Circles under the eyes cause many people concern. The Mayo Clinic states that dark circles can make a person feel old, tired and unhealthy. While each person may have a different definition of what constitutes an under eye circle, the Mayo Clinic states that they are "round, uniform areas of pigmentation beneath each eye." Getting rid of your under eye circles may not be as difficult as you think.
Step 1
Apply cold. A cold compress, two chilled teaspoons or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a cloth will help to reduce the dilated blood vessels that lead to under eye circles. Chilled cucumber slices, a refrigerated gel mask or a cool, damp tea bag also works well.
Step 2
Improve your sleep habits. The Mayo Clinic states that while lack of sleep does not cause under eye circles, decreased sleep makes you paler and makes the under eye circles you already have appear worse.
Step 3
Use more pillows. By elevating your head when you sleep, you will prevent blood from pooling under your eyes and causing the under eye circles. Lying down causes fluid to collect under your eyes, and leads to swelling and the appearance of circles under the eyes.
Step 4
Use sunscreen. While tanning hides dark circles for a short time, the Mayo Clinic advises that the extra pigment produced by tanning makes under eye circles worse.
Step 5
Use creams containing vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin E and retinol. Vitamin K is known to shrink blood vessels, and retinol can re-build collagen.
Step 6
Apply concealer. Use a peach-colored concealer that does not contain salicylic or glycolic acid to camouflage your bluish under eye circles.
Tips and Warnings
- If these natural techniques fail to reduce your under eye circles, you may need to speak with your physician or seek advice from a plastic surgeon about medical options for treating your under eye circles. When you have a stuffed nose, the veins designed for draining your eyes into your nose become dilated, filled with fluid and appear darker. Relieve nasal congestion by using a saltwater or saline spray to rinse your sinuses. If you notice that the circles under your eyes are darker when your allergies flair up, you many need to avoid allergens or take allergy medication to reduce allergy-induced under eye circles.
- If you have discoloration or swelling under just one eye, speak with a medical professional to determine the cause. Some medications, especially some blood pressure medications, cause blood vessels to dilate throughout the body. As a result, the vessels under the eyes dilate and cause the appearance of circles under the eyes.
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