How to Get Rid of Dark Circles Under Eyes

Learn natural beauty tips about how to get rid of dark circles under eyes naturally, as they make you feel old, unhealthy and tired. Dark circles under the eyes affect both women and men. Usually they start appearing in adulthood, but children too some times develop dark circles under their eyes.

Causes Of Dark Circles Under Eyes

Read here what causes dark circles under eyes:

(i) Heredity / Genetics: Genetics are the biggest culprit. Dark circles under eyes can run in families. The more fair / transparent / thinner the skin – also an inherited trait – darker the circle under the eyes will appear. Deep-set eyes also contribute to dark circles under eyes.

(ii) Thinning Skin and Aging: This again is a major cause of dark circles under eyes with most people. The skin under the eyes is thin as it is. As you age, your skin loses fat and collagen which make your skin under the eyes more thinner, causing blood vessels to become noticeable and dark circles start appearing and likely to become permanent with age. Sun exposure speeds up this process by breaking down collagen.

(iii) Fatigue / Lack of sleep: Excessive exhaustion or lack of sleep can cause skin paleness, allowing the blood vessels under skin to get more visible, giving the appearance of dark circles.

(iv) Allergies: Any condition that causes itches to your eyes, like allergies to air-borne substances, such as pollen and dust. The itchy eyes contribute to dark circles under your eyes, as you rub your itching eyes.

(v) Anemia / Iron deficiency: Not having enough nutritious diet or a balanced diet can also cause discoloration of the skin under the eyes. Iron deficiency may also a cause of dark circles under your eyes.

(vi) Medications: If you are taking some medicines that cause your blood vessels to dilate then this can also contribute to dark circles under your eyes, as the skin under the eyes is very thin, so any increased blood flow becomes visible through the skin which gives a bluish tinge.

(vii) Lifestyle reasons: Smoking, chronic alcohol consumption or stress can take a toll on your body and become cause for dark circles under your eyes.

(viii) Pregnancy and menstruation: Due to lack of iron during these conditions, the skin becomes pale, causing the underlying veins under the eyes to become more visible.

(e) Dehydration: Dark circles under the eyes may be due to dehydration in some cases.

(f) Liver Problems: Dark circles may be due to some liver disease.

How To Get Rid Of Dark Circles Under Eyes Naturally

With the help of certain at dark circle home remedies and natural beauty tips you can diminish their appearance, and can prevent dark circles from worsening.

1. Get Enough Sleep to get rid of dark circles under your eyes: Although, enough sleep will not totally erase your dark circles, but it will help in diminishing their appearance:

(a) Lack of sleep tends to cause your skin to become paler due to lack of blood circulation, thus increasing the appearance of dark circles under the eyes.

(b) Lack of sleep also causes fatigue and stress which again gives you a depressed and aged person look.

(c) Normally, 7-9 hours of sleep per night is enough. But this varies from person to person and moreover it varies for a same person at different times throughout her / his life.

(d) Smoking and alcohol are likely to affect the quality of your sleep. Better is to avoid them altogether or if you must, then consume in moderation.

(e) If you are having problems in getting sound sleep, read very effective Natural Tips for Sleep Remedies.

2. Treat your allergies to remove dark circles under eyes: Often allergies are found to be cause of one’s under the eyes dark circles. If an allergy is cause of dark circles, then either treat the allergy or remove the allergen.

If your dark circles are constant then you may have an undetected food allergy or an allergy to a chemical in your work place or home. Consult your doctor to find out what you may be allergic to. People having allergy also sometimes be deficient in B6, folic acid and B12. Taking vitamin for dark circles (multivitamin) in such cases can help to remedy dark circles under your eyes.

3. Eat a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet to remove dark circles under eyes: Quite often vitamin / mineral deficiencies become cause of the cosmetic problems. Dark circles are also sometimes attributed to deficiency of vitamin K or inadequate antioxidants. A deficiency in vitamin B12 (normally anemia related) results into dark circles under the eyes.

(i) Consume a lot of fruits and vegetables, especially spinach, leafy green vegetables, cabbage to remedy dark circles.

(ii) Consume foods containing antioxidant pigments, like cranberries, bilberries, black currant, onions, legumes, and parsley to remove dark circles.

(iii) Consuming foods that are rich in folic acid or taking vitamin for dark circles, namely, B, C, D, E and fish oil supplements also help in treatment of your dark circles.

(iv) Drink enough fluids / water to improve circulation and keep you hydrate. This help in draining out toxins from your body, which otherwise can contribute in occurrence of dark circles.

(v) Dark circles under the eyes can be an indication of dehydration also, so drinking more water in such cases is recommended.

(vi) If required take vitamin supplements for dark circles in consultation with your doctor to diminish your dark circles.

(vii) Reduce Salt intake: Excess salt can impair your blood circulation which results your blood vessels to appear bluer under your skin. Excessive salt in your body also make your body to retain water at unusual places, even around the eyes. This can contribute to dark circles under your eyes. Cut down on salt consumption as a way for treatment of dark circles under eyes.

(viii) Quit Smoking: It is not only better to quit smoking from health point of view, but also as it causes vascular (blood vessel) problems. Smoking contributes to make your blood vessels appear bluer and visible. So reducing smoking or quitting it helps in preventing dark circles under your eyes.

4. Relax for treatment of your dark circles: Be relaxed, as it helps in reducing stress which in turn would help you in having sound sleep. Skin is largely affected by stress and which tends to reflect a host of emotional and physical disturbances.

5.  Clear Nasal Congestion for getting rid of dark circles under your eyes: Get your nose congestion cleared. A blocked nose leads to under the eyes dark circles, as the veins that channel from your eyes to your nose are dilated and thus darkened.

6. At Home Remedies about dark circles under eyes treatment: Some natural treatments for dark circles under the eyes can reduce your dark circles, and many of the required ingredients you can easily find in your kitchen.

(a) The tannin in tea bags helps in reducing swelling and discoloration. Place brewed and cooled teabags (squeeze to extract extra water) over your closed eyes for 10 – 15 minutes. You can cool them in refrigerator before using them. Green tea bags may work better than black or herbal tea bags because green tea contains a natural anti-inflammatory chemical, EGCG, which can reduce puffiness [source : WebMD].

(b) Cucumber slices to reduce dark circles under your eyes: Slice a fresh cucumber and place few of slices in your refrigerator for 15 – minutes.  Place the cool cucumber slices over your closed eyelids in your lying position. Do it daily for 10 – 15 minutes, this will help in reducing eyes puffiness along with refreshing the appearance of skin around your eyes and diminishing dark circles under your eyes.

(c) Potato a Natural Remedy for getting rid of dark circles under eyes: This is an ancient time remedy to get rid of dark circles under the eyes and is also used in China, South America and Hong Kong. Potatoes contain enzymes that lighten the skin. Put one raw potato into liquidizer and liquidize the whole potato. Place the pureed potato on your closed eyes for 20 – 30 minutes while you are lying on your back to treat your dark circles.

7.  Few more natural remedies about how to remove dark circles under your eyes:

(i) Stop the habit of rubbing your eyes. It inflames the skin and can break capillaries underneath, resulting into discoloration and eyes puffiness.Wear sunglasses to protect the skin underneath your eyes from melanin changes and prevent dark circles.

(ii) Avoid drinking too much of fluids before bedtime, as it can add to bags under your eyes because of water retention there.

(iii) Dip a cotton ball in rose water and place under your eyes for 10 minutes to remedy your dark circles.

(iv) Apply (dab don’t rub) moisturizer with vitamin C, this helps to support collagen under your eyes and prevent dark circles under the eyes.

(v) As you know the sun rays damage your skin, so using sunscreen with at least 20 SPF (when you are exposed to sun) helps in preventing dark circles under your eyes.

(vi) Gently massage underneath your eyes with almond oil before you go to sleep. The almond oil penetrates your skin and support circulation to prevent dark circles.

(vii) Use moisturizers with vitamin C and antioxidants to boost the collagen under your eyes.

(viii) Your dark circles might have been caused by deficiency of vitamin K and retinol. Use of skin cream containing these two ingredients not only helps in diminishing discoloration but eyes puffiness underneath your eyes also.

Follow above tips about how to get rid of dark circles under the eyes and look smart and young.

But we would like to tell you that the dark circles caused by heredity, deep-set eyes, thin skin and pigmentation irregularities are such causes about which you can’t do much to reverse.