Dark Eye Circles

Dark circles under the eyes can show up at any age, in both genders (although they're more common in women) and in different intensities. Their causes as are varied as the treatments available, but understanding the reasons for their appearance is essential for getting rid of them.

Heredity
Dark circles can be hereditary. An inherited trait is a lack of hydrochloric acid in your body, which can lead to difficulty digesting protein. This, in turn, can lead to light carbon deposits developing under the eyes--an area where the skin is thin enough to let things show through. You can treat such deficiencies by upping your intake of vitamin B6 and folic acid.

Medications
Medications that cause blood vessels to dilate can cause dark circles to appear. These include drugs prescribed for high blood pressure and heart conditions. Vasolidation can also result from the use--both internally or through direct exposure--of ethanol, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), Viagra, Adenocard (i.e., an anti-arrhythmic) and tetrahydrocannabinol (i.e., a component of marijuana).

Medical Conditions
The two most common medical causes of dark circles are anemia and allergies. Anemia causes dark circles due to a lack of iron in the blood. This means less oxygen is available, so blood pools and darkens under the eyes. Allergies can also cause the eyes to itch, prompting scratching and damaging of the skin. They also cause swelling and reddening. Other medical conditions that can lead to dark circles are eczema, asthma, poor circulation, kidney disease and sinus infections.

Sleep Habits
A lack of sleep makes the skin look paler, causing circles to be more apparent. If you sleep on your stomach, fluids can accumulate in your face, leading to the appearance of dark circles. This is made worse by a lack of proper hydration and excessive salt or alcohol intake, which not only affect the amount of fluid in the body, but also affect the quality of your sleep. People who sleep too little, wake up throughout the night or need to modify their sleeping positions due to injury, pregnancy or other issues can acquire dark circles.

Age
As you get older, your skin gets thinner. Thus, the vessels under the eyes will be more visible. Aging skin is also prone to sagging, which makes the under-eye section more hollow and visible. This is especially noticeable in thinner people. Hormonal changes, including those brought about by pregnancy or menopause, can also lead to the thinning of the skin.


Treatement for Dark Eye Circles:

1. Include antioxidant and Vitamin K rich foods in your diet. Antioxidants help heal cell damage and repair damaged skin. Vitamin K helps with blood coagulation and circulation. Since both damaged skin and poor circulation can increase the appearance of dark circles, eating foods like broccoli, carrots, cabbage, spinach and strawberries can lighten the circles under your eyes.

2. Take a Vitamin K supplement or a multivitamin that includes Vitamin K. A daily vitamin can help to reduce overall skin discoloration. The daily recommended dosage of Vitamin K is 80mg for adult males and 65mg for adult females.

3. Purchase a moisturizing eye cream that contains Vitamin K. To successfully strengthen the capillary walls and reduce the visibility of blood vessels through the thin skin under your eye, Vitamin K-based eye products should contain at least 5 percent of the vitamin.

4. Eat food with rich vitamins and iron. Include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.

5. Grate cucumber or potato and squeeze fresh juice out of gratings. Dip two cotton balls in it and keep these cotton balls on eyes. This relaxes eyes and relieves tiredness of eyes. Considered as the best remedy for under eye dark circles.

6. Drink plenty of water (more than 15 glasses).

7. Dip two cotton balls in rose water and place them on your eyes, covering dark circles.

8. Recent research from Hirosaki University in Japan shows that eating blackcurrants may be an effective way to treat under-eye circles. Dark under-eye circles occur when blood vessels under the eye are too close to the skin surface. When Japanese researchers gave thirty-one women black currants to eat, they noted significant improvement in the appearance of dark under eye circles. It's thought that black currants increase blood flow to the veins under the eye which causes them to expand - reducing the dark, shadowed effect that's seen as a circle.

Black currants are a rich source of anthocyanins, compounds that are believed to increase blood flow through small veins and capillaries. A previous study showed that the anthocyanins found in black currants increase blood flow to the retina in patients with glaucoma, so it isn't surprising that they could be an effective way to treat under eye circles. Anthocyanins are the purple and red pigments that give fruits and vegetables such as blueberries and eggplant their color. They're also strong antioxidants that are currently being studied for their anti-inflammatory effects and their potential to lower the risk of diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes.

9. Eat healthy foods and be sure to have a well-balanced diet. Health problems can usually be attributed to lack of vitamins and minerals in the body. If you are anemic or you lack vitamin B12, you may see dark circles under your eyes. Swelling, puffiness and dark circles are also associated to inadequate intake of vitamin K and antioxidant. Include fruits rich in vitamin C like orange, cranberry and strawberry to strengthen the skin by building collagen that makes it more elastic and resilient. It's important to eat fresh fruits and vegetables including lean meat because the body needs protein. Check the food pyramid so that you will be guided to have a healthy and a well-balanced diet.

10. Reduce your salt and sugar intake. Take note that too much salt causes your body to retain water in different areas. This could make your skin under the eyes looking dark blue and puffy. Excessive salt intake can also impair the circulation in the body that causes the blood vessels under the skin to appear dark blue. Sugar will not only give you weight problems but also dark circles. There is a study about the action of insulin which shows that sugar can also lead to skin problems by way of inflammatory responses and its effect on protein. Glycation is a process when glucose starts to connect with proteins and causes the proteins to bind together. If this happens then it can age the skin and the body prematurely and inflammation starts where it may lead to eye puffiness and dark circles.

11. Take vitamins A, E, K and B12. If you're so busy that you can't get enough vitamins through your regular diet then consider taking a daily supplement. Vitamin A can erase those dark circles under your eyes by repairing those damage skin tissues. Vitamin A is known for its anti-aging benefits for the skin. Vitamin E is important because it regulates Vitamin A in the body and is an antioxidant that protects the skin against the sun's ultra violet light. Vitamin K removes dark circles under eyes by healing the damaged capillaries and arteries beneath the skin and help regulate the blood circulation around the eyes to avoid clotting. Lack of Vitamin B12 can lead to anemia, which means your body does not produce enough red blood cells to carry oxygen. When this happens, it can make you feel weak and tired.

12. Yoga can also help you to get rid of dark circles. Do pranayam for atleast 5 minutes everyday.

13. Slurp this juice to get rid of those tainted circles. Drink tomato juice with some mint leaves, lemon juice and salt.