Under eye dark circles, or panda eyes, affect almost everyone and does not discriminate in gender or age. However, it often starts in adulthood and can get worse as you get older. While mostly a cosmetic problem rather than a medical condition, dark circles can be easily concealed. For a more permanent solution though, we need to look at the underlying causes of true under eye circles.

Causes

We tend to assume that dark circles are caused by lack of sleep or fatigue; but in truth there are many other causes including various medical conditions, trauma, and lifestyle factors.

Medical conditions that are commonly associated with dark circles are allergies, dehydration, malnutrition, anaemia, eczema, and periorbital or orbital cellulities (invasive eye infection). Depending on which cause, dark circles may come and go quickly, such as with allergies; but if they develop over a long period, it may be a sign of a chronic illness.

Trauma to the eye can also result in under eye dark circles. It could arise from injury to the eye area, surgery on the eye or any parts of the face, a fractured nose, and severe head injury. In most cases, dark circles and any discoloration caused by trauma will disappear as the area heals.

Lifestyle factors are generally the most common causes of panda eyes. Too much caffeine, alcohol or sodium in your diet; medications such as the contraceptive pill; poor sleeping habits; smoking; stress; fatigue; and a lot of crying can all cause dark circles. If your family has a history of under eye circles, then you are also most likely to have them. Aging is also a natural cause of dark circles as the skin under the eye becomes thinner as you get older.

Remedies

There are some simple self-care measures that you can take to reduce or eliminate dark under eye circles. Depending on the cause of your under eye dark circles, you can firstly use a cold compress, such as chilled teabags or cucumbers, to temporarily reduce the dilated blood vessels under your eyes.

If your dark circles are caused by allergies, try using saline washes or sprays to help rinse your sinuses to relieve any nasal congestion. If pigmentation is the cause, then wear dark glasses and sunscreen to protect your eye area from further sun damage.

If poor sleeping habits or patterns are what’s causing your dark circles, try getting extra sleep where possible, or switch your sleep position. Elevate your head with extra pillows and avoid sleeping on your side or stomach, which can cause fluids to collect under your eyes, causing you to wake up with puffy eyes in addition to your dark circles.

You can also choose to temporarily hide your dark circles with makeup. A good concealer in the right tone can do the trick in camouflaging any discolorations. If your dark circles are mild, a liquid based concealer will workbest. For more prominent discolouration, cream based concealers will provide more coverage.

Treatments

While there are cosmetic creams and serums available in the market that does help in reducing dark circles under the eye, there are also more lasting solutions available to reduce or eliminate discolouration. These methods often include lntense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment, laser treatment, or injectable fillers; and are more often used for major discolouration.

In Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment, pigment cells or blood vessels are destroyed to help lighten the skin under the eyes. This method is used on dark circles caused by pigmentation.

Laser treatment can also help remove dark circles under the eyes. It works by resurfacing the eye area to remove pigment and hence the dark circles under your eyes. It also stimulates collagen production which can plump up and thicken your skin around the eye; great for dark circles under the eyes that caused by thinning of the skin as seen in aging.

For dark circles caused by hollows, injectable fillers such as Restylane can help plump the depressions under your eyes. Their effects can last up to 6 months, but there are some risks involved, such as reactions and bruising.

If you’re tired of how tired and worn out you look, the above remedies and treatments are great ways to reclaim your youthful and fresh appearance. You don’t have to keep relying on makeup to conceal your dark circles, with these remedies and treatments you can put your tired look to rest.