Dark Under Eye Circles: Causes and Solutions

If you experience dark under eye circles, you are definitely not alone. Like most people with this form of hyper pigmentation, you may want to know what's causing them and what you can do about them. First, let's understand the causes and address any common misunderstandings concerning this condition. Most people may think that the cause of dark circles under the eye is either due to tiredness or illness. While being tired and ill can certainly can make you feel and look less than your best, it is not the most common reason (if at all) for darkness or hyper pigmentation under the eye area. Sometimes, people get plenty of sleep and still have dark under eye circles. In fact at times, it is not that one has darkness under the eye. It may only appear that way because of the shadows that are cast by puffy eyelids or hollows under the eyes that are a typical part of aging. Also, your under eye area may be puffy giving you this appearance. According to the website at MayoClinic.com, the following are just a few conditions which are common causes contributing to dark circles under the eyes:

• Atopic Dermatitis
• Heredity-darkness under the eyes can, and do run in families
• Lifestyle factors-such as physical or emotional stress, smoking, or chronic alcohol use can take a toll on your appearance
• Hyper pigmentation-especially common in people of color
• Sun exposure-which prompts your body to produce more melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color
• Thinning skin and loss of collagen-which is common in the aging process

Solutions: What You Can Do About This Problem If you want a solution that is a long-lasting one aside from what traditional concealers and store-bought cosmetic creams can offer, then you may want to see your dermatologist for advice. Today, there are more choices as solutions for this problem than ever before. There's laser therapy and in some cases surgery. But let's deal with a little less invasive approach that may not call for surgery. For instance, your doctor may recommend a prescription cream or a combination of treatments to eradicate or reduce the darkness under your eyes. Laser therapy or chemical peels can be helpful in some cases. Hollows that cause shadows can be smoothed with injectable fillers, and surgery can eliminate puffy lids. However, in most cases, this condition is not usually a medical issue. There are natural remedies you can easily make and use at home which may be all you need to help manage this condition. Also, there are a number of other things you can do at home to improve the appearance of darkness under the eyes.

• A cold compress consisting of frozen peas wrapped in a soft cloth placed under the eyes to temporarily reduce discolored and dilated blood vessels
• Elevate your head with an extra pillow or two to prevent puffiness that develops as a result of fluid pooling into your lower eye lids
• A cooled chamomile tea bag
• Use a plant-based eye gel or serum (no heavy creams) formulated for this problem and be sure to look for customer reviews on the search engines before purchasing a product of this type

If you need a quick-fix, use an easy-to-apply concealer matched to your skin tone to hide under eye darkness. Never pull or tug at the eyes, as this can make your sensitive under eye area and upper lids sag. Simply apply small amounts by lightly patting while blending the concealer and again, search for customer reviews on the product you plan to purchase.