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HOW TO GET RID OF DARK CIRCLES



Article Overview

Dark circles are a common eye-area concern that appears as blue, purple or brown circles under the eyes. They can be caused by a range of lifestyle factors, such as sleep deprivation and poor dietary choices, but it can also be a result of skin ageing or genetics. Topical ingredients such as vitamin C, niacinamide, retinol and hyaluronic acid can be effective at addressing these issues.

Although these are different issues with different causes, they are all related to the natural anatomy of the eye area itself, and when addressing the skin under the eye, you can visibly reduce and sometimes remove dark circles. In this article, we’ll discuss in more detail what dark circles and under-eye bags are, what causes them, and how to reduce their appearance.



What are Dark Circles?

Dark circles appear as blue, purple or brown discoloration underneath the eyes. The delicate skin around the eyes is thinner than skin on other areas of the face—and it drapes over the eye socket, which is a hollow, empty space. The nature of this under-eye area, in addition to other factors, make the eye-area more likely to develop visible age-related changes. Dark circles under the eyes can be caused by the appearance of shadows under the eye, or as a result of skin discoloration, often leading to a tired or fatigued appearance.


What Causes Dark Circles?

Dark circles under the eyes can occur either as a result of changes to the skin's pigment or when the skin under the eyes is very thin, causing the underlying blood vessels to appear more pronounced. It's often associated with a lack of sleep, but there are other lifestyle factors that can cause them. Circles under the eyes can be due to genetics, allergies, fatigue, skin dehydration, or lifestyle choices—and they can appear at any age. As we age, the appearance of dark circles can also be more pronounced as the under eye skin thins.

Genetics:Dark circles may not always indicate a skin concern or problem with lifestyle habits, they’re sometimes a natural part of your genes or your skin type. For example, pale skin are more likely to have dark circles because the thin under-eye skin that makes dark blood vessels beneath the skin are more visible. Your face structure can also impact the appearance of dark circles, such as if you have naturally sunken eyes. Oftentimes these visible dark circles can be improved with skincare or concealed with makeup, but don’t go away. Genetic dark circles can also get lighter or darker over time.

Sleep deprivation: Sleep deprivation can make the skin more dull and pale, which allows darker tissues and blood vessels beneath the skin to become more visible, especially where there is thin skin. Sleep deprivation can also allow fluid to accumulate beneath the eyes, and visible dark circles can actually be the result of shadows cast by puffy lower eyelids.

Skin aging: The natural ageing process can cause dark circles to become more pronounced as the skin becomes thinner due to a decrease in collagen production. Mature skin is also more prone to changes in skin tone caused by accumulated sun exposure and age spots, which can sometimes appear as circles under the eyes.

Facial volume loss: Sometimes caused by ageing, but also from rapid weight loss or skin dehydration, lost volume or soft tissue in the tear trough area can cause shadows under the eyes, known as infraorbital dark circles.

Sun exposure: Dark circles that are brown in colour are generally caused by excess pigment that develops after unprotected sun exposure. People with darker skin tones may be more prone to dark circles caused by skin discoloration.

Screen time: Eye strain caused by staring at your phone or computer screen can enlarge blood vessels around the eyes and lead to more pronounced dark circles.

Allergies: The red, itchy, puffy eyes associated with allergies are caused by the body’s release of histamines. This immune-system reaction can also make the appearance of dark circles more pronounced, and rubbing itchy eyes can also lead to swelling that exacerbates dark under eye circles.

Hyperpigmentation: Pigmented dark circles are usually brown or black, and caused by an excess in pigmentation underneath the skin. This type of dark under eye circles is more common in darker skin.

Dehydration: When the body is dehydrated, the skin can become dull and the eye area can develop a sunken appearance, causing dark circles under eyes and sometimes eye bags.


What are undereye bags?

Another skin concern for the under-eye area, under-eye bags refer to puffiness or bulging pockets beneath the lower eyelids. Similar to dark circles, they're common in ageing skin as the skin around the eyes begin to weaken, but can also occur in response to allergies or fluid retention.


What Causes Under-Eye Bags?

Under-eye bags can be genetic, but can also be exacerbated by fatigue, allergies, and lifestyle habits, like consuming too much salt or alcohol. Poor blood circulation can cause eye bags to become more prominent, and since the skin is so thin in this area it can become especially noticeable. The natural ageing process and decline in collagen production can also make under-eye bags more prominent.


Tips for preventing dark circles and under eye bags

For some, a few simple lifestyle changes can help get rid of under-eye bags and dark circles, such as getting more sleep, staying hydrated, and reducing screen time. Cold compresses may help reduce puffiness and the shadows that contribute to dark circles as well. Here are a few tips we recommend for helping to visibly reduce dark circles and under-eye bags.

  • Get plenty of sleep: Getting enough sleep plays a major role in supporting the overnight skin cell renewal cycle.
  • Stay hydrated: Dehydrated skin can worsen dark circles, so make sure you support hydrated skin by drinking plenty of water.
  • Dietary choices: Limit your salt intake, caffeine and alcohol as these can dehydrate the skin and worsen dark circles.
  • Screen time: Reduce your screen time, especially before bed.
  • Soothe skin with cold compresses: Use a cold compress, ice cubes or cold tea bags to soothe skin.
  • Sun exposure: Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day and avoid peak UV times (between 10am and 3pm).
  • Use topical creams: Eye creams are formulated to deeply hydrate the delicate under eye skin and address dryness, dark circles and sagging or loose skin.

Products for dark circles and under-eye bags

Corrective moisturizers

While you may not be able to prevent dark circles under the eyes completely, products designed specifically for the eye area often help in visibly reducing dark circles and under-eye bags. SkinCeuticals offers several eye creams that can help treat the appearance of dark circles and under-eye bags. Formulated to improve the appearance of puffiness and discoloration, they include ingredients that help fortify the skin to address wrinkles, loss of firmness, and skin laxity, as well as provide hydration to keep the skin plump and smooth.

Corrective moisturizers

Antioxidant AOX+ Eye Gel: Offering effective environmental protection and improvement in the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, crow’s feet, and visible signs of fatigue, this potent morning-use gel combines 5% L-ascorbic acid (vitamin c), 1% phloretin, and 0.5% ferulic acid for antioxidant protection. It also helps reinforce ageing skin to minimise the appearance of discoloration and under-eye bags.

A.G.E. Advanced Eye for Dark Circles: Ideal for dark circles, crows feet, and puffiness, this advanced hydrating and corrective formulation helps target visible signs of ageing and age-related skin thinning that are linked to the glycation process. In addition to Proxylane™, blueberry extract, and a complex of flavonoid antioxidants and synergistic peptides, this eye treatment also contains optical diffusers that instantly brighten the eye area.


Professional treatments for dark circles

Depending on the root cause of your unique eye-area concerns, some professional treatments can be used to target dark circles. Treatments targeting thinning skin or facial volume loss may help add volume into the skin and conceal skin discolouration. When dark circles are the result of hyperpigmentation, chemical peels and some laser therapy treatments can help remove pigment cells to reveal a more even skin tone. Any treatments should be decided in consultation with your healthcare practitioner.


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