless of what methods you ultimately choose, do remember that getting rid of the dark under eye circles won’t happen overnight. You have to persevere and be consistent for at least 6 months before you start to see some positive results on the under eyes area.

This article is contributed by SkinWhite Research Labs, a manufacturer of clinical skin whitening products. For more information about the products under the SkinWhite range, do visit their corporate site at http://www.skinwhite.com.