Dark, purplish circles under the eyes can make you appear older and more tired than you are. Although some aspect of your under-eye circles may be related to genetics, you can treat the circles using common household items. Reduce the swelling of blood vessels and delicate under-eye skin in order to reduce the appearance of under-eye circles.
Significance
Circles under the eyes can be caused by genetics. If your parents or other family members have under-eye circles, it's likely you will too. Other lifestyle-related factors include lack of sleep, nasal congestion, consuming too much sodium, stress or other behaviors that cause inflammation and irritation, according to the Mayo Clinic. In order to treat dark circles, you can utilize at-home treatments designed to soothe the under-eye area.
Solutions
A cold compress is a remedy that can be easily made at home. The compress is applied to the area under the eyes and the cold temperature causes blood vessels to constrict, reducing the appearance of dark circles.
Dip a washcloth in cold milk or in cold water, slice cucumbers or potatoes, or moisten chamomile or green tea bags and apply to the eyes for at least 10 minutes, according to Bella Sugar. Repeat as needed throughout the day to reduce discoloration.
Crushing a phenylephrine pill and applying it to the under-eye area also may help the blood vessels to constrict temporarily.
Prevention
Get enough sleep. At least seven hours a night is usually recommended. At-home remedies that may treat dark circles include putting additional pillows under your head and upper back while you sleep, according to the Mayo Clinic. This can help increase the gravitational pull on water that can be retained under the eyes and cause dark circles.
Another home preventive remedy is a saline wash, which can be created using a saltwater/water combination of 1/4 tsp. sea salt and 2 cups warm water and then spritzing into the nose, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Considerations
When applying remedies to your dark circles at home, treat the skin very carefully under the eyes. The skin there is very delicate, so scratching or pulling too hard can result in irritation and actually make circles worse. When you are applying soothing treatments to the area under the eyes, you should apply with the ring finger, which tends to be gentler than the index finger, according to "CBS News."
Warning
In some instances, circles under the eyes can be due to a medical condition, according to the Mayo Clinic. If you attempt home remedies, yet do not experience relief, see your physician to ensure your circles are not due to another issue, such as a kidney or thyroid problem.
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