What Causes Dark Circles Under the Eyes and How You Can Treat Them
Do you constantly battle with dark circles under the eyes? A large proportion of the population - men and women alike - have had to deal with dark under eye circles.
Often, the cause is temporary but some people seem to permanently have them for whatever reason.
Whatever the cause, "racoon eyes" can make you look tired, unhealthy and much older than your age.
This article looks at the most common reasons for dark circles under the eyes and what you can do to help prevent them.
1.
Lack of Sleep - A common reason for temporary dark under eye circles is lack of sleep.
For some people, just making sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep regularly is the way to keep dark circles at bay.
Drinking enough water and keeping your head elevated with a pillow at night will help to reduce the appearance of dark circles.
2.
Iron Deficiency - Increase your iron intake by adding iron rich foods to your diet.
Eggs, oily fish, red meat, dried fruit such as figs and apricots, beans pulses and nuts are all rich in iron so be sure to incorporate these into your diet.
Natural iron supplements are available in liquid and tablet form but if you have a severe iron deficiency, your doctor may need to provide a course of iron tablets for you.
You can request a blood test from your family doctor to check if you have an iron deficiency.
It is also a good idea to make sure you are getting enough vitamin C as this helps iron to be absorbed by your body.
3.
Hereditary - Many people that suffer with dark under eye circles have inherited it.
Do other people in your family also have dark under eye circles? The majority of people that have dark circles under the eyes don't suffer from any deficiencies or fatigue, it is simply an inherited trait.
This is probably the most frustrating because no matter what you do, you always look tired even after a good night's sleep.
The cause can be either hyperpigmentation or poor circulation.
You can identify the cause of your dark circles by pressing gently under the eye - if the skin appears slightly lighter when you take your finger away, the cause is poor circulation but if there is no change then the cause is hyperpigmentation.
Dark circles due to hyperpigmentation are caused by excess melanin (or pigment) so is most likely in Black or Asian skin.
If your dark under eye circles appear suddenly, consult your doctor as this could be a sign of allergies or an underlying medical condition.
Often, the cause is temporary but some people seem to permanently have them for whatever reason.
Whatever the cause, "racoon eyes" can make you look tired, unhealthy and much older than your age.
This article looks at the most common reasons for dark circles under the eyes and what you can do to help prevent them.
1.
Lack of Sleep - A common reason for temporary dark under eye circles is lack of sleep.
For some people, just making sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep regularly is the way to keep dark circles at bay.
Drinking enough water and keeping your head elevated with a pillow at night will help to reduce the appearance of dark circles.
2.
Iron Deficiency - Increase your iron intake by adding iron rich foods to your diet.
Eggs, oily fish, red meat, dried fruit such as figs and apricots, beans pulses and nuts are all rich in iron so be sure to incorporate these into your diet.
Natural iron supplements are available in liquid and tablet form but if you have a severe iron deficiency, your doctor may need to provide a course of iron tablets for you.
You can request a blood test from your family doctor to check if you have an iron deficiency.
It is also a good idea to make sure you are getting enough vitamin C as this helps iron to be absorbed by your body.
3.
Hereditary - Many people that suffer with dark under eye circles have inherited it.
Do other people in your family also have dark under eye circles? The majority of people that have dark circles under the eyes don't suffer from any deficiencies or fatigue, it is simply an inherited trait.
This is probably the most frustrating because no matter what you do, you always look tired even after a good night's sleep.
The cause can be either hyperpigmentation or poor circulation.
You can identify the cause of your dark circles by pressing gently under the eye - if the skin appears slightly lighter when you take your finger away, the cause is poor circulation but if there is no change then the cause is hyperpigmentation.
Dark circles due to hyperpigmentation are caused by excess melanin (or pigment) so is most likely in Black or Asian skin.
If your dark under eye circles appear suddenly, consult your doctor as this could be a sign of allergies or an underlying medical condition.