Dark under-eye circles have been plaguing beautiful faces for years and many people are looking for solutions to erase, or even reduce them.

One of the reasons they appear is because the skin is thinner in the periorbital area which allows the small blood vessels below to appear more prominent. This can make the area look red, pitted or even bruised. Other possible reasons for this include genetics, age, dehydration, sleep deprivation, nutritional deficiencies, skin conditions and trauma to the area.

Whether you’re someone who’s dealing with dark circles for the first time, or someone who has had the problem for years, there are multiple solutions that can help you to get rid of them have you looking for best again.

SHORT TERM SOLUTIONS

1. Makeup

Ridding yourself of dark circles can sometimes be hard, especially if you’re unsure of the source. Thankfully, the magic of makeup can help you to hide them, or at least reduce their appearance until you find and address the cause. The Maybelline Instant Age Rewind is an affordable but very good drugstore concealer that is made especially for this problem.

Try to avoid concealers with harsh chemicals and perfumes, as it could irritate the delicate under-eye area. Also, be sure to remove all makeup before going to bed, as prolonged exposure to the chemicals in makeup can actually make dark eye circles worse.

2. Oils, Creams and Ointments

There are many creams and ointments for dark under-eye circles, some of which are better than others. Eye creams with retinol or rosehip oil have been shown to improve the under-eye area by reducing puffiness and discoloration.

Ensure that you keep the area moisturized as well. Natural moisturizers such as coconut oil and almond are great options for this purpose.

These interventions could clear up dark under-eye circles but you should also investigate the cause of your dark circles to get rid of them for good.

3. Rolling

There are small, easy to use devices called derma-rollers that are a popular solution to dark under-eye circles. One type is made of jade which cools the skin and stimulates blood flow which reduces swelling, while another type has tiny needles that make micro-injuries in the skin.

This is meant to stimulate blood flow and collagen production, which would fill in the area (thicken the skin) and reduce the discoloration. Once again, this is a short term fix for what could be an underlying condition that needs further investigation.

Some people are wary of micro-needling as a long-term solution because it causes trauma to the area which can compound over time and lead to more damage than the short-term healing was worth. You can read more about it here.

4. Get Plenty of Sleep

When we don’t get enough sleep, blood vessels in the thin-skinned periorbital areas can dilate and become more visible, causing the area to look darker than usual.

Puffiness can also occur because the fluid drains from the area and sodium bloats the skin.

Improving your sleeping habits is, therefore, one of the first steps to take when tackling dark undereye circles and bags. Furthermore, sleeping on your back with your head elevated can help to combat the accumulation of fluid in the area.

5. Tea Bags

A tried and true home remedy to addressing dark circles is placing one tea bag under each eye for a few minutes. The tannic acid in the leaves help to drain fluid from the area and shrink the blood vessels.

The tea bag should be boiled first and left to cool before being placed on your face.

6. Drink Water

One of the biggest causes of dark eye circles is basic dehydration. When the body senses that it is dehydrated, water retention is activated and the skin holds on to whatever moisture it can, effectively bloating itself.

LONG TERM SOLUTIONS

1.  Your Blood Tested

Dark under-eye circles are sometimes caused by an iron deficiency, which is called anemia. Iron helps your body make hemoglobin which it needs, to carry oxygen to the cells.

Dark circles accompanied by other symptoms such as fatigue, cold spells and dizziness could mean you have anemia, however, the only way to know for sure is to have a doctor do a blood test.

If anemia is indeed the source of your dark circles, treatment should be relatively simple. Usually, your doc will recommended increasing your dietary intake of iron rich foods, or an iron supplement.

2. Have Your Skin Examined

A qualified dermatologist can look at your under-eye circles and determine if they are caused by an underlying skin condition such as eczema. Allergies can also cause under-eye circles and fortunately, these conditions are fairly easy to treat once they are properly diagnosed by a specialist.

Another possibility is that your dark circles are caused by hyperpigmentation. In these cases, your dermatologist may prescribe professional skin bleaching or brightening products to rectify the issue.

3. Cosmetic Procedures

Some cosmetic surgeons also offer treatments for under-eye circles. One such treatment is called fractional CO2 laser which works by heating a specific set of skin cells within the area, effectively jumpstarting recovery and collagen production which, upon healing, will reveal newer, healthier skin at the surface. Now, this option won’t work for all dark circles but depending on the cause, light procedures like this could be a long-term solution.

There are more serious procedures as well, such as dermal fillers or fat transplants that fill the area and get rid of discoloration. In some cases, fat pockets may also be removed if they are found to be the culprit.

Have you tried any of these cures? I’d love to know a remedy you swear by. Share them in the comments section below!