Dark Circles under Eyes

It usually helps to understand what causes something in order to cure the problem. The same rule applies to understanding why dark circles appear under the eyes. The cause of dark eye circles can be traced to several different reasons. Our eyelids are very delicate, and so is the area under the eyes, so dark circles under the eyes can appear for several different reasons such as heredity, not sleeping, and bruising.

One of the reasons could be heredity. If a person has weak or even leaky capillaries under the skin (especially around the eyes), this is a gene-related issue that could cause dark circles. The same thing happens when the skin is light; the capillaries tend to be more obvious.

The skin below our eyes is naturally thin and is not as well endowed with oil glands as the rest of the body. Consequently, as we age the skin gets dry and wrinkled and the veins in the lower eye area appear more prominent. The result is dark circles under the eyes. Other factors that help create dark circles under the eyes are things like sun exposure, lack of sleep (which tends to make dark circles appear even darker), illness, pregnancy, and menstruation.

While there really isn't any curing the dark circles, there are some ways to reduce the appearance or lighten the dark circles by trying some of the popular home remedies.

One of the most popular ideas is to use either a raw potato or cucumber. Slice the cucumber or potato and place it over the eyelids for about 15 minutes. Another way to lighten the dark circles is to grate up a raw potato, then place the raw potato into cheesecloth. Hold the potato-filled cheesecloth on your eyelids between 15 to 20 minutes. With a clean, damp washcloth gently wipe the potato residue off. Now apply an eye cream that contains vitamins K, C, and E. Let the eye cream sit about 10 minutes, then gently wipe the cream off.

At night apply some almond oil, vitamin E, or olive oil under the eyes. Gently massage the oil into the skin just before going to bed.

Some of the other ways to help prevent the dark circles under eyes is doing a beauty regimen that includes drinking more than eight glasses of water every day, getting enough sleep, and eating a nutritionally balanced diet.

A temporary fix is to use cosmetics. Makeup can help hide the dark circles. Using a good under-eye concealer along with a good foundation works the best. Lightly place a dab of concealer under the eyes. Starting at the corner of the eye, gently blend the concealer and work the foundation in.