Dark under-eye circles are generally not cause for concern, and can often be treated with some basic remedies at home. Sometimes they are a byproduct of facial features, though, and prescription treatments or cosmetic procedures are the only effective options. The Mayo Clinic cautions that you should consult a doctor if discoloration or swelling continually worsens or appears under only one eye.
Eye Applications
Certain applications to the area below the eyes work as home remedies for dark under-eye circles. You may have to try different ones to find those that are effective for you. The Mayo Clinic recommends use of a cold application to constrict the blood vessels below the eyes that give circles their dark color. A cold compress, cold used teabags, chilled spoons or ice cubes in a soft, clean cloth are good options. About five minutes should suffice.
Dr. John Anne suggests in the American Chronicle that you try thin slices of chilled cucumber and applications of castor oil below your eyes overnight. Olive oil and almond oil may be beneficial second choices. Another application to try for a few minutes twice a day is a mixture of lemon and tomato juices.
Using potato slices over the eyes is another option, and Natural Eye Care suggests alternating them with cucumber slices, as well as making an application by adding their juices to lanolin cream. Spreading crushed mint or parsley may help to minimize dark circles too, as can powdered vitamin E, tumeric powder mixed with pineapple juice, or an egg-white wash.
Dietary Approaches
Caffeine and alcohol can both accentuate dark circles, according to the Mayo Clinic. Avoid them, or limit them as much as possible. Informed Beauty adds the same advice concerning sugar and white flour, which take a toll on skin's health. Dermatologist Dr. Nicholas Perricone recommends a diet rich in two particular antioxidants, Ester-C and alpha lipoic acid. Eating whole foods and drinking plenty of water are beneficial, as well.
Other Tips for Home
Get a good night's sleep every night. When tired, you're prone to rubbing your eyes, which can exacerbate dark circles, and Dr. Perricone points out that sleep deprivation can cause hormone imbalances with the same result. Also, the Mayo Clinic adds that propping your head up higher overnight can prevent fluids from pooling under your eyes, another factor that can cause dark circles or make them more pronounced.
Massaging beneath the eyes by pressing down with moderate pressure on the inside corner and moving slowly to the outer corner a few times can also promote the flow of fluids from below your eyes.
Nasal congestion is another source of under-eye circles, be it from allergies, a cold or flu, sinus problems or other illness. Treating the condition with an over-the-counter medication or even a saline sinus wash can remedy dark circles, explains the Mayo Clinic.
Protecting your skin from the sun is also important for minimizing under-eye circles. Just as the sun tans skin elsewhere on your body, it can darken skin below the eyes. Apply sunblock to the areas 30 minutes before going out, and wear sunglasses that provide protection from ultraviolet radiation.
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