Rimmed eyeglasses are great, but rimmed eyes? Well, none of us likes those stubborn, threateningly widening circles under our eyes - but almost all of us have some degree of dark circles. Are they unavoidable? Can dark circles be treated? Read on to find out!
Here's what causes dark circles and here's what you can do about them
Cause 1: Lack of sleep
Solution: Simple! Get more sleep. There are a couple of theories around what causes dark circles when you don't sleep, and both involve blood vessels just below the thin layer of skin that's under our eyes. Whichever theory you believe, the truth is that lack of sleep does indeed cause those circles. So shut off that smartphone and go to sleep when you're supposed to.
Cause 2: UV exposure
Solution: While we know the skin problems UV exposure can cause, pigmentation around the eyes (= dark circles) can be accelerated due to UV exposure. So, don't skip wearing that sunscreen!
Cause 3: Age
Solution: With age, our skin's natural processes slow down, eventually leading to melanin deposition under eyes. While you can't reverse age, you certainly can keep your skin healthier and fitter as you age. Catch our age specialist post here. With the right selection of ingredients, it is possible to slow down the progress of dark circles, and in some cases reverse them also!
Cause 4: Iron-deficiency anaemia
Solution: Lack of iron leads to a pale look, and this is made worse on the thin skin under eyes. The blood vessels underneath start showing through, and manifest themselves as dark circles. Leafy vegetables, tofu, iron-fortified cereals and brown rice are some good vegan sources of iron in your diet.
Cause 5: Genetics
Solution: While your genes can't be edited (yet), you can take all the other precautions in this post to postpone, or even prevent the appearance of dark circles.
Bonus tip: If you're using under-eye creams or gels, give them at least 3-4 months before figuring out whether to switch. That's because healing skin pigmentation is a gradual, natural process. Which is why you should choose your under-eye product basis its ingredients, and not what it claims!
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Bright Years Under-Eye Recovery Gel
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