If you have had the impression to carry that ‘panda look’ through the day – perhaps after a night out with your friends or because of a long day in front of the computer – this article will help you to get rid of dark circles once-and-for-all.
Many confuse dark circles with bags under the eyes – so, before we dive into our article on how to get rid of dark circles – by talking about their causes and suggesting some remedies – we’d like to talk about the differences between these two skin conditions.
Dark circles and bags under the eyes are two common problems – but different.
Whether they come from an incorrect lifestyle or are hereditary – or rather, they could hide a psychosomatic problem, it needs to be understood that (even if dark circles and under the eyes bags are two different problems), the methods used to treat them often overlap – therefore choosing the wrong products or treatment is very easy.
Let’s try to understand together the differences between the two.
Dark Circles And Bags Under Eyes Are Different
Although they are two issues concerning more or less the same area of the body, there’s a big difference between the two.
Dark circles can arise from several reasons – to name a few: stress, water retention, excessive alcohol consumption, allergies, or perhaps heredity.
The dark circles are formed by stagnation of hemosiderin, which is an iron component that is present in all of us, it will not be unusual to see the dark circles on the face of those suffering from anaemia.
As for bags under the eyes, even if associated with dark circles from stress, smoking, poor diet, or allergies, these can sometimes conceal a much more serious problem.
They could be linked to the thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), high blood pressure and – in the worst scenario – to liver or kidney diseases. Sometimes they are associated with psychosomatic causes.
If you have tried them all, but have not been able to get rid of these annoying bags under the eyes, our advice is always to seek medical advice.
Having bags under the eyes is a real syndrome!
The syndrome manifests with swelling, concentrated over the entire area of the eye. The capillaries lose elasticity and the skin walls start releasing serum and water which then accumulate between the fat cells under the eyes. In the most severe cases all around the area. In this way, a cellulite-like swelling will form, which will makes the fat fibrous and the area inflamed.
Main Causes Of Dark Circles
As anticipated at the beginning of this article, we will discuss the main causes of this annoying blemish (aka dark circles) as fully as we can. To get rid of dark circles we first need to understand what causes them.
Absence Of A Correct Skin-care Routine
Dark circles can also occur when we don’t take care of our skin. Having a proper skincare routine could make a difference in our skin health.
An improper skincare routine could lead to acne, blackheads, and even dark circles. All the dirt and bacteria collected during the day can settle on the skin of our faces, increasing the visibility of those ugly dark circles.
Lack of Sleep
Sleep deprivation can make your skin turn pale. This causes the blood vessels beneath it to become more noticeable. Sleeping at least seven to eight hours a night can help decrease the appearance of dark circles.
Skin-Aging
As we age, the tissue around the eyes begins to thin, making them look puffy and dull. There are medical treatments that can specifically target age-induced black circles under the eyes, such as fillers and laser therapy. Not everyone is a good candidate for these procedures, so talk to your doctor about the right treatment for you.
Allergies
Allergies can make our eyes dry, this can contribute to the formation of dark circles. When you have an allergic reaction, the body releases histamines, which can cause itchy and red eyes. This could lead you to rub your eyes, increasing irritation, swelling, and the appearance of dark circles.
If you suffer from allergies, such as itchy eyes, sneezing, or airway congestion, this could be the reason for your dark circles. Taking an antihistamine can help reduce allergy symptoms that can exacerbate dark circles. It will only be effective if allergies are the main cause of your dark circles. You shouldn’t take an antihistamine if you do not suffer from allergies.
Anemia
Anaemia is a medical condition characterized by an insufficient amount of red blood cells. It is usually due to a lack of iron in the diet. Anaemia prevents the blood cells from carrying enough oxygen to the body’s tissues – including those under the eyes. This can result in black circles!
Signs of anaemia include fatigue, dizziness, and paleness. If you think you suffer from anaemia, consult a doctor. He may suggest an iron supplement, or alternatively, a healthy diet with iron-rich foods, such as spinach, beans, and seafood. They can prevent and treat anaemia.
Smoke & Alcohol
Consuming alcohol can cause blood vessels under the eyes to dilate, making dark circles more prominent. Alcohol can also have a negative impact on sleep, which also aggravates the appearance of dark circles.
The carbon monoxide in cigarettes deprives your skin of oxygen, which can make thinner skin looks darker. Such as under the eyes area. Smoking also accelerates skin ageing by breaking down collagen. Smoking damages the skin and leads to premature ageing, similar to age-related dark circles, lower production of collagen can lead to the formation of dark circles under the eyes.
Get Rid Of Dark Circles: All The Remedies
As promised, we’ve finally come to the main focus of this article, how to get rid of dark circles. Below we will examine different remedies, starting with the natural one to then moving on to some cosmetic advice.
We will end the article by giving few aesthetic-medical options. Even if a little less natural, in the most serious cases, medical treatments, could become the only plausible way to get rid of dark circles once-and-for-all.
Let’s first talk about all the natural remedies to get rid of dark circles. A must-try before considering other – more invasive – options.
Natural Remedies To Get Rid Of Dark Circles
The remedies we’ve listed below are all-natural, or as some would call them – nana’s remedies. All the ingredients are available and easy to find in everyone’s home.
- Cold packs
Cold packs are one of the best-known natural remedies, friends of all of us in times of need. They not only help to lower the temperature if you have a fever but also constrict blood vessels. There are many eye cooler masks on the market. Alternatively, you can simply put a wet towel into the freezer, apply 3 to 4 times a day for at least a week to start seeing results. The difference between the mask and the towel is that the mask will keep the temperature for longer.
- Use cucumber
Cucumber among its healing properties can also be used as a soothing agent for the eyes, narrowing the pores under them. To use it on this part of the face, put one into the freezer and leave it to cool for at least 40 minutes, then cut it into 1.5 cm thickness slices, lay down then apply the sliced cucumber all over the eyes area. Alternatively, you can centrifuge the cucumber and apply it with cotton balls, in this case, keep the juice in the fridge always ready to use. Apply it regularly morning and evening.
- Use Green Tea
As we all know, Green Tea is a great ally for physical well-being. But perhaps, many don’t know that it isn’t only good for a tea break, but it’s also excellently applied to the eyes. Green tea is rich in antioxidants that help counteract the appearance of bags and dark circles. All you have to do is to boil a cup of water and soak two tea bags for 2/3 minutes. When the bags are cold, keep them over your eyes for 10-15 minutes. You will notice a significant decrease in dark circles and bags. This is possible thanks to the caffeine contained in it.
- Try mint leaves
Mint has astringent, antiseptic, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties. Its astringent properties can help fight dark circles and bags under the eyes. Plus the mind has a soothing smell that will benefit your whole body. You can grind the mint leaves and apply the paste on dark circles for 15-20 minutes. You can also add few drops of lemon juice to make it a more effective remedy for getting rid of dark circles.
Cosmetic Remedies To Get Rid Of Dark Circles
Below we would like to tell you about a couple of really effective cosmetic remedies to get rid of dark circles and give the skin a brighter look.
Valuxxo Revitalizing Eye-Cream
At the heart of Valuxxo sits the firm belief that the eyes are the window to the soul. After all, they accompany us as a business card every time we approach other people. Therefore, our top priority is to select the right men’s eye cream that can act as a shield against external agents.
Bearing it in mind, Valuxxo has created this complete natural eye cream, which revitalizes the skin around the eyes by reducing dark circles and puffiness. Regular use of this cream will not only brighten the lower part of the eyes, but it will also make face skin glowing.
The key ingredients behind the Valuxxo recipe are Hemp Seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Aloe Vera, Jojoba Oil, Olive Oil, Emulium Mellifera, Shea Butter, Squalane Oil. A cocktail of antioxidants and vitamins for a combo action: protective and revitalizing.
Apply twice a day for best results.
Hyaluronic Acid
Using 100% pure hyaluronic acid could be an alternative to cosmetic cream. But beware (and away) of cheap products. That kind of deal-of-the-day stores products. Very often the actual amount of active ingredients in these products is almost zero – nada de nada!
Hyaluronic acid, which isn’t cheap at all, could be very useful to reduce and improve the appearance of dark circles or the so-called ‘valley of tears.
Medical Aesthetic Remedies To Get Rid Of Dark Circles
At this point of our article, we must also talk about the existing medical aesthetic procedures. Below we’ve listed two of the less-invasive procedures to get rid of dark circles, present today in the world of aesthetics and body care.
Hyaluronic Fillers
This treatment, also known as Under-Eye Filler, can eliminate dark circles and bags. It is used to improve the appearance of sunken or discoloured areas under the eyes.
Many people can develop dark circles like shadows created by the swelling of the fat or by the depression of the soft tissue, just above the cheekbone. It can occur directly under the lower eyelid. This shadow can be reduced by placing hyaluronic acid inside the shaded area.
This rejuvenation procedure doesn’t require many injections. But certainly, even one or two fillers will have their cost, as mentioned above, always be wary of those who want to offer you the deal of the year, seek specialized centres with professional doctors.
As expensive as it may be for some, many believe that under-eye fillers are worth it. After all, unlike some facials that take time to settle, hyaluronic filler benefits are evident as soon as it is injected. Although some swelling or bruising is not ruled out, it is still an injection made in a very delicate area.
Filler Benefits:
- Immediate results
- Brighter under-eye area
- No more dark circles
- Overall younger and less tired look.
Lipofilling
Lipofilling is nothing more than fat injected into the under-eye area, it’s usually taken from the abdomen. To not be confused with blepharoplasty, which is a different procedure to remove the bags under the eyes.
The extracted fat is centrifuged, and only the solid part will be used. Unlike the hyaluronic acid filler, lipofilling is considered a light surgery, therefore it will require a day hospital.
After the fat injection, there is the risk of small spots. Those will correspond to the injected fat, in this case, the reason could be either too little or in excessive quantities.
The result is immediate, but the final appearance will not be visible for 3 months. After the procedure, the result will be definitive – unlike the hyaluronic filler – which can vary with a maximum duration of one year.
Lipofilling is suitable for all patients with deep dark circles. As it is a surgical procedure, people that decide to have it, usually associate other areas of the face such as cheekbones, eyebrows, lips.
