As we age, our skin tends to become thinner. In areas where it is already at its thinnest, like the eyelids and under-eye area, our blood vessels begin to become more visible, giving those areas a darkened appearance. Manufacturers of eye creams containing vitamin K claim that the added nutrient can help minimize the appearance of these blood vessels, even making spider veins and bruises less prominent.
Why Vitamin K?
Vitamin K was named for the German word "koagulation." It is an essential nutrient that your body needs for blood clotting. People who are deficient in vitamin K often bruise easily and experience symptoms like nosebleeds, heavy menstrual periods and blood in the urine or stool. Dr. Tina Venetos, a dermatologist at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, IL, says that products containing Vitamin K can be helpful for eliminating under-eye circles because Vitamin K shrinks the blood vessels, making them less noticeable through the thin skin around your eyes.
Vitamin K in Food
Vitamin K is present in many of the foods that we regularly eat, so deficiencies, especially in adults, are rare. Olive oil, mayonnaise, soybean oil and canola oil contain vitamin K, as do several leafy green vegetables including Swiss chard, water cress, spinach, kale, green lettuce, parsley and broccoli. Although you could try to cover your eyes with parsley, it may be more efficient to try one of the vitamin K-fortified eye creams on the market.
Power K Eye Rescue
Citing vitamin K's ability to enhance blood clotting and, therefore, blood vessel shrinking, CBS News recommends that you try Peter Thomas Roth's Power K Eye Rescue. Along with vitamin C and Q-10, it contains vitamin K and claims that the solution helps fight dark circles and signs of fatigue.
Rejuva
The Rejuvanence Life Spa in Jacksonville, Fla., has developed a vitamin K cream under its Rejuva line of skincare products, claiming that it strengthens capillary walls and can eliminate the appearance of dark circles and redness on your face. It even says that the product will quickly heal bruises. These claims have not been medically proven, but the product is available at the spa.
Advanced resKue
Advanced resKue eye cream, formulated by Advanced Skincare Distributors in El Paso, Texas, combines a 5 percent topical vitamin K with antioxidants, the emollient vitamin A, hyaluronic acid to help the skin retain moisture and aloe gel for moisture and anti-inflammatory purposes. Touting its use for under-eye dark circles, it also claims that the cream can help minimize the appearance of spider veins and bruises.
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