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Genetics
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| Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Diggy Lloyd |
Not to blame your parents, but genetics do play a role in the development of dark circles under the eyes. According to Dr. Sonia Batra, dermatologist and cohost of The Doctors,
"Darker or more olive-toned complexions, such as those of Mediterranean
or Middle Eastern descent, can have higher concentrations of pigment
(melanin) under the eyes, resulting in discoloration and shadows," she
said. As someone who is half Middle Eastern, I can say the struggle is
real. That's why I use a pinkish, orange-colored concealer, like Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Concealer in Medium Deep ($9), to cover up under-eye circles on my olive skin tone.
A Wacky Sleep Schedule
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| Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Diggy Lloyd |
It's not just skimping on
sleep that causes those circles to darken. According to Batra, hitting
the snooze button too often can have the same effect.
"Sleep plays a role in dark circles under the eyes due to blood
vessels that may be visible [under] thin eyelid skin. Contrary to what
we've all been taught, you can actually get darker circles from sleeping
too much," she said. "This is because while you sleep, oxygenated blood
gathers underneath the eye. Sleeping in certain positions, such as on
your stomach, can also worsen dark circles because gravity causes blood
to pool under the eye." That's also what creates "bags" — aka puffiness
and swelling — under the eyes.
Before you let that advice be your reason to stay up all night,
remember that inadequate sleep can also trigger pigmentation. As Batra
added, "Sleeping too little can cause the blood vessels under the eye to
dilate, creating a dusky hue. Dark circles are more likely to show up
when you haven't had a lot of sleep because sleep is when the body goes
into repair mode, undoing all the daily damage and stresses that your
skin faces each day." Moral of the story: no sleep means that your body
has less time to heal.
All things considered, Batra said to aim for getting seven hours of
sleep a night, as this amount will still leave you feeling rejuvenated
in the morning and help fight those dreaded circles.
Poor Lifestyle Choices
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| Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Diggy Lloyd |
While concealer can give your
under-eyes immediate brightness, your lifestyle habits really hold the
power in the long-term appearance of your skin. For instance, drinking
lots of water helps increase your blood flow. Batra advised to adhere to
the "Eight by Eight" rule, which means ingesting eight eight-ounce
glasses of water a day (aka half a gallon). Exercise also helps improve
circulation, which prevents blood from gathering as much under the eyes.
Batra added, "Foods rich in vitamin K, which helps reduce blood
clotting and strengthens capillary walls to prevent blood leakage, can
also be somewhat helpful." Some examples are eggplant, kidney beans,
grapes, and cucumbers.
Batra also warned against smoking: "It interferes with blood flow and can make dark circles worse."
Seasonal Allergies
When the flowers start
blossoming, your eyes might start watering. Unfortunately, all that
irritation can lead to darker circles. According to New Orleans-based
dermatologist Dr. Lauren Eckert Ploch,
"Seasonal allergies like pollen, grass, and dander can worsen dark
circles because that causes inflammation in your sinuses. This
congestion enlarges the blood vessels around your eyes, which creates a
bluish tint."
Ploch added, "Fluid can also accumulate in this area. This leads to
puffiness that can make adjacent areas appear sunken or sallow."
The solution can be found in your drugstore — but not in the beauty
aisle. "I recommend oral antihistamines once or twice daily during
allergy season," Ploch said. She also explained that sleeping with the
head slightly elevated may also decrease fluid accumulation around the
eye area. Meanwhile, Batra said that a humidifier can also help, as it
hydrates and soothes swollen blood vessels.
Whatever you do, keep your hands away from your eyelids. "Avoid
rubbing the eyes, as this can further increase redness and pigmentation
around the eyes. Many eye creams claim to help with symptoms, but the
results are usually temporary unless the cream is used long-term. My
favorite eye cream (and the one that I personally use) is Skinceuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex ($97)," Ploch said.
Your Car
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Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Maria del Rio, Product Credit: Everlane T-Shirt
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A tip? Leather seats are the best choices for the allergy-prone. Other sources of allergens in a car are dirty air vents, filters, and dusty dashboards, so be sure to clean these frequently also.
A Common Cold
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| Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Diggy Lloyd |
If you've got the sniffles,
you should expect to get some dark bags. "Dark circles can occur when
you are sick if your sleep is interrupted and your skin doesn't have
enough precious repair time," Batra said.
What's more, your prescription medication might be a sneaky culprit.
One such example are vasodilators, or meds that treat high blood
pressure. Unsurprisingly, these pills work to open vessels and increase
blood flow throughout your body. While that's good for lowering
pressure, it's bad for brightening your eyes.
You're Overzealous With Cleansing
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| Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Maria del Rio |
Ploch agreed. "Avoid rubbing the eyes, as this can further increase redness and pigmentation around the eyes. Many eye creams claim to help with symptoms, but the results are usually temporary unless the cream is used long-term. My favorite eye cream (and the one that I personally use) is Skinceuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex ."
