Dermatologists find that complaints about dark areas under the eyes are second only to complaints about acne. Like acne, the appearance of dark circles panics people, not because they are concerned about the medical implications, but because of the damage to their appearance. People with these dark circles look older, tired, and stressed out. Some misguided people who are not so afflicted, see these dark circles under the eyes as a sign of dissipated living, which is certainly not the case. If you have noticed dark circles beginning to appear under your eyes, don’t panic. There are remedies available to mitigate of eliminate the problem.
There are numerous explanations why these dark areas appear. In some cases, serious medical problems such as kidney or liver disease are the cause, but this is rare. In most cases the condition arises due to heredity, the process of aging, or environmental conditions and behavioral practices.
Lack of sleep is a major cause. If you don’t get enough sleep, your skin tends to become pale and more translucent. The translucence makes the veins that set under the top of the skin in the area under the eyes to become more visible, exhibiting a bluish tint that causes the dark circles. Excessive exposure to sunlight can also have a similar effect. Some individuals who suffer from eczema, asthma, or various allergies such as hay fever, may also develop these dark areas.
Aging is unavoidable, and the tendency to acquire these dark circles increases with increased age. The epidermis under the eyes is naturally thin. Aging thins the epidermis in this region even more, allowing the blood vessels below the surface of the skin to become visible as a dark area. Often, the skin’s elasticity is also lessened causing a puffy swollen look in the under-eye area.
If your grandparents and parents have these dark circles and puffiness, the problem may be in the family genes. If it’s hereditary, there is an excellent chance that you’ll go through the same issue. If that is the case, those environmental and behavioral conditions that cause the problem in some people can exacerbate the problem for you. If the problem is hereditary, it is unlikely that the dark circles can be permanently eliminated. They can, however, be minimized significantly using the identical treatments which are suitable for those afflicted through other causes.
Regardless of the cause of these dark circles, the recommended remedies and treatments are the same. Several of those treatments that have proven to be most effective over the years are described below. Selecting treatments that are best for your circumstances needs that you’ve a good comprehension of what the causes are in your particular case. It’s crucial that you examine your lifestyle and your environment to determine what might be the best treatments for you.
The first line of defense used by most people, especially women, is the use of cosmetics to either mask the problem or in an attempt to cure it. While this has proven to be effective, it should not be solely relied upon as the solution. You will probably find that the issue is significantly reduced by modifying your behavior in little ways.
The conditions may improve markedly if you simply change your sleeping habits to ensure that you get as much sleep as your body requires. If you’re an outdoor type, perhaps routinely wearing good sunglasses and the regular application of a good sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more might reduce the dark areas significantly. Many people have realized, thus to their big surprise and pleasure, that merely consuming more water throughout the day, improving general hydration, causes a noticeable reduction in the dark appearance.
Ensuring that you eat a proper diet can minimize the problem for many people. Eliminate salty foods, avoid excessive use of alcohol and don’t smoke cigarettes. Alcohol consumption and smoking can dry the skin, making the area under the eyes more translucent and revealing than normal.
In addition to behavioral changes, you can attack the symptoms directly using commercial creams and lotions, along with some proven home remedies. Try placing cold cucumber slices on the closed eyes for approximately 10 minutes each day. Cool used teabags can be substituted for the cucumbers. These applications tend to hydrate and directly nourish the skin in this area, reducing its translucence. The direct application of creams containing vitamin C and especially vitamin K are superb for helping to repair broken capillaries just below the skin that cause the appearance of the dark circles.
While using these creams to affect a permanent solution to the problem, consider using a concealer that’s somewhat light that the normal skin tone to mask the problem. Using the lighter tone will make you eyes look brighter, fresher, and younger, which is your objective in the first place.
Category: General Health Information
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