If the area around your eyes is looking darker than usual, it is not usually the cause of a serious condition, says the Mayo Clinic. In most cases, dark circles under the eyes can be treated at home using items from around the house. In some cases, dark circles are caused by engorged blood vessels underneath the skin's surface that show through the thin skin underneath the eyes. In other cases, the skin underneath the eyes may be dark due to heredity, or from sun damage that darkens the skin.
Step 1
Rinse out the nasal passages with a homemade saline solution to help calm swollen blood vessels around the eyes. Mix 2 cups of warm water with 1/4 tsp. sea salt, suggests the Mayo Clinic. Pour the mixture into a clean, empty nasal spray bottle and spray into each nostril. Blow your nose to clear congestion.
Step 2
Apply a cold compress to the eye area to make blood vessels temporarily constrict, recommends the Mayo Clinic. Apply a chilled gel eye mask or cold, wet washcloth to the face for 10 minutes. When the blood vessels constrict due to the cold temperature, they become smaller, making the area around the eyes brighter.
Step 3
Stay away from environmental and food allergies, recommends Merrill M. Knopf, M.D., an ophthalmologist. If you're not sure what you are allergic to, see an allergist for a comprehensive allergy test. If you are unable to avoid allergens, take an over-the-counter antihistamine medication.
Step 4
Sleep more to reduce the pale, hollow-eyed look that occurs when you have dark circles underneath your eyes, says the Mayo Clinic.
Step 5
Prop your head up with an extra pillow. Sleeping flat on your back can cause congestion and fluid to pool around the eyes. To encourage drainage, sleep with your head slightly elevated.
Tips and Warnings
- Wear sunscreen and sunglasses when going outside to prevent dark pigmentation to form around the eyes due to sun damage.
- Consult a doctor if dark circles under the eyes are accompanied by any other symptoms.
Things You'll Need
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
- Nasal spray bottle
- Gel eye mask
- Washcloth
- Over-the-counter antihistamine
- Pillow
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