Dealing with Dark Under Eye Circles: What You Need to Know

Dermabright Aesthetics
Aug 15, 2024
3 min read

Dark under eye circles have become more common, with many supposed remedies appearing online. These bothersome shadows under the eyes can affect people for different reasons, such as genetics, inadequate diet, and deficiencies. It is essential to understand the underlying causes to effectively manage them and get your undereye looking brighter.

Appearance of Dark Circles:

Bluish Tone- Lack of sleep and stress
Purplish Tone- Visible blood vessels and ageing
Shadowed dark circles- Facial structure or weight loss
Brown/ black tone- Sun damage, genetics

Factors Contributing to Dark Circles:

Genetics: Family history plays a significant role in the development of dark circles.
Poor Diet: Lack of essential nutrients can manifest as under eye discoloration. Iron deficiency can contribute to the appearance of dark circles due to the lack of oxygen in our red blood cells.
Lack of sleep: A poor sleep schedule can cause your skin to appear more dull and pale, so the dark tissue and blood vessels under your skin appear more visible. Sleep deprivation can also cause poor circulation creating puffiness.
Allergies: Certain allergies can cause the under eye to appear darker or more dull and dry. Allergies that cause congestion, will cause congestion in the small blood vessels. The blood pools under your eyes and these swollen veins dilate and darken, creating dark circles and puffiness.
Sun Exposure: UV damage will contribute to pigmentation under the eye area.
Dehydration: If you are dehydrated then this will show on your skin. Being dehydrated can cause your under eyes to look sunken making the bones of your orbital bone more prominent.
Medical Conditions: Existing health problems and certain medications can cause darkening of the undereye, due to malnutrition, certain deficiencies, hormonal shifts, allergies and poor circulation.
Eye Strain: If you are staring at a screen for many hours you may be causing eye strain. This will cause the blood vessels around your eyes to enlarge, giving the appearance of dark under eyes.

Remedies for Dark Circles:

Skincare: Incorporate eye creams containing ingredients like vitamin C or retinol to brighten and help stimulate collagen around the eye area.
Hydration: Ensure you stay adequately hydrated throughout the day to avoid becoming dehydrated and keeping your lymphatic system moving to avoid build up of fluid stopping puffiness.
Nutrition: Consume a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals to promote skin health, and avoid being deficient.
Sleep: Prioritize a sleep schedule, to allow at least 7-8 hours every night.
Screen Time: Avoid staring at screens for long periods of time and allow breaks in-between.

By addressing the underlying causes and implementing targeted solutions, you can effectively manage and reduce the appearance of dark under eye circles. In some cases where dark circles are caused by genetics or a medical condition, while you can use skincare and drink lots of water, you may not see a big improvement. However, it is important to still avoid things that can contribute to making your dark circles look worse, such as poor diet, or lack of sleep.

Remember, combating dark circles requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses both internal and external factors. Listen to your body's signals, prioritize self-care, and be consistent in your efforts to achieve brighter, healthier under eyes, it wont be an overnight change.

A product I love for eyecare is the Circadia Full Circle Repair. This contains 2 Separate Eye Creams! This incredible eye cream contains natural herbs to constrict capillaries thus brightening your under eyes, full of antioxidants to prevent and slow down the destruction of collagen, and contains soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredients, suitable for every skin type!