Dark Circles

We’ve had a lot of people ask about dark circles under the eyes. I personally believe in order to treat something you need to know what causes it first, and try to treat the root first.

According to the Mayo Clinic dark circles under the eyes are caused by one of the following reasons:
* Allergies
* Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
* Heredity — dark under-eye circles can run in families
* Lifestyle factors, such as smoking and drinking alcohol and caffeinated sodas
* Nasal congestion (which dilates and darkens the veins that drain from your eyes to your nose)
* Pigmentation irregularities — these are a particular concern for people of color, especially blacks and Asians
* Sun exposure, which prompts your body to produce more melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color
* Thinning skin and loss of fat and collagen — common as you age — which make the reddish-blue blood vessels under your eyes more obvious.

Mild to moderate dark circles can be treated with one of the following low cost treatment methods. Please keep in mind that some of these will take time, and they need to be maintained!

* Cold- Try a cold compress, two chilled teaspoons or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a soft cloth to temporarily reduce dilated and discolored under-eye blood vessels. Or, try a cooled, used teabag.
* Extra pillows- Elevate your head with two or more pillows to prevent puffiness that develops when fluid pools in your lower eyelids.
* Extra sleep- Although short nights don’t usually cause under-eye circles, a lack of sleep makes you paler and more hollow-eyed, so shadows and circles you already have are more obvious.
* Dark glasses and sunscreen- Although a tan might hide dark circles in the short term, in the long run, the extra pigment it produces can make circles worse.
* Saline washes or sprays- Rinsing your sinuses with a saltwater solution (mix 1/4 teaspoon sea salt with 2 cups warm water) or over-the-counter saline spray can help relieve nasal congestion.
* Creams- Hundreds of skin creams that claim to reduce or prevent under-eye circles crowd department store and drugstore shelves. The results of one well-publicized study showed that a cream containing vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin E and Retinol was moderately effective in treating under-eye circles.

I’ve used the following with great results when it came to creams. No matter what you decide to use make sure it contains Vitamin K, C, and E. Starting a Retinol regiment will help with a lot of pigmentation issues in general. And I can’t say enough when it comes to choosing the right concealer! Make sure you choose one that blends into your skin, and isn’t thick or white. Giant white circles can look just as bad as giant dark circles. I’ve listed some of my favorites for every budget!
I hope this helps, and you find some relief when it comes to fighting the pesky dark circles!