Under Eye Dark Circles: What They Really Mean

How many times have you heard “you look tired” or some variation of that? Maybe even taunting, children screaming that you have raccoon eyes because of dark circles in your under eye area. 

Surprisingly,  these dark rings may not be as related to sleep as many people think.

Darkness under the eyes can be a result of genetics. Inheritance can explain the pigment difference on the skin as well as age and extremely thin skin. More scientifically, they are caused by leaky capillaries in the thin eye area. A number of things can darken these dark circles like, lack of sleep, menstruation, and pregnancy which pales skin; allergies and rubbing the under eye area which irritates the area; age and sometimes a lack of vitamins which causes thinning.

Some of the myths attached to dark circles are that they are caused by stress, long hours awake, or fatigue, which are not true. The presence of dark circles usually makes someone look older, tired, stressed, or sick hence, many people try a number of methods to get rid of them. There are a number of available cosmetic solutions on the market. I tend to believe that chemical-free options are safer and healthier, so I'm going to list a number of natural home remedies below.

1.       Cucumbers

Spas use cucumbers for a reason. Placing them over your eyes reduces puffiness and cools the eyes. For short term effects try it once and for a longer lasting effect try it for a week straight.

2.       Raw Potatoes

You may not have known that raw potato slices over the eyelids is actually one of the most popular home remedies. Try it nightly before you go to sleep. Another option is grating the raw potato to extract the juice and using a cotton ball to apply it to the affected areas as well as the eyelids.

3.       Almond Oil or Vitamin E

Both of these substances are known for increasing blood circulation. If you massage it around the external parts of your eyes, your skin will also be lightened. Try to apply it nightly, washing it off with cold water in the morning until you see results.

If no results appear after two weeks consult your doctor if you want to get them removed. If you want to prevent dark circles be sure to wear sunscreen, which protects the skin from thinning, dark circles from returning, and the skin from tanning. Also, be sure to get lots of sleep, drink water, and treat your body and mind respectfully. 

Has anyone ever pointed out dark circles under your eyes? What did you do next?