What are Dark Circles Around Your Eyes?
Dark circles are patches of around your eyes that appear darker. They can make you look older and more tired than you actually are. The color can vary from purple and brown to black, depending on your skin tone. Dark circles happen to many people, whether you’ve always had them or only occasionally have them, it’s useful to know how to minimize their appearance.
The Causes of Dark Circles and Bags
We tend to associate dark circles under our eyes with tiredness, but that’s just one of many possible contributing factors. Here are some of the most common causes:
- Lack of sleep. Yes, it’s number one on the list, because staying up till late and not getting enough sleep can easily make your skin appear dull. It also makes the blood vessels more visible under your skin.
- Genetics. Sometimes darkness around your eyes is simply something that some people inherit from their parents.
- Overexposure to the sun. We have said it many times, and we simply can’t emphasize it enough – up to 80 percent of the typical signs of premature ageing are caused by harmful UV rays. Since the skin around your eyes is very thin, this is usually where the first signs of ageing appear and sometimes it can be in the form of dark circles and bags under the eyes.
- Straining your eyes. It’s not unusual to spend most of the day staring at a computer screen, and this strain can result in dark circles.
- Dehydration. Providing your skin with enough moisture is key for beautiful-looking, supple skin. Lack of hydration can lead to dull skin and bags under your eyes.
- Allergies. In case of allergic reactions, your body produces histamine. Histamine is responsible for uncomfortable symptoms like itchy skin and eyes, and red, blotchy skin. It can also cause puffy eyes and, by diluting the blood vessels, cause dark shadows around your eyes.
- Ageing. As you age, your skin becomes thinner and this can make the blood vessels more visible under your eyes, leading to the appearance of dark circles.
How to Treat Dark Circles Around Your Eyes
While you can’t always do something about the causes of those dark bags under your eyes, such as in cases of genetics or ageing, there are a few tips and tricks to help make them less visible. Try these solutions to treat dark circles and bags:
- Treat your eye area with an eye cream. An eye cream is specifically developed for the delicate eye area.
- Add Niacinamide to your routine. By strengthening the moisture barrier, Niacinamide can help improve the look of under eye circles.
- Get more sleep. Lack of quality sleep can result in dark circles around your eyes, so aim to wake up feeling rested with a sleep-nourishing evening routine. Drinking caffeine is off the table at least six hours before going to bed and your last meal should be about three hours before bedtime. You should finish exercising a few hours before you plan to go to sleep, and also you should stop looking at electronic devices, like your phone or laptop two hours before getting a good night’s rest. Going to bed and waking up at similar times every day could also help, it gets your body into a good sleep routine, and you’ll feel more energetic during the day.
- Reduce exposure to the sun. Try to stay out of direct sunlight or wear protective clothing, such as a wide-brim hat or sunglasses, to reduce your skin’s exposure to harmful UV rays. Always apply SPF to avoid skin damage from the sun.
- Brighten your skin. Use brightening Eye Creams to reveal brighter, younger-looking eyes and to reduce the look of dark circles.
- Treat your allergies. If you suffer from allergies that cause itchy eyes, seek medical advice on how to help reduce the irritation. The less you rub your eyes, the less possibility there is for dark circles to form.
- Cucumber. The oldest trick in the book! Place chilled cucumber slices on the dark circles for 10 minutes twice a day and enjoy the refreshing feeling.
- Cold compress. Applying ice cubes wrapped in a washcloth to your eyes can reduce puffiness and can help with dark circles. Using a damp washcloth can also have the same effect.
- Cover up and conceal. Make-up in itself doesn’t solve the problem of bags under your eyes, but it can definitely conceal them.
- Remove make-up carefully. Avoid pulling the skin around your eyes when removing make-up, since if the skin loses its elasticity, dark circles may appear more frequently.
- Chat to a dermatologist. If you’re unsure what may be causing your dark circles and none of these tips seem to work, seek help from a dermatologist.
Via: Olay.co.uk
Burimi: Olay.co.uk
