Dark circles can crop up for a myriad of reasons, and while they may not be medically dangerous, you may still want to get rid of them. Many times, dark circles result from thinning under-eye skin combined with a proliferation of blood vessels. If this is the case for you, topically applying vitamin K cream may help. However, it is not likely to make your dark circles vanish. See your doctor before trying new products.
Blood Vessels and Dark Circles
As you age, your skin becomes thinner, and this includes the skin underneath your eyes. The layer of fat beneath your eyes also begins to lessen, and when this occurs, the blood vessels beneath your eyes may begin to look more prominent, resulting in dark circles. These under-eye circles are simply a result of aging, and they tend to run in families. If you have a cold or allergies, this can also lead to dark circles of a vascular nature, since nasal congestion darkens the veins that run from your eyes to your nose.
Benefits of Vitamin K
Getting enough vitamin K internally is essential for your blood's ability to clot. People apply it topically to lessen the appearance of bruises, spider veins, scars and dark eye circles. This is because vitamin K strengthens your veins, and, in theory, it can shrink the blood vessels that cause dark circles. However, the efficacy of this vitamin to improve the look of dark eye circles has not been proven. Vitamin K is safe for most people, so you will not likely experience any adverse side effects from applying it.
Other Causes of Dark Circles
Dark circles may be unrelated to blood vessels. For example, if you rub or scratch at your under-eye area, you may bruise the skin, resulting in dark circles. Sun exposure can also lead to dark eye circles, though these will be more brownish in color. People of Asian or African-American descent may also experience irregularities in skin pigmentation that can result in dark circles. Finally, a lack of sleep can cause under-eye circles as well. Because these causes are not vascular, vitamin K will not likely help in these cases.
Other Remedies
If you find that vitamin K is not effective for treating your dark circles, or if your under-eye problems are not related to blood vessels, other remedies may help. You can try placing a cold compress on your eyes for a few minutes each morning to temporarily lessen the appearance of the dilated blood vessels. Sleeping with your head propped up on an extra pillow and snoozing for a bit longer each night may reduce the look of dark circles. Many creams and serums claim to help with under-eye circles; your doctor can help you determine if any of these will likely benefit you.
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