Dark Circles Under Eyes: Causes & Treatment

You may have not slept properly for months and get those dark circles around your eye area. It makes you look tired, unwelll, or unhealthy. But, many more reasons are contributing to those baggy eyes other than just the lack of sleep

This periorbital discolouration is one of the most common cosmetic concerns among people worldwide. While struggling with dark circles, you have to be very patient, as they take a little longer to fade away, depending upon the reason behind them.

What are Dark Circles?

To put it simply, the darkened areas around your eyes, especially under the eye, are commonly referred as dark circles. Dark circles, also known as periorbital hyperpigmentation (POH) can affect people across various demographics, including

• People with darker skin tones and susceptible to hyperpigmentation
• With Ageing
• People with a hereditary inclination towards this condition

Typically, they are a sign of tiredness or lack of sleep, but can occur due to many reasons; some causes may leave you surprised.

Underlying Causes of Dark Circles

Dark circles can be attributed to various factors, including genetics. Let’s have a broader picture.

• Dehydration: A lack of water in your body makes your skin dry and contributes to sunken eyes. Your eyes are closely placed to the underlying bone and that’s how it gets affected.
• Genetics: Your family history can determine the intensity of dark circles beneath your eyes. People with parents having shadows under their eyes tend to get them in the early stages of their lives.
• Sun Exposure: Sun rays can harm the skin, and that’s why SPF is highly recommended to be incorporated into your skincare routine. If you spend long durations under direct sunlight, you may get dark circles in the form of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
• Allergic Reactions: If you find yourself contending with an allergic condition, it may be a potential reason behind the occurrence of your dark circles.
• Anemia: A person with an anaemic condition can have dark circles that tend to reduce
• Ageing: The ageing process is regularly referenced as one of the most common reasons for the presence of dark circles. Your skin can sag as you age due to the decreased level of collagen and fat in your skin. When the skin starts losing its elasticity, those dark blood vessels under your skin begin to appear, leading to the darkening of the under-eye skin.
• Strain: Eyes that stick on the screens for longer periods can get dark circles easily by enlarging the blood vessels.
• Fatigue: Whether you’re sleeping too much, or not sleeping at all, it can trigger your undereye skin to lose its charm. The dark tissues underneath your eyes become even more visible and make you appear tired.

Lifestyle Factors Affecting Your Dark Circles

Backing with the very old saying, “You are what you eat”, your dietary habits and associated lifestyle activities matter a lot.

1. Stress: If you’re stressed, the blood will flow to the other parts of the body, restricting or neglecting the face. This results in a notable pale complexion, and that may contribute to your dark circles appearing better.
2. Excessive Alcohol Consumption: The math is quite simple here! Alcohol can cause dehydration in your skin which further affects the periorbital darkening around your eyes.
3. Lack of Sleep: Inadequate sleep can also lead to fluid retention, and can cause puffiness and swelling around the eye area. This can cast shadows and intensify the appearance of dark circles.
4. Smoking: This is not the sole cause or the direct reason for the dark circles, but yes it contributes a lot. Narrowing of blood vessels or vasoconstriction caused by smoking can reduce the blood flow around your eye area causing deep dark circles.

Ensure proper hydration, adequate sleep, and proper nutrition to promote glowing skin, including that delicate area around your eyes. Getting rid of dark circles is a relatively straightforward process that one can achieve with changes in their lifestyle.

Does Makeup Causes Dark Circles?

There is no proven study that says your makeup causes dark circles but if you are sleeping with your make-up on, it can certainly worsen your condition. Your eyes can get dehydrated in such situations causing your periorbital hyperpigmentation to spread more.

While make-up is supposed to cover your dark circles, if you are using a bad quality product that can definitely deteriorate the condition. Try looking for a reputed brand well-known for its quality. From your eyeliner, and foundation, to concealers, everything can impact your eye area.

Apart from worsening the darkening condition, these poor-quality makeup products can cause irritation and specific allergies. To combat and refrain from these, use a high-quality product, and test it before applying it fully and see if it is itching or causing irritation, even a little. Wash immediately and see a doctor if the condition persists.

Even if you are applying a top-notch product, it can still not go well with your skin type because of its composition.

How to Treat Dark Circles?

When it comes to treating dark circles, several options are easily available in the market.

• Kojic Acid: Derived from two fungi species, kojic acid is a highly effective ingredient for healing dark circles.
• Vitamin C: If your dark circles are pigmented, vitamin C can do wonders for you. It carries antioxidants that lighten pigmentation. Vitamin C works best when paired with hyaluronic acid for all skin types.
• Hyaluronic Acid: It’s a popular hydrator that structural and vascular dark circles, fortifies skin’s barriers, and retains skin moisture. It contributes to making the collagen and elastin in the skin under your eyes.
• Azelaic Acid: If your dark circles are too deep intense, or highly pigmented, azelaic acid can benefit you as it’s super safe to use over longer periods.
• Hesperidin: It comes from a plant extract and is a natural antioxidant to treat your vascular raccoon eyes. Hesperidin soothes inflammation and toughens the weakened blood capillaries around the eye area.
• Peptides: A very well-known skincare ingredient for promoting collagen and elastin in the skin. You can pair peptides with hyaluronic acid. It can be applied to all skin types.
• Hydroquinone: You might have to use hydroquinone for a minimum of three months to observe its effects. It can be paired with tretinoin for more effectiveness.
• Retinol: Retinol is already a wonder ingredient for several skin concerns and is often recommended for treating this condition as well. By promoting cell turnover, retinol can help in reducing the dark periorbital.

These ingredients can be used according to different skin types and underlying causes behind dark circles. You are advised to consult with your medical practitioner, and then use them.

The other assorted interventions for treating dark circles are;

• Chemical Peels: You can try out some ingredients in the form of chemical peels, including glycolic acid combined with topical creams for efficient outcomes.
• Fillers: A good and possible alternative can be fillers. If you’re having dark circles due to your thin skin, fillers can favour you. Hyaluronic acid gel or platelet-rich plasma is safely injected into the skin.
• Laser Therapy: Minimally invasive laser techniques are used, including pulsed dye or diode lasers. It which can reduce the likelihood of scarring or other possible side effects.
• Blepharoplasty: If there’s an accumulation of fat in the skin around your eye area, blepharoplasty is one surgical procedure that can help. The deep-down discussion before the surgery must be discussed with the doctor to understand the pros and cons of this procedure.

Eyecare Routine for Dark Circles

Make the eye care routine a part of your daily skincare routine to get brighter-looking eyes that radiate shine. A healthy eye care routine can be your saviour from several concerns, like dark circles, undereye bags, itching, crow’s feet, or puffiness.

Doing your eye care is simple as well as highly essential. We recommend start using an eye cream to target the concerns. Use it twice a day or as suggested by your dermatologist.

• Always remove your makeup before you sleep: Before getting some shut-eye, removing makeup is all fundamental. Take a gentle makeup remover and swipe it on your face using a cotton pad. Use a micellar water or makeup remover that is safe to use on the eye area.
• Apply Eye Cream Day & Night: You require a dose of moisture before you sleep. Take an appropriate amount of your undereye cream at night using your ring finger.
• Rubdown Regularly: Puffiness or dark eyes, massaging twice a day can help you achieve remarkable results. You can start using a jade roller that can de-puff your skin naturally.
• Bear in Mind Sunblock: Neglecting sun protection can give you dark circles, wrinkles, and even fine lines. Choose your SPF, and apply it religiously at regular intervals to protect your skin from sun damage.

Home Remedies for Dark Circles

Significant for several reasons, home remedies can be cost-effective methods for reducing dark circles. You can find the ingredients at home with minimal to no side effects.

• Tea bags: You must have heard of putting cold tea bags on your eyelids to get rid of dark circles. It is one of the most popular and effective remedies to date followed by people across the world. Mostly, chamomile and green tea are preferred. It is believed that the caffeine content inside the tea bags aids in the constriction of blood vessels around the eye area diminishing the blood flow and offering relief.
• Cold Milk - Natural Cleanser: Considered a natural cleanser, cold milk soothes the inflamed or sensitive skin around your eyes. It has lactic acid that acts on the puffiness and lightens the skin. You can simply dip cotton balls in the milk and keep it on the affected area for some time. Later wash it with water.
• Rosewater: This ingredient is there in several skincare products and is a popular toer too. The value-added advantage of rosewater is that it suits almost all skin types. Dip the cotton pad into the rosewater and keep it on the eyelids for some time.
• Aloe Vera: A moisturiser that is highly effective. it nourishes the skin and applying it around your eye area can restrict early signs of ageing. You don’t have to keep the aloe vera gel for more than 5-6 minutes.
  
  

DRSQ’s Products for Treating Dark Circles

DRSQ offers excellent products composed to address your periorbital hyperpigmentation or POH.

Eye Restore - Brightening Eye Serum

This Scientifically advanced, superior silky eye formula targets optimal DNA repair, collagen & wrinkle rejuvenation, dark circle elimination & puffiness reduction

Biomimetic Peptides, Pre & Probiotics, Retinaldehyde, Niacinamide, Vitamin C, Glutathione and Hyaluronic Acid, all work together to hydrate the under-eye area, reduce puffiness and fine lines, replenish and brighter the skin and slow the ageing process

How to use

• Use as the final step following the DRSQ Cleanser, DRSQ Serum, and DRSQ Moisturiser.
• Apply a small amount, equivalent to 1-2 peas, to the delicate eye area 1-2 times daily
• Gently massage into the skin.

Eye Magic- Overnight Recovery Eye Balm

This eye balm targets your dark circles covering all the other concerns, including fine lines, wrinkles, diminished elasticity, inflammation, and dryness. With an effective composition having Liquid Crystals with Spin Trap (PBN), the Eye Magic night balm rejuvenates the skin under your eyes.

How to use

• Dispense 1 pump, press between fingers, and gently spread evenly by holding the finger down.
• Apply to the skin under the eyes and upper eyelids every night.

Key Takeaways

• Periorbital hyperpigmentation (POH) or dark or shadowy areas under the eyes are referred to as dark circles.
• They can occur due to a variety of factors, including dehydration, genetics, sun exposure, ageing, stress, and anaemia.
• Various lifestyle factors like excessive consumption of alcohol, smoking or lack of sleep.
• Wearing makeup does not lead to the development of dark circles.
• Several ingredients can help in combating dark circles. Kojic acid, hyaluronic acid azelaic acid and peptides are at the top of the list.
• Following a religious eye care routine can help up to an extent.
• Home remedies hold significance for multiple factors to alleviate dark circles.