According to the Mayo Clinic, dark circles under the eyes are medically defined as round, uniform areas of pigmentation underneath the eye. Dark circles can be aesthetically unpleasing but rarely indicate a serious medical issue. There are a variety of cosmetics, creams and other treatments to help camouflage and/or eliminate dark circles under the eyes.
Effects
Although dark circles under the eyes tend to appear in adulthood, children sometimes develop them. Men and women are affected by the condition.
According to the New York Times, the market research firm Mintel says sales of anti-aging products--including products aimed at eliminating dark circles--have topped $1 billion annually. There was no sales figure available exclusively for dark circle treatments.
Causes
There are several possible causes of dark circles under the eyes. The condition can be inherited or due to conditions such as allergies, eczema or nasal congestion. Nasal congestion causes the veins that drain from your eyes to your nose to dilate and become darker.
Smoking, drinking alcohol and beverages that contain caffeine may also lead to dark under-eye circles. In addition, aging skin that becomes thin and loses collagen and fat is more prone to dark circles.
Treatment
The treatment of dark circles depends on the underlying cause. Your doctor may prescribe a cream that may lessen or even remove the discoloration.
Your doctor may recommend a chemical peel (a solution applied to the face to improve and smooth the texture of skin by removing its damaged outer layers). In some cases, laser therapy (laser and light-based therapies reach the deeper layers of skin without harming the skin's surface) may be performed.
Home Remedies
If dark circles under the eyes are not severe, they may respond to home treatments such as a cold compress. A frozen bag of vegetables covered with a cloth or a used tea bag may reduce discoloration temporarily.
Elevating your head with at least two pillows while you sleep can stop puffiness from developing when fluid assembles in your lower eyelids.
If your dark under-eye circles are due to nasal congestion, try rinsing your sinus with an over-the-counter saline spray or a home solution consisting of a 1/4 tsp. sea salt mixed with two cups warm water.
Creams & Cosmetics
The University of Maryland Medical Center says under-eye creams work to reduce puffiness and dark circles by temporarily constricting blood vessels to prevent the buildup of fluid, and by tightening the skin with an undetectable film.
The Mayo Clinic said one study found that creams containing vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin E and Retinol were reasonably effective in the treatment of under-eye circles.
Comestic concealers work by temporarily hiding dark circles.
Avoid concealers that contain salicylic or glycolic acid. These ingredients can irritate fragile eye tissue, and may aggravate swelling and cause redness.
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