How do I get Rid of These Dark Circles under my eyes?
Dark circles under the eye are most often part of aging and genetics.
Here are the top 5 reasons why they occur and the best ways to help.
Reasons Why they Occur:
1. Genetics: your parents’ genes is the biggest reason. If you inherit fair or thin skin under the eyes, it is more obvious when blood or fluid pools there. This can happen especially at night time because of slower circulation from lack of sleep. This accumulation causes fragile capillaries to stretch and leak.
2. Age: Over time, skin loses collagen and thins, so veins show through more prominently. Sunbathing speeds up this process by breaking down collagen and mottling skin color.
3. Seasonal allergies:
Histamines release causes inflammation of blood vessels and skin tissue which can cause swelling under the eyelids. To determine why your circles happen, gently stretch the skin under your eyes. If that area becomes darker, the circles are probably due to genetics or aging. If the color doesn’t change, UV rays or allergies are probably the cause.
4. Chronic Eye Rubbing: along with chronic allergies, years of eye rubbing can make skin laxity decrease which can lead to pooling of fluid under eyelids over time: avoid eye rubbing!
5. Poor Health, Anemia, Malnutrition: wasting away of fat around the eyes can cause the appearance of deep circles or dark circles under the eye. See your MD for your annual check up to be sure your blood counts are normal.
Top 10 Ways to Treat These Circles:
1. If your circles are the result of vascular issues:
a. double up on pillows at night to stop blood from building up under your eyes.
b. apply a cold compress for about five minutes to constrict the blood vessels in the morning.
2. Try Using Cold Creams that Constrict Blood Vessels:
a. Use an eye cream with caffeine, which helps constrict vessels (try Lancôme Rénergie Lift Multi-Action Eye Cream $72, sephora.com).
b. Other smart alternatives: Arnica-based creams (found at health-food stores), which are considered to have anti-inflammatory properties, may reduce the appearance of darkness.
c. And eye creams with green tea or grapeseed oil help strengthen capillary walls (try Replenix All-trans-Retinol Eye Repair Cream, $75, dermstore.com).
3. Improve Your Diet to improve blood flow to skin:
a. Flavonol-rich dark chocolate (an ounce a day)
b. Omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, walnuts) 2000-4000mg may improve blood flow to the skin,
4. For allergy-induced circles:
a. consider taking an over-the-counter antihistamine before allergies begin to abate shadows: be sure your eyeMD has made sure you do not have Narrow Angles
https://drcremers.com/2013/08/narrow-angles-instruction-sheet-for.html
5. For thin skin: Try using a collagen-building cream:
note: there are no randomized, prospective studies these below work but has been recommended by dermatologist to patients.
a. Retinol: helps increase collagen production
– ROC Multi-Correxion 5-in-1 Eye Cream, $28 at ulta.com). V
b. Vitamin C also encourages production and can help brighten skin tone
– as Renée Rouleau Vitamin C Eye Serum, $59.50, reneerouleau.com).
6. Always wear sunscreen daily
7. Never rub your eyes and eyelids.
8. Try camouflage
a. apply eye cream and let it dry for a few minutes. Then pat on a creamy concealer that matches your skin tone. Top with a layer of loose powder, which helps prevent makeup from caking in creases.
b. Many YOUTUBE videos show how to do this magic trick 🙂
9. If still no improvement, see PCP/MD to be sure all your blood tests are normal: especially liver function tests, CBC, ANA, ESR.
10. If still not improvement and all blood tests are normal, see oculoplastic surgeon for filler injection or eyelid surgery.