Natural Cream For Dark Eye Circles

Dark under-eye circles are a common problem. Although applying a thick concealer temporarily disguises them, better solutions like natural creams with the right active ingredients can help reduce the appearance of dark eye circles. It's also important to understand when to discuss this problem with your medical provider.

Causes

Causes of dark eye circles vary. Nasal congestion, heredity and rubbing and scratching the eyes play a factor. Sun exposure, which causes the body to produce too much melanin, also causes dark eye circles. As you age, skin becomes thinner. Thinner skin emphasizes the appearance of blood vessels under the eyes.

Eye Creams

There are dozens of dark eye circle creams on pharmacy aisles. Not all of these products work, however. Effective natural eye creams contain the active ingredients vitamin K, vitamin C and vitamin E, according to MayoClinic.com. Apply a cold compress before using natural eye creams. Chill frozen peas, cover in a cloth and apply to the eyes for several minutes. Then, apply the natural eye cream. This will further reduce dark circles and swelling.

Misconceptions

Lack of sleep isn't always the culprit for dark eye-circles, despite common myths. Even if you get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night, it's still possible to develop dark eye-circles. Also, elevate the head while sleeping. At night, blood pools under the eyes, creating dark circles. Propping your head up with a few pillows during sleep minimizes blood pooling.

Prevention

Choose natural eye creams that contain an SPF of 15 or higher. Skin under the eyes is delicate. An SPF protects it from harmful sunrays. Wearing dark glasses also provides some protection. Avoid sun exposure when possible.

Warnings

If you have allergies, use a saline wash or spray to clean out the nasal passages. Saline spray is available at most drugstores. If dark eye circles don't improve, despite using creams or other methods, talk with your doctor. Although it's not very common, medical issues cause dark eye circles in some people. For example, the skin condition eczema causes dark under-eye circles, according to MayoClinic.com.