Causes of dark circles under the eyes and 12 ways to remedy and prevent them
Dark circles are one of the imperfections that make the face look tired and aged. Therefore, many women are always looking for solutions to improve this issue to look younger and more radiant. Don’t worry, Dr. Eye will suggest ways to remedy and prevent dark circles in the following article.
1. What are dark circles?
Dark circles are the phenomenon where the lower eyelid has a darker color than other areas of skin, which can be purple, brownish, or black. This condition may sometimes only appear for a few days and then disappear, but in many cases, it can persist for a long time, affecting the aesthetics of the face.
2. What types of dark circles are there?
There are 4 common types of dark circles caused by pigmentation, congenital eye socket structure, blood vessels, and a combination of several types. More detailed information about each type of dark circle is as follows:
- Pigmented dark circles (Pigmented – P): This type of dark circle is brown and is often related to skin pigmentation issues such as melasma, brown spots, and freckles.
- Dark circles due to eye socket structure (Structural – S): This condition is caused by a decrease in fat under the eyes, creating hollows in the eye socket and tear troughs. This makes the dark circles under the eyes more pronounced when light is cast from above.
- Dark circles due to blood vessels (Vascular- V): This type of dark circle usually has a slightly purple or pink color, not accompanied by bags under the eyes or swelling in the eye area.
- Mixed type dark circles (Mixed – M): This is a condition where different signs of dark circles appear simultaneously due to structure, blood vessels, or hyperpigmentation.
3. What are the causes of dark circles?
Dark circles can be caused by several factors such as skin aging, lack of sleep, fatigue, dehydration, frequent eye rubbing,… Specifically as follows:
3.1. Skin aging
Over time, the quantity and quality of Elastin and Collagen in the skin will gradually decline. This is the reason why the skin loses elasticity, becomes more sensitive, and dark circles under the eyes become less aesthetically pleasing.
3.2. Lack of sleep, fatigue
The next cause of dark circles is prolonged lack of sleep. If you have many nights of sleep deprivation, the body produces cortisol. At this point, blood vessels expand to accommodate the excess blood. However, because the skin under the eyes is thin, it reveals the blood vessels and causesdarkening of the skin under the eyes.
3.3. Prolonged exposure to sunlight
If you are frequently exposed to UV rays in sunlight, the amount of melanin pigment will increase to protect the skin. However, if melanin becomes excessive, it will cause the phenomenon of dark circles under the eyes.
3.4. Dehydration
Many cases of dark circles under the eyes are due to insufficient water intake. When hydration is inadequate, the blood vessels under the skin swell and form dark circles under the eyes.
3.5. Frequent eye rubbing
The cause of dark circles may be due to inappropriate lifestyle habits. Among them, the habit of frequently rubbing the eyes can cause skin damage, rupture the capillaries under the skin, and darken the area under the eyes.
3.6. Allergies
The body’s allergic reaction to certain foods can cause dark circles under the eyes to appear. At this time, if you rub your eyes, the area under the eyes will become even darker.
3.7. Genetics
The cause of dark circles may be inherited from someone in the family. If a relative inIf your family has dark circles under their eyes, it is likely that you are experiencing a similar condition.
3.8. Due to some medical conditions
Dark circles under the eyes accompanied by other symptoms such as swelling, the appearance of bags under the eyes,… may be a warning sign of some medical conditions. For example, kidney disease, liver disease, allergic rhinitis, anemia,…
3.9. Smoking
The nicotine in cigarette smoke causes the skin to lose moisture balance, leading to an increased risk of dark circles and bags under the eyes. Moreover, frequent smoking also affects sleep quality, resulting in a high rate of dark circles under the eyes.
3.10. Salty eating habits
Consuming salty foods makes the body prone to water retention, causing darkening, mainly concentrated in the area under the eyes. If this condition persists, your eyes will become dark-circled.
3.11. Using unsuitable cosmetics
The skin around the eyes is very thin and sensitive. Therefore, one cannot overlook the cause of dark circles being the use of cosmetics that are not suitable for the skin. This causes the skin to age prematurely with signs of wrinkles, crow’s feet, dark circles,… Moreover, if you abuse whitening products but do not protect your skin properly when going outside, your skin is likely to become dark, dull, and dark circles will appear.
4. How to treat dark circles at home?
To remedy the condition of dark circles under the eyes, you can refer to some solutions such as cold compresses, applying masks, eye massages, applying dark circle creams,…
4.1. Cold compress
Cold compresses help inhibit the production of melanin, thereby reducing dark circles. You can use an ice pack to apply to the skin under the eyes for 20 minutes, regularly a few times a week.
4.2. Tea bags
Tea bags contain caffeine and antioxidants that help increase blood circulation, reduce water retention under the skin, and constrict blood vessels. Therefore, you can apply cold tea bags for about 10 – 20 minutes to fade dark circles.
4.3. Rolling eggs
The moderate warmth from the eggs helps reduce swelling and limit melanin production that causes dark circles. You use boiled eggs, with the shell still slightly warm, to roll directly around the eye area for about 10 minutes.
4.4. Applying unsweetened fresh milk mask
Unsweetened fresh milk contains many nutrients that help moisturize andnatural skin brightening like vitamin A, B12, B2, and collagen. Therefore, you should try applying fresh milk masks 2 – 3 times a week, 10 minutes each time; or combine with turmeric powder to enhance the effect of improving the color of the eye area.
4.5. Sleep more
Staying up late not only negatively affects overall health but also has a bad impact on the skin. Therefore, you should maintain a habit of sleeping at least 7 hours a day.
4.6. Elevate your head while sleeping
Using a high pillow helps limit fluid accumulation under the eyes while sleeping. As a result, you can effectively improve dark circles and eye bags.
4.7. Apply eye cream for dark circles
You can use some skincare products containing active ingredients that have the effect of whitening and naturally brightening the skin when the eyes are dark-circled. Typical examples include retinol, vitamin C, kojic acid, licorice extract,… However, you should choose products with transparent ingredients from reputable brands to ensure safety.
4.8. Massageeyes
You should add a daily eye massage step to your skincare routine to increase elasticity and reduce the formation of dark circles. The method is very simple, after applying the moisturizer, use your two index fingers to gently massage the entire area around the eyes in a clockwise direction.
In general, the methods mentioned above often require high perseverance, but the effectiveness is sometimes not clear as it depends on the level of dark circles in each person. Moreover, these methods may not completely address the issue of long-standing dark circles. Therefore, for cases of severe, long-term dark circles, you should consider using other modern aesthetic methods for the eye area.
5. What aesthetic methods effectively treat dark circles?
To help women feel more confident with youthful eyes, modern aesthetics has introduced high-tech methods for treating dark circles such as chemical peels, laser, HA injections, or eyelid surgery.
Below is detailed information about each technique for your reference:
5.1. Chemical Peel
Chemical peel is a method that uses chemicals to remove damaged cells from the outermost layer of the skin, thereby regenerating healthier, brighter skin. To reduce pigmentation under the eyes, the doctor may recommend you perform a chemical peel with alpha hydroxy acid.
5.2. Laser for dark circles
IfIf the cause of dark circles is genetic, you should consider intervening with laser treatment. This method offers benefits in improving the color and elasticity of the skin from deep within.With the desire to help middle-aged women “revive” the youthful beauty of their eyes, Dr. Eye offers many in-depth and comprehensive solutions to common issues such as dark circles, eye bags, droopy eyelids,… Especially, with the deep understanding and extensive experience of Dr. Eye’s doctors, you will have an effective consultation and treatment experience right from the start. Depending on the specific condition of the dark circles under the eyes, the doctor will build a personalized treatment plan combining minimally invasive methods, minimizing pain while still delivering youthful and radiant eyes.
In addition, Dr. Eye’s customers can rest assured to experience a scientific aesthetic process, ensuring sterility, 5-star care benefits, and 24/7 customer service always available when you need it,… This helps you have a journey of beautifying your eyes that is both safe, effective, and maximally comfortable and pleasant.
Dr. Eye has had the opportunity to accompany many customers in the journey to help their eyes once again look young and beautiful like in their twenties. Among them is the case of Ms. Ngoc Anh, who had a spectacular transformation just 14 days after under-eye surgery and Meso Redensity injection. at Dr. Eye.
Let’s listen to Ms. Ngọc Anh’s sincere sharing about her treatment experience at Dr. Eye:
Contact Dr. Eye today to no longer feel self-conscious about your dark circles!
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7. How to prevent dark circles under the eyes?
To avoid forming “panda eyes”, ladies should not forget preventive measures such as getting enough sleep, carefully moisturizing the eyes, and changing eating and living habits.
Below is a detailed guide, ladies should “note it down” right away:
- Get enough sleep: Avoid staying up late and make sure to get enough sleep to keep your eyes looking fresh.
- Moisturize the eye area: Drink enough waterand use moisturizing products for the eye area to keep the skin smooth and bright.
- Protect your eyes whenever going outside: Wear glasses, a wide-brimmed hat, and apply sunscreen whenever going outside to limit eye exposure to UV rays.
- Limit alcohol consumption, smoking, and the use of stimulants: Because the habits of smoking, drinking alcohol, and using stimulants can constrict blood vessels, reducing blood circulation. This can lead to the formation of wrinkles and dark circles under the eyes.
- Have a proper diet: Increase foods that help prevent dark circles such as cucumbers, tomatoes, bananas, papayas, beets,… In addition, beverages like tomato juice, lemon water, carrot juice,… also help to brighten the skin.
8. Frequently asked questions about dark circles
With concerns related to dark circles, Dr. Eye helps you answer as follows:
8.1. What can dark circles indicate?
This can be a sign to help you recognize kidney disease, liver disease, or menstrual disorders. If you suspect that you are not well with increasingly dark circles, you should see a doctor as soon as possible for examination. examination.
8.2. Do dark circles under the eyes go away on their own?
Dark circles under the eyes usually do not go away on their own and require intervention with appropriate methods. Typically, for newly appeared cases, you can address them by changing your lifestyle, diet, and skincare routine. However, when dark circles have been present for a long time, you should visit a reputable cosmetic clinic for intervention with specialized aesthetic methods.
8.3. Why do I still have dark circles even when I get enough sleep?
If you get enough sleep but still have dark circles, it may be due to other causes such as skin aging, medical conditions, dehydration, excessive sun exposure,…
8.4. How much does it cost to treat dark circles?
The cost of treating dark circles ranges from 1,000,000 VND to 14,000,000 VND per session. However, this information is for reference only as it may vary depending on many factors such as the facility, treatment method,…
In general, dark circles under the eyes can be effectively treated with various home and modern methods, helping women eliminate the lack of confidence due to the a skilled, experienced doctor who applies advanced technology.
References
- Beth Sissons. What causes dark circles under the eyes?. 15 02 2024. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325989. (Accessed 21 03 2025).
- Myvision.org. Dark Circles Under the Eyes: Causes, Treatment & Prevention. 14 06 2022. https://myvision.org/eye-conditions/dark-circles-under-eyes/#Prevention. (Accessed 21 03 2025).
- Cleveland Clinic. Dark Circles Under Eyes. 25 05 2022. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23128-dark-circles-under-eyes. (Accessed 21 03 2025).
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Understanding the desire to preserve the youthful beauty of the eyes for middle-aged women, Dr. Eye offers modern solutions to address all aging issues around the eyes such as sagging eyelids, eye bags, crow’s feet,…
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