Dark circles and puffy eyes can be caused by a lack of sleep, allergies and crying, although the most common cause of dark circles is hereditary. They appear when there is a decrease in the amount of the chemical elastin in your skin. Elastin keeps your skin looking young and fresh, so when you lose the chemical, your skin becomes thinner and darker, making you look much older than you actually are. You should treat your severe dark circles and eye puffiness by drinking water, eating the right foods, and applying the right products to your eyes.
Step 1
Boil water and brew two tea bags. Drain the water from the tea bags and let them cool. Lie on your couch, place one bag over each eye and leave them on for at least 10 minutes. Tea contains a chemical called epigallocatechin gallate, or ECGC, an anti-inflammatory agent that can help relieve your eye puffiness and treat your dark circles.
Step 2
Eat your fruits and veggies. Bananas, spinach and oranges are full of vitamin C, which helps your skin cells grow at a faster pace. The faster your skin cells produce, the more quickly you regrow elastin, which will repair the dark circles and puffiness under your eyes. Eat a piece of fruit or a serving of vegetables with every meal.
Step 3
Drink plenty of water. When your body is dehydrated, it attempts to hold onto the water that is currently inside because it doesn't know the next time you will hydrate it. This causes the puffiness under your eyes. The Mayo Clinic says you should drink at least 64 oz. of water every day to treat severe dark circles.
Step 4
Lie on your couch and place an ice pack with a towel wrapped around it on your eyes. Leave on for at least 20 minutes. While this method is extremely effective for relieving the puffiness and dark circles right away, the effects are temporary.
Step 5
Get your rest. If your body is sleep-deprived, you become tired and sluggish, which shows up in your skin as dark circles. The National Sleep Foundation says you need at least seven to eight hours of sleep every day. If this does not work into your lifestyle, take a 15-minute nap sometime during the day.
Things You'll Need
- Fruits and vegetables
- Water
- Ice pack
- 2 tea bags
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