What are dark eye circles and can you prevent them?

Among all the beauty concerns, ladies are most worried about their eyes looking less than optimal. After all, like the saying goes, your eyes are windows to your soul. Dark eye circles are one of the biggest concerns that bothers women, as it can make you look older and more tired than you really are. Although there are so many products over the counter specially formulated to treat dark eye circles, but the fact remains that diligently applying products to your eye area doesn’t seem to work wonders. So let’s take a look at what are dark eye circles really are, and if there are ways to get rid of them.

What are dark eye circles
Dark eye circles are normally right below the eye, but sometimes it can cover the whole eye socket area, depending on the cause of your dark eye circles. It is not uncommon for puffiness to accompany dark eye circles, but because puffiness is much easier to cure, the concern is not so much emphasized on that. While it’s nothing serious or life threatening to see severe dark eye circles, it can cause emotional distress as dark eye circles tend to make the sufferer look constantly tired and older.

What causes them
There are a couple of reasons that attribute to dark eye circles under the eyes. It could be allergies that triggers inflammation of the sinuses, causing a nasal congestion that can dilate and darken veins around your eyes and nose. Lifestyle factors such as smoking and drinking regularly, stress that attributes to late nights, and frequent rubbing can worsen dark eye circles. Some dark eye circles are heredity, and people with darker skin such as Asians are more prone to it because of pigmentation irregularities. Sometimes the skin around the eye loses its collagen and fat and skin around it thins over time, revealing the uneven pigmentation below it, making dark eye circles even more prominent.

How to prevent them
Dark eye circles, though not life threatening, could sometimes be a reflection of bad dietary habits. Apart from the obvious solution of having sufficient sleep, it is important that you take in sufficient vitamins such as those listed below to further prevent them or even, if you’re stricter with your eating habits, slowly eliminate them.

  • Vitamin K is vital for circulation of blood in veins and consuming much of it will improve your overall blood circulation, even for your dark eye circles.
  • Vitamin C increases renewal of collagen in the skin, which is important as well because it improves your skin in general and boosts collagen production which will aid in making your dark eye circles less obvious.
  • Vitamin A is responsible for skin repair of any kind, and consuming sufficient vitamin A will definitely help with the skin around your eyes. It is also mentioned that vitamin E should be taken together with vitamin A as it helps the body in regulating its usage for repairing the skin.

Natural recipes to relief dark eye circles
Apart from taking in the right vitamins your body needs to get rid of dark eye circles, you can also cut slices of cucumber and rest it on your eyes with your eyes closed when doing your regular masks. It helps in lightening your dark eye circles surprisingly effectively, although I have to add, temporarily.

Comments

  1. Lanie says:

    Cassie, what a timely post.. dark eye circles seems to plague our family… with it being very prominent in me (cause of my bad sleeping habits).. today I used the eye serum from Jill Lowe (local brand).. and it seems to improve quite a bit.. will try the natural recipe above (and also the mashed potato recipe)…
    Lanie last post is: Workshop: How to Detox Your Home

  2. Jyoan says:

    I didn’t know Vitamins can help. But I do make a point to eat colorful meals and buy supplements if I feel my diet is not as colorful with vitamins as I like it to be.

    But about the cucumber, so it really does works albeit temporarily? I’ve always thought it is an urban myth and never bothered to try.
    Jyoan last post is: The Olive Branch by Lush Review

  3. Swati says:

    deficiency of iron also leads to dark circles!!! and, of course, the vitamins.
    Swati last post is: How to report for blog posts plagiarism?

  4. EcoBeauty says:

    Argh, my dark circles are genetic since my Mom has it too. But whenever I’m well rested and not using the computer too much (basically just bumming around which is impossible now), my dark circles become considerably lighter or at least, much easier to cover with concealer.
    EcoBeauty last post is: Review & Giveaway: Dress made from Bamboo Fabric by Zhai Eco Collection!

  5. Cassie says:

    I have quite irregular sleep patterns too actually. That is the main contributor to my dark eye circles.

  6. Cassie says:

    I’ve only tried the cucumber method twice, but twice it works! However, the effects are temporary I believe. Or it could be cause I haven’t been using it diligently that’s why it doesn’t work. I’m not too sure about that part. ?
    Cassie last post is: The 7 ingredients I always avoid

  7. Cassie says:

    Yup, definitely vitamins help. ?
    Cassie last post is: The 7 ingredients I always avoid

  8. Cassie says:

    Does using the computer too much affect dark eye circles? My eyes have been feeling tired of late and I’m not sure if it’s stress or the computer. ?
    Cassie last post is: The 7 ingredients I always avoid

  9. scott says:

    if you have darkcircles, the best solution is to use fillers in the lacrimal area, to fill the depression and give more volume and a younger look, the best is touse the own fat… cause skincare for that problem is a waste of time and money

  10. Lanie says:

    this might gross you out ladies, but I guess worth sharing if you have tried all types of eye serums and diy recipes, but still yet to get rid of panda eyes. panda eyes could be a symptom of parasite infection. some of you mentioned lack of iron, which makes sense, because parasites (as in worms) suck our iron supply and feed on our blood..

    am currently on a bowel cleanse this week, then next week I will start my 30 day parasite cleanse (my mother started hers today)… after am done, am going to deworm my dd too (to hopefully cure her night time teeth grinding and the panda eyes that starts to plague her as well)…

    Vivi, if it runs in the family (like it does ours), you may want to consider parasite cleansing for the whole family… as family members can reinfect each other…

    hope this dont gross you out girls too much..
    Lanie last post is: Parasite Cleanse for Healthy & beauty

  11. Cassie says:

    Cosmetic surgery is a personal choice though. Thank you for commenting and sharing your opinion though. ?
    Cassie last post is: The 7 ingredients I always avoid

  12. SCS says:

    Thank God, I haven’t had the misfortune of having dark circles. I have eye bags, yes, but they don’t darken. Your tips here are great. I’ve had those cold creams, too, that I apply every night to relief the tiredness the eyes feel. It’s pretty effective so maybe girls should be diligent in doing this, too.
    SCS last post is: A Quick And Easy Guide To Summer Skin Protection

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