Black Under Eyes

Black or dark circles under the eyes are a very common problem for most adults and even some children. Dark circles around the eyes are linked to age, the loss of collagen and thinning of the skin. This change of the skin around the eyes can enhance the appearance of blood vessels, making them visible through the skin. Though not necessarily associated with tiredness, dark circles under the eyes can be indicative of stress and fatigue.

What Causes Black Under Eyes?

Have you ever wondered why your eyes look so tired sometimes? There are a few common reasons for dark under the eyes.

1. Age

Age causes dark circles under the eyes because of the increased visibility of blood vessels due to the loss of collagen and thinning of skin. Please mind that activities such as sunbathing break down collagen faster.

2. Allergies

Seasonal allergies like hay fever can cause bags under the eyes due the expansion of blood vessels as they release histamines. As blood vessels swell and inflame the area around, the eyes become puffy.

3. Heredity

Genetic traits such as pale thin skin under the eyes make any blood pooling in that area more visible. Circulation problems due to lack of sleep can cause a buildup of blood and capillaries to burst, creating a bruised or dark look around the eyes.

4. Stress

Stress can drain the blood away from your face as your body draws the blood to the vital organs and away from the skin making it appear pastier. The eye area by contrast looks much darker, as a result creating the illusion or darker circles around the eyes.

5. Broken Capillaries

The thin skin around your eyes can be prone to breaking, damaging the thin capillaries in this area and causing them to break, which then causes oxidization and a purple hue to form around the eyes.

6. Iron Deficiencies

Black under eyes can also be an indicator of an iron deficiency or anemia. Hemoglobin which is responsible for carrying red blood cells around the body relies on iron to stop it from breaking down. A reduced circulation of these red blood cells can cause the areas of thin skin under the eyes to appear darker and bruised.

7. Other Causes

These, of course, are not the only reasons for black or dark circles under the eyes. Pigment irregularities, more common in certain ethnic groups can also create dark patches under the eyes, as well as some forms of eczema. Sometimes the simple act of repeated eye rubbing throughout a day can cause darker hues and bruise to form around the eyes. Drinking and leaving makeup on overnight can also be deemedculprits when it comes to bags under the eyes.

How to Get Rid of Black Under Eyes

Nothing ages your face like bags or dark circles under your eyes. Even someone with a youthful appearance can look tired or even ill with the simple appearance of these dark hues. However, there are ways to minimize or even eliminate this problem all together.

1. Keep a Healthy Lifestyle

The simplest step to take in order to prevent eye bags is leading a healthy lifestyle.

Get enough sleep: Getting a full night’s sleep can reduce the stress and strain on your body, revitalize your skin and reduce the appearance of dark circles around the eyes. Work out how much sleep you need a night and set that time aside just to catch up on sleep.

Maintain a balanced diet: Maintain good eating habitsand get the nutrients you require, especially the iron which can reduce the visibility of the blue blood vessel that can create the purple hue around the eyes. Reducing your salt intake and increasing your vitamin K and B12 intake can also help.

Relax yourself: Stress is one of the big culprits when it comes to eye bags. Reduce your stress and you can increase the blood flow to your skin, remedying the problem of drained, pale skin creating dark circles by contrast.

2. Try Natural Remedies

There is a wide assortment of creams, lotions and potions that claim to help with black under eyes, and some can be quite effective. However, it is always best to try these safer natural remedies before you resort to that.

Natural Remedies	How to Apply
Cucumber slices	Use cucumber slices over the eyes for a refreshing and effective way to remedy black under eye. You can also mix cucumber juice with lemon juice and dab the affected area with the solution on a cotton ball for a week.
Ice cubes	Apply ice cubes for short periods of time to the affected area.
Pureed potato	Pureed potato can act as a very mild bleaching agent when applied to the dark patched under the eyes.
Tomato	Applying a solution of lemon juice and tomato juice to the dark areas for 10 minutes before washing off can lessen the appearance of dark patches.
Rose water	Applying cotton makeup pads soaked in rosewater can reduce swelling and the appearance of dark circles. Rosewater can sooth and rejuvenate the skin.
Almond oil	Massaging almond oil onto the skin below the eyes can replace lost oils and lighten the dark patches. Leave overnight and wash off with cold water the next morning.
Lemon juice	Lemon juice can bleach the area under the eyes because of its vitamin C content and can be applied fresh with a cotton ball or made into a paste with turmeric tomato and gram flour and applied for 10 to 15 minutes.

Warnings: Eye bags and black under eyes are quite common and not usually a cause for concern. However, if their appearance is sudden and there is no apparent cause such as a cold, lack of sleep, sinus problem or allergies and lifestyle changes do not improve the appearance of these dark patches, you should seek medical advice.

For more information of causes and home remedies for black under eyes, watch the video below: