Pretty much everyone is familiar with dark circles under the eyes. This condition, also referred to as dark rings or dark shadows, is truly universal. While it may be unfortunate, it is completely harmless and not a serious skin condition.

It is far too often that this dark discoloration makes an unwanted appearance, leaving what should be fresh face looking a little more worn. Most affected are women, with the circles becoming more pronounced when it’s that time of the month. However, they can also show up in men and children. Some research suggests that if the dark circles are present in childhood, it’s likely to transpire into adulthood. Genetics, allergies, aging, eye-strain, fatigue and exhaustion all play large parts in the definition of dark circles.

You can easily manage and reduce the discoloration under the eyes by pin pointing the cause and treating it appropriately.

The cause & treatment of dark circles

Exhaustion

When looking at a map of the face, the areas under your eyes represent the kidneys. On top of our kidneys sits the adrenals glands which control hormones that help deal with stress. When the body is physically or mentally exhausted, the adrenal glands are drained and subsequently the kidneys also suffer. This can result from lifestyle factors such as excessive alcohol consumption, high levels of stress on the body, sleep deprivation and even severe dehydration.

What to do: Bottom line, don’t wear yourself out. The body can handle a lot, but will start to show signs of weakness when pushed to the limit. Dark circles is one of those signs. It’s not too hard, start tonight by getting a solid sleep. For more overnight improvement, put a wet wash cloth on your eyes while you sleep to prevent puffiness in the morning. Learning to manage the stressors that are in your life will have a noticeable impact on the your skin’s natural glow and freshness. If it turns out you have some lifestyle habits you’re not ready to kick, make sure they are counter balanced with wellness.

Also try: Increasing fluids and managing salt intake (which can cause the eye area to swell and puff) is essential when it comes to clearing out dark circles. Water removes the toxins that can cause damage in the body, contributing to the congested formation of dark circles. Aim for at least 10 glasses of water in a day, and even more when you exercise.

Aging

The thin skin under your eyes is very delicate and easily damaged. To make matters worse, as we age the skin thins further, becoming even more fragile. When the skin is damaged, the small vessels beneath the surface are broken and a small amount of blood can leak. The thin transparency of this skin makes the blood-loss visible in the form of dark circular patches around the eyes.

What to do: To avoid this, the body needs to improve it’s clotting mechanisms in order to prevent those small leakages. Internally, antioxidants will help maintain and support healthy vessels and the surrounding areas. Vitamin C is an important nutrient and antioxidant here, anintegral building block for the collagen present in the under eye area, and is essential for keeping dark circles away. Foods highest in vitamin C include parsley, limes, capsicum and grapefruit. Antioxidant rich ointments like Dr.Alkaitis Organic Eye Cream also contain Vitamin A and Vitamin C which help repair the skin and may relieve dark circles caused from damage.

Also try: One of the Traditional Chinese remedies for dark circles is Acupressure. Use your index finger to apply pressure on the bones beneath your eyes for three seconds. Repeat this step 10 times, every morning. The best thing is to try to adapt this practice to your morning facial skincare ritual.

Hyper-pigmentation

This is characterized by an over production of melatonin in the skin and is hereditary. It is seen in ethnic lineages such as Indian, African, Latin or Arabic. If there is a noticeable color change, in the way that the circles are lightening and darkening, then they may also be affected by the sun.

What do to: Apply natural sun oil to the area under your eyes right up to the lash line every time you are out in the sun. This will prevent the dark shades from getting darker.

Also try: Chinese and Latin American cultures have traditionally used potatoes for removing dark circles. The enzymes contained in potatoes are effective for skin lightening and also for transferring antioxidants like vitamin C into the skin. Take two slices of potato and place them on your eyes for 15 minutes.

Allergies

For those with allergies, dark circles can become more prevalent due to the irritation that comes from rubbing and scratching of the skin or simply from the congestion in the nasal cavities.

What to do: First, address the allergy internally. Externally you want to cool the area. Cucumber is one of the oldest and best remedies for treating dark circles. You can slice a cucumber and put it on your eyes or crush some cucumber, wrap it in a clean cloth and place it on the eyes. It also tones and tightens the area under the eye. But most importantly it will work to cool irritated and puffy eyes.

Lack of nutrients

Low iron levels can also cause one to be highly fatigued. Common in teenage girls going through puberty, but can effect anyone who doesn’t have an adequate iron intake. The typical sign of low iron is dark circles under the eyes.

What to do: See a general practitioner to get your iron levels properly checked before taking any supplements. This is an especially important step for men. Otherwise, dietary improvements can be easily made by adding some cashew nuts, parsley, sun-dried tomatoes, tahini, sunflower feeds, mussels or read meat into some meals and snacks.

The makeup artist trick to vanishing dark circles

If we look at a color wheel, the blue purple color that appears under the eyes is balanced by an orange red color.

What to do:For those with a darker complexion, surprisingly, a red lipstick works wonders in balancing the dark circles. For lighter skin tone, opt for a peachy colored concealer.

When you look in the mirror and those dark circles are causing concern, don’t let them override the way you feel. First know why they are there, and then know how to get rid of them. If you experience dark circles that come and go, and are looking for long term solution, consume a healthy diet, rich in vitamins, antioxidants and minerals and always keep the skin under the eye hydrated and moisturized.