When you glance in the mirror in the morning and see dark circles under your eyes, you might presume you have just had a bad night's sleep. The skin under the eyes is very thin, so any alternation in pigmentation is going to show up there. You can solve the problem cosmetically with a variety of cosmetics and potions, but if you have dark circles not only in the morning but most of the time, it's best to get to the bottom of the problem. They might indicate an underlying nutritional deficiency. According to UK-based nutritionist Jane Clarke, one common cause of dark circles under the eyes is iron-deficient anemia.
Lack of Iron
You need enough iron in your diet to manufacture hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to the cells. If your iron levels fall too low, you might experience a variety of symptoms. Dark circles alone do not indicate anemia definitely, but if you are experiencing other symptoms such as fatigue, frequent colds and bugs and dizziness, then you need to get your iron levels checked with a complete blood count, provided by your physician. Women are more likely to have iron-deficient anemia because of blood loss during the menstrual cycle. Also, women are more likely to go on calorie-restrictive diets, which might lack essential nutrients such as iron.
Sources of iron
Good sources of dietary iron include lean red meat, eggs, beans such as kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas and lentils. Dark leafy green vegetables, seaweed, soya products and of course spinach are all good sources of dietary iron. The problem is, they need to be bioavailable, meaning that the body can actually absorb and utilize the iron. It is particularly difficult to get all the iron you need purely from vegetarian sources, and even harder from vegan sources. According to Jane Clarke, taking a vitamin C supplement helps your body absorb vegetarian sources of iron.
Other causes of dark circles
Dark circles under the eyes may be hereditary. Because the skin under the eyes is very thin, when blood passes through that area, it can produce a dark color, much like the blue color of your veins. The thinner your skin, the more the circles will be evident. Another cause can be overexposure to the sun. Of course, with an all around tan, this may be less noticeable, but the area under the eyes will always be darker unless you wear sunglasses. Another much-ignored cause of dark circles is allergies. Itchy eyes, caused by pollen , or other allergens, can make you rub your eyes more often than you should. Less often, undetected food allergies or intolerance can contribute to dark circles, hypothetically, though there is no hard, scientific evidence to back this up.
Ageing
Some might say you get the face you deserve, but natural ageing is certainly going to heighten the effect of dark circles with bagginess. As we age, we lose skin tone and texture and the eyes are generally the first sign. The bags make the dark circles seem more prominent from the folds. Cosmetic procedures might lift the bags, which would lessen the effects of the dark circles, but a good cosmetic cream will at least even out the skin tone, if not actually tighten the bags.
Suggested cures
There is no scientific evidence for the following advice, but these home remedies are said to reduce the effect of dark circles under the eyes. One old wive's tale is to grate a raw potato, put in in a cloth, and apply it to the eyes for 20 minutes. There is similar anecdotal evidence for cold tea bags, cold cucumbers, and, oddly, hemorrhoid cream. Though some swear by it, hemorrhoid cream is a medicinal product and not indicated for use under the eyes. One easy thing to do is to remain hydrated during the day. Dehydration can heighten the effects of dark circles- just look at anyone who has recently had a stomach bug- but it is not a cure as such, Drinking water regularly during the day has an overall good effect on the skin. That said, fluid retention can accentuate dark circles with a puffy-eyed look. Water itself does not cause fluid retention, but alcohol, smoking, and lack of sleep all have the potential to create a puffy effect.
Dermatology
Because dark circles under the eyes is a skin condition, you might want to consult a dermatologist to see if it is a skin problem. According to dermatologist Dr. Jeffrey Benabio, dark circles are the second most common complaint in his patients, after wrinkles. He says the two main reasons are prominent blood vessels in this area and excess pigmentation. The pigmentation can be caused by dermatitis or eczema, both treatable. He also advises, as most dermatologists do, to avoid overexposure to the sun and to wear sunscreen every day.
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