5 Effective Remedies for Dark Circles

You wake up to find that the circles under your eyes appear darker. Your first thought is that you didn’t get enough sleep, which is a strong possibility. Sleep deprivation is a common cause of darkness under the eyes, as it causes an increase in blood flow. The skin under our eyes is thinner, thus, darkens more than other areas. However, there are other causes of dark under-eyes. Common, non-serious problems include allergies, overexposure to sunlight, and dehydration, to name a few. Thankfully, there are also many remedies for dark circles.

Everyone is susceptible to dark circles, but some are in a higher risk bracket. These are:

• People with darker skin tones
• People with a family history
• The Elderly

For most, dark circles come and go. If you find that it’s difficult to get rid of them, discover five of the most effective remedies to treat dark under-eye circles.

Use More Pillows

The space beneath your eyes can gather a lot of fluid, which darkens the skin and makes it appear puffy and swollen. You can correct this by elevating your head with an extra pillow. This will help drain the fluid from the under-eye area. Alternatively, if your pillow is flat, swap it out with a thicker pillow. Some excellent choices are pillows stuffed with memory foam, down, or feathers.

Get Better Sleep

When we say, “better sleep,” we aren’t just talking about more hours. As most people know, it is recommended for adults to get seven or more hours of sleep, with the sweet spot being between 8-10 hours. However, experts say that it isn’t the quantity of sleep that’s important, but the quality. The latter is a little more complicated to gauge, but you can determine sleep quality by the following factors:

• It takes you 30 minutes to fall asleep by the time you go to bed.
• You wake up only once during the night, or not at all.
• During the night, you aren’t awake for more than 20 minutes.
• You sleep at least 85% of the time while in bed.

This is considered restorative sleep, which significantly decreases how many mornings you wake up to dark circles under your eyes.

Drink More Water

Dehydration is another cause of dark under-eye circles. So, naturally, staying hydrated is a remedy. The tissues in your body will start to shrink if you aren’t properly hydrated. For those who don't like the "taste" of water, consider water infusions.

Water isn’t the only drink you should take into consideration. Caffeine, alcohol, and sodas can contribute to the tissues under your eyes shrinking, as they are diuretics that can cause dehydration.

Get Your Eyes Checked

Do you find that you’re straining more to see objects clearly? Even if you have never worn eyeglasses or contacts in the past, it may be time to schedule an appointment with an optometrist to get your eyes checked. When you strain your eyes, your blood vessels enlarge. The blood vessels under your eyes reveal themselves in the form of prominent dark circles. So, for the sake of your eyes (your eyesight and the skin beneath your eyes), it may be time for prescription glasses.

Buy an Eye Cream

For some, genetics is to blame, but don’t worry, all is not lost. You can hide the problem with makeup or get rid of it with a powerful eye cream. Make sure to look for ingredients such as vitamin C, caffeine, and retinol. If you have sensitive skin, we recommend a formula that is fragrance-free. Don’t expect immediate results once you use an eye cream or serum. Once used correctly and consistently, the treatment will nourish the gentle skin beneath your eyes and get rid of those pesky dark circles.