According to the Mayo Clinic, the dark circles under your eyes are simply areas of pigmentation. As you age, the skin under the eyes thins, which makes it much easier to see the blood vessels. The loss of fat and collagen can also contribute to the discoloration under your eyes. But aging isn't the only contributing factor in the change in appearance of this area of your skin, so the method of alleviating these dark circles can vary from person to person.
Step 1
Get enough sleep, urges the Mayo Clinic. While lack of sleep isn't necessarily the reason for the dark circles, it can contribute to their development, so try to get plenty of sleep. You may actually see an improvement in the tone of your skin.
Step 2
Note your caffeine intake. Another contributing factor in dark circles is caffeine. If you do drink caffeinated beverages, limit or eliminate your intake to see whether or not the dark circles improve.
Step 3
Avoid alcohol. Alcohol, like caffeine, can contribute to your dark circles. Try cutting out alcohol for a couple of weeks to see if this improves the pigmentation under your eyes.
Step 4
Stop smoking. Cigarette smoke is often linked to dark circles. If you quit smoking, the dark circles beneath your eyes can improve.
Step 5
Treat any allergies you're currently suffering from. The Mayo Clinic explains that dark circles can develop as a result of allergies. Determine what you're allergic to by talking to a doctor or allergist, and then treat the condition to see if this alleviates the dark circles.
Step 6
Stay out of the sun. Sometimes sun exposure can cause melanin to accumulate under your eyes, creating the dark circles. By staying out of the sun, you can improve your complexion.
Step 7
Apply a cold compress to the area under your eye. The Mayo Clinic explains that this can help reduce the dilated blood vessels responsible for the dark circles.
Step 8
Elevate your head. You may see an improvement in dark circles by elevating your head while you sleep, advises the Mayo Clinic. Elevating your head helps prevent fluid from collecting in your lower eyelids. Fluid in your lower eyelids can cause them to become puffy and cast shadows beneath your eyes. These shadows worsen the appearance of dark circles.
Step 9
Invest in an under-eye cream. Under-eye creams containing vitamins C and K or alpha hydroxy acids can improve the appearance of dark circles. The vitamins C and K help plump the skin and add volume. Alpha hydroxy can thicken the skin under the eyes, making the blood vessels less visible.
Step 10
Try an under-eye cream containing acid kojic and other ingredients. A clinical trial printed by the American Academy of Dermatology states that creams containing the ingredients acid kojic, extract of Morus alba, alpha bisabolol, oil of Calendula officinalis and Carapa guianensis, vitamins and oil of grape seed can help reduce the appearance of under-eye circles in younger patients, which is anyone under the age of 34.
Tips and Warnings
- Another study printed by the American Academy of Dermatology explains that people can see an improvement in dark circles with the use of creams containing human growth factors and cytokines when used twice daily. Human growth factors are essentially growth hormones. If your sinuses are plugged up, rinse them with saline. This may also help to improve the appearance of dark circles.
Things You'll Need
- Allergy medication
- Sunscreen
- Cold compress
- Under-eye creams
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