Dark circles under the eyes can make you look tired, sick, or just plain bad. There are lots of different things that can cause discoloration underneath the eyes: illness, allergies, tiredness, or plain old heredity. But regardless of the cause, you don’t have to suffer!
Here are some things to try to fix those dark circles under your eyes:
- Having allergy problems? Learn about your allergens (the things you are allergic to) and avoid them. Try an over-the-counter allergy medicine. Can’t figure it out on your own? Talk to your doctor, an allergist, or a dermatologist for help.
- Don’t rub your eyes! If you rub too hard, you can irritate the skin and even break tiny capillaries, leaving you with puffy, dark circles under your eyes.
- Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep can slow down your circulation and make your skin look paler — making your dark circles look worse than usual. Most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep every night.
- Try a cold compress while you sleep. Wet a washcloth and place it over your eyes to help reduce puffiness and/or discoloration.
- Try a cuppa. The tannin in tea can help reduce swelling and discoloration. Wet a tea bag and place it over your eyes for ten to fifteen minutes while you lie down and relax. Use plain black caffeinated tea for best results.
- Try a cucumber slice. Apply a fresh slice of cucumber to each eye to reduce puffiness and refresh the skin. Kick back and relax for ten to fifteen minutes while the cukes do their work.
- Wash your face with cool or cold water in the morning. This will make the blood vessels constrict and that will reduce puffiness.
- Dark circles may be caused by a deficiency of vitamin K. Try an eye cream that contains vitamin K and retinol to help reduce discoloration. It may take a while to see any results — studies show that long-term daily use has the best effect.
- Speaking of deficiencies, make sure you eat a healthy, balanced diet. There are lots of cosmetic problems that can be helped with the right vitamins and minerals in your diet. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies and take a multivitamin if you need one. Drink plenty of water, too!
- Cut back on salt — salt can make you retain water, leading to puffy eyes.
- Quit smoking. Smoking can damage blood vessels, making them appear more prominent and darker beneath the skin.
- Wear sunscreen every day.