Dark circles under the eyes are a common cosmetic concern for many people. They can make you appear tired, sick, or older than you are. But what causes dark circles? And is there anything you can do to reduce their appearance?
What are dark circles?
Dark circles refer to darkened, shadowy areas of skin under the eyes. They can range in color from light brown to deep blue or purple. The medical term for dark circles is periorbital hyperpigmentation.
Dark circles under the eyes can appear at any age but become more common as we get older. With aging, the skin under the eyes can lose collagen and become thinner. This allows the underlying blood vessels to show through more, resulting in a darker circle under the eyes.
What causes dark circles under eyes?
There are many possible causes of dark circles under the eyes:
- Lack of sleep – Fatigue and lack of sleep can make blood vessels under your eyes dilate or swell, making the area appear darker.
- Allergies – Seasonal allergies can cause persistent puffiness and dark circles under the eyes.
- Age – As we age, our skin loses collagen and becomes thinner. Shadows under the eyes become more obvious.
- Sun exposure – UV rays can increase skin pigmentation, worsening dark circles.
- Genetics – Dark circles can run in families. Thanks, Mom and Dad!
- Medications – Some prescription medications, such as hormone replacement therapy, can trigger darkening under the eyes.
- Poor circulation – When circulation is poor, blood can pool under eyes and cause darkening.
- Smoking – Chemicals from smoking can reduce oxygen supply to the skin around the eyes.
- Hyperpigmentation – Excessive skin pigment (melanin) around eyes can cause darker circles.
Do dark circles make you look tired?
Yes, dark circles often make people look fatigued or tired, even if they are fully rested. The shadowy look mimics the way our eyes appear when sleep deprived and causes others to perceive us as tired or unwell.
Studies have shown that people with darker undereye circles are viewed as being more tired, less healthy, and less approachable. The contrast between the dark circles and the rest of the face emphasizes the tired look.
Do dark circles make you look older?
Dark circles can definitely make people appear older than their true age. As we get older, dark circles and wrinkles become more pronounced due to thinning of the undereye skin.
Dark circles create shadows that accentuate the eyes and mimic the sunken, hollow look that can come with age. Even in younger people, dark circles exude an older, more fatigued appearance.
At what age do you get dark circles?
Dark circles can show up at any age, even in children. However, they tend to appear and worsen as we get older:
- Babies – Dark circles present at birth due to the delicate undereye skin.
- Teens – Late nights and hormonal changes during puberty can trigger dark circles.
- 20s and 30s – Allergies, genetics, and lifestyle choices may produce undereye circles.
- 40s and beyond – Dark circles become more common due to thinner undereye skin.
Do guys or girls get dark circles more?
Studies show that dark under eye circles affect women more often than men. There are a few reasons for this discrepancy:
- Genetics – Dark circles appear to have a greater genetic component for women.
- Anatomy – Women naturally tend to have thinner undereye skin than men.
- Hormones – Hormonal changes like menstruation and menopause can exacerbate dark circles for women.
- Cosmetics – Women are more likely to use concealer and notice when their dark circles worsen.
However, men can certainly develop pronounced dark circles as well. Factors like aging, allergies, illnesses and lifestyle will affect dark circles equally across genders.
How to cover up dark circles
If you suffer from dark undereye circles, there are cosmetic techniques and products you can use to conceal them:
- Color correcting concealer – Green-tinted concealer can neutralize red/purple circles.
- Thick/emollient concealer – Heavier formulations provide more coverage.
- Reflective concealer – Concealers with light reflectors help illuminate the undereyes.
- Creamy corrector – Peach and yellow correctors visually lift and brighten circles.
- Setting powder – Finely milled powder keeps concealer locked in place.
Be sure to gently pat products into the thin undereye skin rather than rubbing them in. Using your ring finger allows for the lightest application. Follow up with setting powder to prevent creasing and fade.
Home remedies for dark circles
There are also some home remedies that may help diminish the look of dark under eye circles:
- Cold compress – Cool cucumber slices or cold spoons can reduce puffiness and constrict blood vessels.
- Tea bags – Caffeinated or chilled green tea bags can have a temporary tightening effect.
- Cold milk – The lactic acid may help lighten pigmentation, plus the cold temperature constricts blood vessels.
- Tomato juice – Lycopene and vitamin C in tomatoes can help reduce pigmentation over time.
- Potato slices – Starch in potatoes may diminish discoloration when applied under eyes.
- Rose water – The anti-inflammatory properties help soothe the delicate eye area skin.
Be aware that any eye creams or home remedies should not enter the eye itself. Handle gently and avoid pulling on the delicate skin.
Medical treatments
If at-home methods aren’t providing desired results, medical treatments are available for reducing dark undereye circles. Potential medical treatments include:
- Topical creams – Prescription retinoids, hydroquinone, vitamin C, or kojic acid creams may lighten pigmentation over time.
- Chemical peels – Glycolic, salicylic or trichloroacetic acid peels can help peel away pigmented skin cells.
- Laser therapy – Intense pulsed light and laser resurfacing treatments remove top skin layers.
- Dermal fillers – Hyaluronic acid fillers plump up undereye hollows and shadows.
- Lower eyelid blepharoplasty – Cosmetic surgery can treat undereye bags and discoloration.
Be cautious about chemical peels and laser treatments since the undereye area is quite delicate. Seek an experienced dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon.
How to prevent dark circles
Adopting certain lifestyle habits and eye care practices can help prevent dark circles from forming or getting worse:
- Get enough sleep – Aim for 7-9 hours per night to allow skin to rejuvenate.
- Manage allergies – Control indoor and outdoor allergens to prevent sniffling and rubbing.
- Use sunscreen – Protect skin from UV rays and wear sunglasses outdoors.
- Eat healthy foods – Consume vitamins and antioxidants found in fruits, vegetables and fish.
- Stay hydrated – Drink plenty of water to maintain skin elasticity.
- Reduce salt – Excess sodium can cause fluid retention and puffiness.
- Avoid smoking – Don’t smoke and stay away from secondhand smoke.
- Relieve stress – Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing can help calm mind and body.
- Splash with cold water – Cold water shrinks blood vessels to reduce dark circles upon waking.
- Use eye cream – Gently massage targeted eye creams into the delicate skin.
Can you permanently get rid of dark circles?
Unfortunately, it is difficult to permanently eliminate dark circles under the eyes. Because discoloration and thinning of the under eye area can be caused by a range of factors – many beyond our control – dark circles tend to recur to some degree.
However, with diligent skincare and healthy habits, it is possible to minimize their appearance long-term. Being consistent with under eye creams, eating well, managing allergies, and avoiding squinting and eye-rubbing can keep dark circles away for longer.
For severe cases, dermatological procedures like chemical peels and laser therapy can provide longer lasting lightening of undereye pigmentation. But even with medical treatments, some degree of darkness may return over the years as we continue to age.
When to see a doctor
Consult a doctor or dermatologist if your dark under eye circles:
- Develop suddenly or appear very dark brown/purplish black
- Are severely asymmetric (much darker on one side)
- Itch, burn or feel irritated
- Are accompanied by puffy eyelids and eye pain
- Worsen despite home treatment efforts
- Are accompanied by other symptoms like dizziness, weight loss, vision issues
Sudden onset or quickly worsening dark circles could indicate an underlying health condition like anemia, eczema, or allergies. Seek medical advice to identify and address the root cause.
Conclusion
Dark under eye circles are a nuisance, but they don’t have to be a permanent problem. While it’s difficult to completely eliminate undereye shadows, strategic camouflage tricks, targeted skincare, and healthy lifestyle choices can help minimize their appearance.
Don’t lose sleep over dark circles making you look haggard. With diligent efforts to protect your eye area – along with proper medical care if symptoms persist – you can bid those raccoon eyes goodbye!
