Today, we’re going to talk about something that is the nemesis of practically every person here. Now I say practically because there are those who are born with such perfect skin they always look flawless.
Yes, we’re talking about the dreaded dark circles. They are often accompanied by bags and can make you appear older than you are and to make matters worse, they can be difficult to get rid of.
We are going to get into the nitty-gritty of this topic today because 2022 is the year we look our best, no more panda eyes for us this year.
There are many causes of dark circles the most common one being lack of sleep or adequate rest and sometimes it can be solved by having a nice, long, relaxing time in your bed-sleeping.
But what happens when the dark circles don’t go even after you’ve slept for a long period of time and you have to use layers of makeup to cover it? This sounds like a question for Nailcon.
What Causes Dark Circles?
Fatigue
This is the number one cause of dark circles. Oversleeping, extreme fatigue, or staying up late can cause dark circles to form under your eyes. Sleep deprivation can cause your skin to become dull and pale, allowing for dark tissues and blood vessels beneath your skin to show
Age
As you get older, your skin becomes thinner. You lose fat and collagen needed to maintain your skin’s elasticity and because of this, the dark vessels beneath your skin become more visible causing the area below your eyes to darken.
Before you start panicking ladies, don’t worry we have a solution for you. You’re not going to stop aging (we’re not God) but you can get rid of the dark circles.
Eye Strain
Staring at your television or computer for too long can cause serious strain on your eyes. This strain can cause blood vessels around your eyes to enlarge and as a result, the surrounding skin darkens. This is why I wear glasses and also have dark circles (not fair at all)
Allergies
Allergic reactions and eye dryness can cause dark circles. Allergies can increase your urge to rub and scratch the itchy skin around your eyes. This can not only worsen your symptoms but also cause inflammation, swelling, and broken blood vessels which ultimately lead to dark circles.
You just can’t get away from those things, they’re everywhere!
Dehydration
Personally, this came as a surprise to me because I did not know this. Apparently, when your body is not receiving the proper amount of water, the skin beneath your eyes begins to look dull and your eyes sunken. Is anyone else having an ‘aha’ moment right now because I am.
Genetics
You know what they say about genetics, ‘sometimes it can be a bitch and sometimes it is a blessing’. In the case of dark circles, let’s go with the B-word. Like seriously?? Why couldn’t I inherit flawless skin and perfect eyesight? I cannot be the only one ranting right now.
Dark circles can be an inherited trait seen early in childhood and may worsen as you age or slowly disappear.
Non-White Ethnicity
This one I saw online and that brought a huge question mark, like seriously? Dark circles are more common in people of darker skin tones and this is due to changes in pigmentation. Basically, this is saying that when we stay too long in the sun, we produce excess melanin and our beautiful melanin causes our skin to darken. Invest in sunglasses ladies, even if it’s winter and there’s no sun. this year, we are saying no to dark circles!
Treatment
Finally!
We’ve gotten to the part some of you probably scrolled all the way down to see. P.S. if you didn’t read the article from the beginning please do because the information’s useful even for me who’s writing it.
Who here loves to do home remedies? Personally, I only do them when I’m sure of what I’m creating or hoping to achieve and also if I have the time and want to experiment. So ladies, without further ado, I give you home remedies you can do to treat dark circles.
1. Apply a cold compress: This is very soothing for me and I love doing this. A cold compress can help reduce swelling and shrink dilated blood vessels. This can reduce the appearance of puffiness and help eliminate dark circles.
The procedure is also very simple to do. Wrap a few ice cubes in a clean washcloth and apply to the eyes. You can alternately dampen a washcloth with cold water and apply it to the skin under your eyes for 20 minutes to achieve the same effect.
If or when you try it, be sure to comment below so we know your result.
2. Get extra sleep: This is a fail-safe plan to deal with your dark circles especially if you know that you have not been getting enough sleep for one reason or another. Pick a lovely Saturday or Friday or any day of the week if you don’t have a 9-5 job. Switch off all your gadgets, send your kids to their grandma’s place for the weekend, get that house all to yourself, or rent a hotel room and sleep. Make sure to sleep at least 7 to 8 hours cause you’ll need that rest.
3. Elevate your head when sleeping: I did not know this before but how you sleep also plays a role in whether or not you’ll have dark circles the following day. When you sleep, elevate your head with a few pillows to prevent fluid from pooling under your eyes which can make them look puffy and swollen.
4. Soak with tea bags: Applying cold tea bags to your eyes can improve their appearance. Tea contains caffeine and antioxidants that can help stimulate blood circulation, shrink blood vessels and reduce liquid retention beneath your skin.
To apply this, soak two black or green tea bags in hot water for five minutes (I suggest you do this when you want to have your morning tea so it doesn’t go to waste). Let them chill in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes.
Once they are cold, apply the tea bags to your eyes for 10 to 20 minutes and after removing them, rinse your eyes with cold water.
5. Cucumber: Applying cucumber slices to the eyes may help soothe tired eyes and reduce swelling. The high water and vitamin C content of cucumber may help to nourish and moisturize the skin. Cucumber also contains silica which is essential for healthy tissue.
6. Antioxidant Skincare Products: Face creams and under-the-eye products that contain antioxidants may help to reduce the appearance of dark circles. Also, I know this does not exactly count as a home remedy but come on, it’s skincare!
Here are some awesome recommendations to get you started;
Avene A-Oxitive Antioxidant Defense Serum
Medical Treatments
We are moving on to solutions approved by doctors, they also have more effective and permanent solutions. Some medical treatments are available to reduce the appearance of dark circles. Some of the common methods include;
- Chemical peels to reduce pigmentation
2. Laser surgery to resurface the skin and enhance skin tightening
3. Medical tattoos to inject pigmentation into thinning skin areas
4. Tissue fillers to conceal blood vessels and melanin that are causing skin discoloration beneath your eyes
5. Fat removal to remove excess fat and skin, revealing a smoother and more even surface.
6. Azelaic Acid: can be used to treat hyper pigmentation under the eyes.
7. Topical Vitamin C
This has got to be one of the longest articles I have written but it is so worth it because I learned a lot writing it and I’m sure you did too.
