How To Get Rid of Dark Circles Permanently

Did it ever happen to you that you met someone and the first question they asked you was whether or not you were sleeping well? And if you wondered how they know, it is undoubtedly because of the dark circles under your lower eyelids, sometimes accompanied by bags, that invited those unwanted questions about why you look tired.

Most people think that having under dark eye circles is only associated with lack of sleep. But in reality, dark undereye circles can also affect people who sleep more than 8 hrs. Hence it is pretty evident that lack of sleep may be a crucial reason but not the only cause of dark circles. There are many other reasons for having dark circles; most do not need any medical attention.

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However, since dark circles make anyone feel dreadful, it is best to know about the remedies that can treat the problem. And since learning about the root cause of any problem helps identify the most durable cure, we suggest you do about the causes of dark circles, the best home remedies and clinical practices for mitigating dark circles.

Please read this article till the end, and know why we get dark circles, the best routines for getting rid of them and more.

Why Do We Get Dark Circles?

Even if you spend most of your life diligently treating your skin as carefully as possible, you will still encounter signs of ageing, including dark circles.

Our skin loses collagen over time and grows thinner. So regardless of the type of skin you have and the good habits you follow to maintain your skin wrinkles and age spots, dark undereye circles will start to show through the skin alongside your eyes.

Undeniably overexposure to the sun speeds up the process of collagen breakdown. Therefore, the best way to slow the ageing process is to maintain a discipline of consistency in sunblock application from a young age.

But the irony is that even the best habits cannot change your genes. Genetics plays a vital role in what kind of skin you have and what it will look like as you age. And therefore, some of us have inherited thin skin that shows dark undereye circles more quickly than others because our blood pools in the capillary under our eyes, making the dark circles more prominent through our skin.

Unfortunately, due to more and more blood accumulation, the delicate capillaries begin to stretch and strain under the weight, leading to more leaking and blood pooling, ultimately making our dark undereye circles even darker.

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For many undereye dark circles are not caused by ageing, sunbathing or genetics. It is simply a matter of allergies that trigger the release of histamines, causing an inflammatory response. That means sometimes inflamed blood vessels under your eyes can also lead to dark circles.

Let’s dig deep into a few possible reasons for dark circles under your eyes.

• Fatigue: Extreme fatigue and oversleeping can cause dark circles to form under our eyes. Some people stay up for a few hours, and they are as likely to accumulate dark undereye circles as people who are sleep deprived. When we sleep way too little, the dark tissues and blood vessels under our skin start to show. And when we sleep, too much fluid starts to build under our eyes, causing them to appear puffy. The dark circles we see are generally the shadows cast by puffy eyelids.
• Ageing: Ageing is a common factor and reason for dark circles under our eyes. When we get older, our skin becomes thinner due to collagen breakdown. And when the fat and collagen that maintain our skin elasticity decrease, the dark blood vessels under our skin become more prominent and visible, causing the area to seem darker.
• Screen Time: When we have excessive daily screen time as we spend time watching television or computer, they cause strain to our eyes. The stress caused can enlarge the blood vessels around the eyes, making the skin surrounding the eyes dark.
• Dehydration: Dehydration is a common cause of dark circles under the eyes. When our body does not get enough water and fluid, the skin beneath the eyes begin to look dull, and the eyes look sunken. This happens due to our eyes are close to the underlying bone.
• Overexposure To The Sun: Sun exposure is a common problem to most of the skin issues we face in our lifetime. Excessive sun exposure leads to the overproduction of melanin, our body pigment that gives us skin colour. Too much sun exposure, particularly for our eyes, can cause hyperpigmentation in the surrounding skin and make it look darker.
• Allergies: Eye dryness and allergic reaction to the eyes can also trigger dark circles. When our body is allergic to certain things, it releases histamines to fight off invaders. There can be other symptoms, including itchiness, puffy eyes and redness due to the allergic reaction. Allergies also make our blood vessels dilate and become more prominent beneath the skin, making us rub and scratch itchy around our eyes, and the actions cause swelling and inflammation.
• Genetics: If you have a family history of developing dark circles under the eyes, it can be an inherited trait you will notice even in your early childhood. Over time as you grow older, the dark circles will become more prominent. People with medical conditions like thyroid can also result in dark circles under the eyes.
• Anaemia: Anaemia is a health condition in which the presence of red blood cells is lower than usual. People suffering from anaemia also feel dizzy, weak, short of breath, tired and light-headed, alongside their skin looking paler than usual. Some people may also have dark undereye circles.

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What Are The Home Treatments For Undereye Dark Circles?

For genetic reasons, people with dark eye circles might not reverse the condition with home remedies. But they can decrease the level of dark circles to some extent by following some of the best routines for getting rid of those dark circles under their eyes. However, if other causes cause the dark undereye circle, the home remedies may work wonders.

We will discuss some of the best home remedies for dark undereye circles.

• Cold Compress: It is always suggested to apply a cold compress for about 10 minutes in the morning and evening to deal with dark undereye circles. If you are a mask lover and apply a mask on your face every week, keep the mask in your fridge and pull it out when you want to apply it. It is the best way to treat dark circles alongside taking care of your face. You can also use the ice bag to apply under your eyes. Please keep it clean by giving it a good soapy scrub before using.
• Cucumbers: Cucumbers have attractive benefits on our skin. We have even seen people on television and in films applying cucumbers to their eyes. But do they work? Cucumbers have skin-lightening components and mild astringent properties; therefore, you can naturally use cucumbers to fix dark undereye circles. To try applying cucumber to your eyes, chop a fresh cucumber into two thick slices and then refrigerate for about 30 minutes before leaving the slices on your eyes for 10 minutes. Do not forget to rinse your eye area with warm or cold water after using cucumber.
• Lemon Juice And Cucumber: If you feel like the cucumber slices are not working good for you, you can try mixing an equal part of cucumber and lemon juice, dip a cotton ball and apply it under your eyes. Leave the solution for at least 15 minutes and then rinse it with warm water.
• Tomatoes: Tomatoes have lycopene which is excellent for our cardiovascular health, vision and skin. The substance creates soft and supple skin, decreasing the appearance of dark circles. Extract tomato juice and then dip a cotton ball into it and apply it on your under-eye area. Leave the solution for 10 minutes and then rinse it with warm water. For best results, use it twice daily.
• Tea Bags: If you don’t have a cold compress or a face mask, you can substitute them with used tea bags. Green tea has the added benefits of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the strained capillaries under your eyes. To use cold tea bags, you must soak the tea bag in clean water and then place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Then put that tea bag on your eyes and wait 10 minutes before removing it and rinsing the area with warm water.
• Potatoes: Potatoes are a rich source of vitamin C, along with other things that are great for the synthesis of collagen to promote healthy and young-looking skin. To get the most of potatoes to treat under eye bags and dark circles, you need to grate some potatoes, extract the juice and apply the juice with the help of a cotton ball. You can dip two cotton pads in the potato juice and leave it on your eyes for about 10 minutes before rinsing it with warm water.

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• Cold Milk: Milk is a great source of vitamin A that contains retinoids, which is excellent for keeping our skin looking bright and young. To get the most of the vitamin A found in milk, soak a cotton pad in a bowl of cold milk for a while and then apply those pads on your eyes, let them sit for about 10 minutes and rinse with warm water.
• Vitamin E Oil: Vitamin E helps fight the effect of free radicals that cause our skin to wrinkle and age. Every day, apply a few drops of oil to your under-eye dark circles and gently massage the oil into the skin. You can leave the oil on your skin overnight, and in the morning, you can rinse it with warm water.
• Turmeric: Turmeric is another powerful antioxidant that helps minimise dark circles. You can mix turmeric powder with rose water to make a thick paste. Apply the mixture on your dark circles and leave it for about 10 minutes before removing the paste using a soft and warm cloth. Practice this routine every day for the best results.

Clinical Treatments For Under Eye Dark Circles

All the remedies mentioned above are natural healers to treat under eye dark circles. But as we mentioned earlier that home remedies work differently for different persons. Seeing a doctor is highly recommended if someone has gotten dark circles due to genetics or other medical conditions that are hard to get rid of. 

Your doctor might offer a medical option depending upon the diagnosis and the causes of under-eye dark circles. Some of the most common doctors-recommended treatments for dark circles include:

Dermal Fillers

After years of practice, dermatologists now realise that dermal fillers are the most effective option to diffuse the dark shadows that even high-quality under-eye creams and home remedies could not fix. Dermal fillers seem like a vast choice, but the truth is they can change the appearance of dark circles. It highly depends upon what is causing you dark circles. However, it is essential to know a bit about the procedure before looking for the best dermatologists to treat dark circles with dermal fillers. Is it even safe to get Dermal filters under your eyes, and what to expect before, during and after the treatment?

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How Do Dermal Fillers Work?

Since the main reason for dark circles is the hollowness created under the eye or loss of volume in that area, dermal fillers can be a great option since they can bring back the lost volume under the eye due to wrinkles. Dermal fillers also benefit wrinkles and hyperpigmentation in the under-eye area.

If you have tried many options, including the home remedies we mentioned above, and your eyes still look tired and worn out, dermal fillers may be an excellent option. Eye fillers lighten the hollowness under the eyes and make the area look plumper and brighter. And when the under-eye shadows are reduced, you feel well rested. There are several different types of dermal filler treatment, and it is essential to know that the FDA currently approves dermal filler for the under-eye area.

However, the most common dermal fillers include:

• Hyaluronic Acid: Hyaluronic acid is produced in our body, and the fillers are made from a synthetic gel that seems similar to the body’s natural substance. Many famous brands of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers have been shown to support collagen production in the skin. Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers are the most common type used under the eyes, providing the shortest results compared to other fillers. Some practitioners claim to provide the most natural look with hyaluronic acid dermal fillers.
• Calcium Hydroxyapatite is a biocompatible dermal filler made from calcium and phosphate. Calcium hydroxyapatite stimulates collagen production in our skin and helps sustain and support the connective tissues that add volume to the under-eye area. Calcium hydroxyapatite is thicker than hyaluronic acid; therefore, dermatologists sometimes dilute the substance before injecting it.
• Poly L Lactic Acid: It is another biocompatible synthetic material which is injected through a linear threading process. The substance can invigorate collagen production; hence, dermatologists prefer Poly L Lactic Acid for treating dark circles.

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Side Effects:

In most cases, the side effects of dermal fillers are minimal and short-lived. The side effects may include:

• Puffiness
• Redness
• Bruising

However, with a qualified practitioner, the side effects can be avoided.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are another viable treatment option to treat under eye dark circles. Chemical peels can improve the texture and tone of our skin by peeling the damaged outer layers. 

Glycolic acid peel is the most used chemical peel to treat dark circles. A chemical peel is an outpatient procedure, and there is not much downtime associated with chemical peel treatment. However, the doctors might suggest a few instructions to follow for up to a few weeks for better results.

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How Do Chemical Peels Work?

Before starting the procedure, the dermatologist thoroughly cleans the face with a cleansing solution and applies glycolic acid peel. There are many other chemical peels available, and the doctors might suggest you some other chemical peels that they think will work best in your case. The peel is left on your skin for 20 to 30 minutes, depending upon its concentration and then your face is rinsed with water or cleaned with and neutralising solution.

Side Effects:

There are no severe side effects involved with chemical peel treatment. However, some patients might notice some changes on their face post-treatment, including:

• Itchiness
• Redness
• Skin peeling

Laser Therapy

Laser therapy is a safe and effective treatment option for dark circles. The laser can reduce hyperpigmentation and stimulate the rejuvenation of skin tissues with the help of intense light and heat on the targeted area. In general, dark circles are caused by two issues: excessive melanin production and poor blood circulation under the eyes. And laser can effectively reverse both conditions.

How Does Laser Therapy Work?

Laser therapy varies its effectiveness depending upon the type of dark circles one is having. And depending upon the wavelength and radiant exposure, the laser can treat dark circles in most cases. Pigmented dark circles, vascular dark circles, and mixed dark circles can be reversed using laser therapy. For the procedure, the doctor or the dermatologist uses a laser device that emits a laser on the skin. The skin tissues absorb the laser to mitigate the level of melanin and encourage collagen production.

Side Effects:

The most common and short-lived side effects of laser therapy include:

• Redness
• Puffiness
• Swelling

Some FAQs Regarding Under Eye Dark Circle Treatment

Is Laser Treatment For Under-Eye Dark Circles Safe?

Laser therapy has minimal side effects; therefore, it is ideal for most individuals. However, people with a dark skin tone may experience adverse side effects related to their pigment alteration after laser therapy. Such conditions are more likely to happen with ablative laser treatments and can be avoided using non-ablative options.

What Is The Best Treatment For Dark Circles?

The best treatment for dark circles may vary from one person to another. Whereas topical creams and bleaching agents like vitamin C and retinoids work wonders for some people, some need clinical treatment options such as chemical peels, laser therapy and dermal fillers to reduce puffiness and pigmentation under the eyes.

Can Dark Circles Be Removed Permanently?

A combination of clinical treatments and natural remedies can help completely get rid of dark circles. However, the results gained are long-lived but not permanent. But the effect derived from those treatments can be maintained for a long while with appropriate home care and follow-up treatments alongside certain lifestyle modifications.

Can Dark Circles Go Away On Their Own?

In many cases, it does. If the dark circles are derived from a lack of sleep or stress, a proper sleep routine can help reduce dark circles. However, if the problem remains unattended and untreated for a long time, the patient might need a better solution than a good sleep routine.

Are Dark Circles Related To The Liver?

Yes, some people with chronic liver disease may also have dark circles. It generally happens when the liver function is impaired for a long time or if the people have liver edema. However, having dark circles doesn’t mean a person suffers from chronic liver disorder. But consulting a doctor is highly recommended if the dark circles don’t go away after several treatment procedures.

Conclusion

Now you know all the causes and procedures to reduce dark circles. And if your dark circles seem alarming, it is better to talk to a doctor immediately. Dark circles are mostly hereditary and can occur as we age. But they can be avoided when we eat a balanced diet rich in iron and avoid caffeinated drinks. Always be gentle on the skin surrounding your eyes and avoid rubbing the under-eye area alongside cutting down your screen time to stay protected against under-eye dark circles. I hope this article helps you gain much insight into under-eye dark circles. For many such articles, keep following us.