While dark undereye circles can in some cases be a symptom of nutritional deficiencies, problems with the adrenal glands or diminished kidney function, they are purely a cosmetic concern for most people. Dark circles under the eyes make you look exhausted, and can even have an aging effect similar to that of wrinkles. They have a variety of causes, the primary one being heredity; some people are just born with deep indentations below the eyes, some have darker pigmentation there and others have blood vessels close to the surface of the skin. Fortunately, whatever the cause, there are easy steps to reduce and get rid of dark undereye circles.
Step 1
Avoid rubbing your eyes. Rubbing them can inflame the skin around them, making dark circles more prominent.
Step 2
Sleep with an extra pillow or two. Elevating your head prevents an excess of fluid from pooling below the eyes overnight.
Step 3
Get a full night's sleep each night. Sleep deprivation contributes to dark undereye circles in a few ways. It encourages rubbing of the eyes, and it makes you paler and more hollow-eyed upon waking, which accentuates dark circles beneath the eyes. Also, dermatologist Dr. Nicholas Perricone points out that sleep deprivation boosts the levels of hormones such as cortisol, increasing eye circles and puffiness.
Step 4
Forgo sugary products and caffeinated and alcoholic beverages at night. Besides interfering with a good night's sleep, they slow adrenal gland function. This promotes fluid accumulation beneath the skin, potentially making dark circles beneath the eyes worse.
Step 5
Take an antihistamine or nasal decongestant when appropriate. Congestion and sinus problems raise pressure in the blood vessels beneath the eyes, making them more prominent, as John Hopkins School of Medicine dermatologist Dr. Bernard Cohen explains. In addition, these conditions also prompt eye rubbing. Saline solutions used to rinse the sinuses can help, too.
Step 6
Hold a cold compress on your eyes. Anything cold, from ice wrapped in a towel to a package of frozen food, will constrict the blood vessels beneath the eyes. This makes them less visible, and can temporarily get rid of dark undereye circles.
Step 7
Protect your eyes from the sun. As with the rest of your skin, the sun's rays trigger the production of pigment (melanin) below the eyes. Wide-brimmed hats can help, but sunglasses with large lenses are the best option. Sunglasses should offer 100 percent ultraviolet (UV) protection and high-energy visible (HEV) radiation protection. This protects the skin around your eyes, as well as the eyes themselves.
Step 8
Use cosmetic solutions to hide dark undereye circles. Makeup concealer can significantly reduce their appearance, and skin lightening creams will help, too. Look for products made from hydroquinone. Those containing vitamins C, E and K and retinol have demonstrated some success at getting rid of dark circles under the eyes, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Step 9
Ask your dermatologist about other treatment options if you're unable to get rid of your dark undereye circles. Laser treatments are safe and effective, though somewhat expensive, says dermatologist Dr. Sandy Tsao of Massachusetts General Hospital.
Things You'll Need
- Extra pillows
- Antihistamine/nasal decongestant
- Saline spray
- Cold compress
- Sunglasses
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