Addressing the Causes of Dark Circles Under the Eyes
Posted by Elroy Ward in General Health Information
Eye bags, raccoon eyes, bags under the eyes; no matter what you call them, they are distressing for those who have them. Defined by easily recognized under-eye discoloration of the skin and puffiness, this condition usually appears when people get older, but younger persons have them also. There are many different causes for dark circles and puffiness under the eyes, and each case is different, but there are some commonalities.
Fighting Those Dark Circles Around Your Eyes
Aging has already been mentioned, and heredity can also be a factor. In most people, however, stress, fatigue, and allergies, along with environmental and behavior factors play a major role in either causing or exacerbating the condition. If you have this condition, it is important that you determine what the cause is in your particular case, in order to best combat it. Some of the most common causes are discussed below.
Fatigue and Stress
Stress and fatigue are rampant in modern society. Work and social schedules demand too much of our day, not allowing enough time to rest and to get adequate sleep. When we do not have enough sleep, the blood vessels under the eye appear more prominently. Their bluish hue becomes visible through the skin causing the darkened circles under the eyes.
Allergic Reactions
Allergies, both seasonal and chronic, are common causes of dark circles and puffiness under the eyes. Hay fever is the most common seasonal villain, and food allergies appear to be the greatest contributors to chronic allergic reactions. Naturally, avoiding the causes of the allergies is the best way to avoid the problem, but this is not always possible. The effects from seasonal allergies can be combated with readily available prescription and over-the-counter medications. The chronic allergies may require professional help in identifying and avoiding the allergens that cause the problem.
Heredity and Genes
With many people, the under-eye condition is embedded in their genetic makeup. The face’s bone structure and the degree of thinness of the skin under the eyes are major factors to be considered. In all people, the skin under the eyes is thinner that skin in other places on the body, and the blood vessels in this area are close to the skin surface. The added transparency of thin skin allows the bluish tint of the adjacent blood vessels to show through the skin, giving the area its darkened appearance. Bone structure is often the culprit causing puffiness or bags under the eyes causes by the pooling of blood in the bone structure.
Increasing Age
As we get older, we tend to lose the amount of collagen in our skin, making the skin thinner. Where the skin under the eyes is already thin, the decrease in thickness due to the natural loss of collagen makes this area more transparent and subjected to puffiness. The bluish tint of the adjacent blood vessels becomes more visible, making the area appear darker.
Poor Nutrition
A poor diet has a negative effect on the body in general, and is known to be a significant cause of dark circles under the eyes. A diet that is lacking sufficient iron can lead to anemia, which results in insufficient oxygen reaching body tissues, a primary reason for the formation of these dark circles. A deficiency of vitamin K, vitamin B12, and antioxidants can also enable the formation of dark circles and puffiness. This can be easily remedied by eating fruits and green leafy vegetables, and by using the appropriate vitamin supplements.
Medical Conditions
While diet, behavior, and the environment are often the source of the problem, there are some medical conditions that can cause or exacerbate the condition. Sinus infections, the common cold, eczema, sunburn, and poor hydration can all contribute to the onset of dark circles. Some individuals have a condition called periorbital hyper pigmentation, which causes the production of excess melanin around the eyes, which causes the area to take on a brownish tinge. Pregnancy and menstruation may also cause a temporary darkening of the under eye areas.
Addressing the Problem
If there is no significant medical problem causing your dark areas and puffiness, there are several ways to minimize the effects of this condition using over-the-counter and home remedies. Your options are to either mask the problem, or minimize it.
Be extremely careful in embarking upon any course of action to remedy the situation. There are many products on the market that purport to solve the problem. It’s critical that you select products that contain ingredients that are known to help or at least not to harm or exacerbate the problem. Many products have ingredients that may not bother some people, but can be potentially harmful to you.
Search for products that contain all natural ingredients, using names that can be understood, not clever trade names that sound great but are meaningless. Focus upon products with plant-based oils, extracts, and waxes; products that feature enzymes, beneficial peptides, and nutrients that are known to be effective in moistening, tightening, and enriching the skin. You are looking for products that will help to thicken the skin below the eyes and improve its elasticity; products that will help alleviate the fluid buildup that causes the puffiness.
Two ingredients that are found in all of the best and most effective lotions and eye cream treatments are the peptide chains Eyeliss and Haloxyl. The effectiveness of these two ingredients has been proven over decades to be most effective in reducing the puffy bags and dark circles under the eyes. If you can find products that contain these two ingredients and that also include ingredients to increase the amount of collagen and elastin in the skin, you will have gone a long way toward solving your under-eye problems.
