How to reduce dark circles

Dark circles are a common occurrence these days especially in teenagers and working women. While you would think that lack of sleep or perhaps excessive sleep is the sole reason for those baggy eyes, there could be other causes too. In this article, we bring to your notice those causes, easy and effective home remedies to get rid of dark circles, precautions and much more

CAUSES OF DARK CIRCLES

Lack of sleep is the most common cause of dark circles but there are several other factors that can lead to them. Those reasons are as follows:

1. Excessive exposure to the sun: Exposure to the sun causes the body to produce melanin which explains the occurrence of dark circles. Also, since the skin under our eyes is very thin and sensitive, harmful UV rays from the sun might damage it very easily.
2. Straining of eyes: working on computers or mobile phones for too long can strain your eyes and hence result in dark circles
3. Medical problems: there are certain allergies or medical conditions such as eczema which cause irritation in the eyes and lead to dark circles. Since dark circles are a sign of weakness, health problems that make your body weak can also be a cause of those baggy eyes.
4. Others: other reasons for the formation of dark circles include heredity, age, a salty diet and excessive makeup which lead to irritated eyes.

20 HOME REMEDIES, HOW TO REDUCE DARK CIRCLES

1. Cucumber

Cucumbers are cooling agents which soothe the skin and also have antioxidants that help in reducing dark circles.

• Simply cut 2 slices of cucumber and cool them in the fridge. Place the slices on each of your eyes for about 10-15 minutes and then wash your eyes with clean water

2. Lemon juice

Lemon juice has vitamin C and has amazing antioxidant properties which help in lightening dark circles.

• Apply lemon juice under your eyes with the help of cotton and leave it for around 10 minutes before washing it off.

3. Almond oil

Almond oil is a rich source of vitamin E which makes the skin smooth and soft.

• Every night before going to bed, massage the skin under your eyes with almond oil and see the difference with regular use.

4. Tomatoes

Tomatoes have certain chemicals which act as bleaching agents and thus lighten the dark circles.

• Mix tomato juice and lemon juice in the ratio of 2:1 and apply it on the dark circles. Wait until dry and then wash your face with clean, cold water

5. Rosewater

Rosewater effectively revitalizes the skin and it also behaves as a natural astringent.

• Gently apply rose water using cotton on the dark circles and leave it for about 10-15 minutes before washing with cold water.

6. Potato juice

Potato juice has various enzymes and vitamins which make the dark circles fade away.

• Take out some juice from the grated potato and apply it gently under the eyes with cotton. Wash your eyes with cold water after 10-12 minutes.

7. Coconut oil

Coconut oil moisturizes the skin well and hence aids in reducing dark circles.

• Massage the skin under your eyes with coconut oil every night before sleeping for the best results.

8. Green tea

Green tea has properties that not only lighten the dark circles but also reduce the swelling caused by them.

• Slightly dip the green tea bags into chilled water and place them on the eyes for about 10-15 minutes daily and then wash it off.

9. Turmeric

Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and these properties make the skin soft and remove the dullness caused by dark circles.

• Make a paste of turmeric and almond oil and gently massage the region under your eyes with it for 15-20 minutes before washing it with water

10. Milk

Milk contains lactic acid which tightens the skin under the eyes and helps in reducing the dark circles to a great extent.

• Apply cold milk under the eyes with the help of a cotton swab or ball, leave it for 10 minutes and then wash your eyes with clean water.

11. Mint leaves

Mint is rich in vitamin C which nourishes the cools the skin and thus helps in fading the dark circles.

• Simply crush a few mint leaves and make a paste with water. Apply under the eyes and wash it off after 10-15 minutes. Do this regularly at night before going to sleep for the best results. 

12. Honey

Honey contains a variety of antioxidants and provides nourishment to the skin too.

• Simple apply honey under the eyes and wash it with clean water after 10-15 minutes.

13. Olive oil

Olive oil is known to hydrate the skin and its antioxidants also make the skin under your eyes healthy and glowing in no time.

• Applying a few drops of olive oil on the dark circles and leaving it overnight works wonders for the skin

14. Petroleum jelly

It moisturizes the skin and removes dryness and hence, reduces dark circles.

• Simply apply petroleum jelly under your eyes and leave it for 1 hour before cleaning with a wet tissue.

15. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera gel reduces pigmentation and makes the dark circles fade away.

• Apply aloe Vera gel under your eyes and clean it with a wet tissue after 10-15 minutes.

16. Saffron

The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties of saffron helps in lightening the dark circles to a great extent.

• Dip a cotton ball in saffron soaked in milk and apply it on the dark circles gently. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes and then wash your face with water

17. Green papaya

Green papaya acts as an amazing bleaching agent and works wonders in getting rid of those dark circles.

• Crush a papaya slice and make a paste out of it. Apply this paste on the dark circles and wash it off with cold water after it is dry.

18. Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has various vitamins and minerals which help in revitalizing the skin under the eyes.

• Carefully apply vinegar under the eyes and wait for it to dry naturally. Use this remedy daily for good results.

19. Castor oil

Castor oil moisturizes the skin under the eyes and makes the dark circles fade away with regular use.

• Massage the skin under your eyes with castor oil before going to bed and leave it overnight.

20. Banana peel

Banana peels improve blood circulation and help in getting rid of the dark circles if applied under the eyes.

• Scrape the inner part of banana peel and make a paste. Apply the paste under your eyes and leave it on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing with cool water.

PRECAUTIONS

As prevention is better than cure, here are certain precautions you should take to avoid the dark circles or to stop them from becoming darker:

1. Do not go out in the sun without applying a proper sunblock lotion on your face otherwise, it could lead to the occurrence of dark circles. 
2. Do not rub your eyes very often as the skin under the eyes is very thin and sensitive and can trigger the formation of dark circles
3. Never go to sleep before removing your make-up as it causes irritation in the eyes.
4. If you have sensitive or dry skin, avoid using tomato juice or lemon juice as a home remedy as your skin might become drier. If you still wish to use them, make sure to moisturize your skin after their application. Similarly, if you have oily skin, do not use petroleum jelly for the dark circles as it increases the chances of acne.
5. be careful while using vinegar on your dark circles as it might cause a burning sensation if it accidentally gets into your eyes.

MYTHS AND FACTS

1. Myth: Exposure to the sun lessens the dark circles

Fact: Harmful UV rays from the sun damage the sensitive skin under the eyes and causes dark circles. So it is suggested that you apply an appropriate sunscreen lotion before going out in the sun or you could also opt for sunglasses to cover your eyes.

2. Myth: Getting enough sleep is the only solution to dark circles

Fact: Getting enough sleep gives rest to the whole body and can definitely help in reducing dark circles. But if the cause of your dark circles is hereditary or some allergy/ health problem then enough sleep will not be the solution to your problem and you will have to switch to home remedies or other treatments

3. Myth: Avoiding salty food can help in getting rid of dark circles

Fact: Excess salt leads to fluid retention which might be the cause of your dark circles but if the cause is different, avoiding salty food will bring you no good and you will have to resort to some other solution.

4. Myth: Brown and blue dark circles are the same

Fact: They might look the same but the causes of brown and blue dark circles are different. Blue dark circles are a result of oxygenated blood that pools under the eyes during night and on the other hand, brown dark circles are formed by excessive exposure to the sun, straining the eyes too much or genetic reasons

5. Myth: Products containing glycolic acid are effective in removing dark circles

Fact: Glycolic acid further aggravates the problem of dark circles as it dries out the skin and hence its use is not recommended.

OVER THE COUNTER PRODUCTS EFFECTIVE FOR DARK CIRCLES

There are various over the counter products available which promise the reduction of dark circles. Some of them are as follows

1. Concealers: As the name suggests, they only aim at concealing or hiding the dark circles which can temporarily serve as a solution. But do keep in mind that they do not provide any nourishment or do not contain any ingredients to actually reduce the dark circles.
2. Eye creams: these creams contain vitamin E which nourishes and revitalizes the skin to reduce the occurrence of dark circles. They also contain Vitamin C and certain alpha hydroxyl acids which tend to increases the collagen content of the skin thus lightening the dark circles to a great extent.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Ques1. I’ve got dark circles under one eye only. Does that indicate something about my health?

Ans: If you have dark circles under 1 eye only and it shows no sign of repair, you should visit a doctor for the same. This is because discolouration under 1 eye might be a sign of some medical condition or allergy or illness and you must get it checked.

Ques2. Does diet have anything to do with dark circles? If so, what should I include in my diet?

Ans: Any food item that causes water retention should be avoided, the most common one being table salt as fluid retention leads to dark circles. Include green leafy vegetables like broccoli, spinach, cauliflower etc in your diet for nutrition. An anti-inflammatory diet is recommended for dark circles c containing strawberries, carrots and sweet potatoes.

Ques3. Can meditation and yoga help in reducing my dark circles? If so, which exercises can I perform?

Ans: Absolutely. Dark circles can be caused by excessive strain in the eyes or lack of sleep which can be overcome easily by meditation and yogic exercises. Certain simple yoga postures also increase blood circulation in the body which helps in reducing those baggy eyes. Surya namaskar and pranayam are the most widely performed asanas to treat any ailment or disease and can also be done to get rid of dark circles.

Ques4. One of my friends recommended laser surgery for my dark circles. Is it safe?

Ans: Laser treatment for dark circles is not only expensive but also involves risks and minor side effects. They aim at removing or destroying excess melanin which causes dark circles to occur. So laser treatment definitely helps in decreasing the dark circles but there may be cases where you might get scars or infection due to it.

Ques5. Can pregnancy also be a cause of my dark circles? If so, what can I do about it?

Ans: Pregnancy involves hormonal changes and a lot of weight gain. These factors can contribute to the formation of dark circles under your eyes. Also, during pregnancy, the body becomes weak and pale which can also lead to dark circles. All you have to do is follow a proper diet, get enough sleep and perform exercises which are recommended by your doctor.