When dark circles form under your eyes they can age you, or make you look tired and worn down, even if you are feeling fine. Dark under-eye circles can occur from the development of excess pigment below the eyes, or can be the shadow from puffy eyelids or hollowed skin below the eyes.
Step 1
Apply a cold washcloth to the affected area beneath the eyes. The skin beneath your eyes is very thin, which can make the color of blood vessels hiding beneath your eyes show prominently through the skin tissue, especially if the skin is inflamed and puffy. The cold temperature of the cloth helps reduce any inflammation, as well as temporarily reduces the size of dilated blood vessels, states the Mayo Clinic.
Step 2
Elevate your head with an extra pillow as you sleep during the night. When you sleep fluids can build beneath the eyes as they rush towards the head. Elevating the head helps prevent these fluids from pooling.
Step 3
Go to bed earlier and develop a regular and consistent sleep schedule. Getting enough sleep--on a regular schedule-- can help reduce the look of dark under-eye circles, as getting less than enough sleep results in paler skin which can make veins more prominent under they eyes.
Step 4
Wear sunblock at all times when spending time outdoors in the sun, as well as UV resistant sunglasses, recommends the Dermatology Institute of Victoria. The ultraviolet light from the sun can increase the rate in which your melanocytes create melanin, the substance that gives your skin its color or pigment. This increased pigment can make under eye circles look more prominent.
Step 5
Take an antihistamine for allergies if you suffer from them. Allergies cause congestion around your nose and eyes, which can result in darker and dilated veins beneath your eyes. Antihistamines block histamine, the substance responsible for allergic reactions, which can help reduce congestion and the side effects associated with the allergy.
Step 6
Change your diet by reducing your overall salt intake, as well as caffeine and alcohol. Salt can cause water retention in your body, including beneath your eyes, which can worsen the look off dark circles. The Mayo Clinic also suggests refraining or reducing your intake of alcohol and caffeine, as they can also make dark circles more prominent below the eyes.
Things You'll Need
- Cold compress
- Extra pillow
- Sunblock
- Antihistamine
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