How to Get Rid of Dark Circles Without Expensive Treatments

Dark circles are a treat seen in many individuals and can be a cosmetic problem. These circles give a tired, haggard and even more wrinkled look than one could imagine.

Although there are genetic factors, there are also factors and skin changes that lead to formation of dark under eye circles. On the bright side, it is possible to reduce the visibility of those circles and wake up the skin around the eyes with the help of proper skin care and treatments.

In order to get the dermatologists’ and oculoplastic surgeons’ best advice on what causes dark circles, how to avoid them, and how to cover and treat them with makeup, skincare, and procedures, we consulted with several professionals. Do not miss the best advice of experts, keep on reading!

Why Are There Dark Circles Under the Eyes?

These circles may be due to many factors, and before going ahead and treating them, you need to know what is causing them. Below, dermatologists reveal the main offenders that are responsible for those pesky dark circles.

Genetics

Some people do not even need any reason, they can just be born with dark circles. “Some people have more transparency to their skin under the eyes,” notes New York City dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian, MD. Pores in the skin become more distinct and the blood vessels are also more clearly visible, which give skin that darker tinge.

Allergies

The conditions such as the postnasal drip, which may be caused by seasonal allergies, contributes to the formation of under eye circles and puffiness. According to Dr. Nazarian, “Allergies are another cause that can cause the thin under eye skin to develop darkness.”

Lack of Sleep

As people who lack adequate sleep well know, the blood vessels under the skin become more apparent, especially under eyes, which leads to skin discoloration. This is because, through lack of sleep, eyes appear to become more hollow with time and thus create shadows and dark circles. Too much screen time and eye strain can also contribute to giving a more tired appearance.

Dehydration

Lack of fluids makes the skin look less radiant and also appear to be of a darker shade. Lack of moisture in the skin makes it fold and develop shadow quicker. According to Dr. Nazarian, the following are some of the recommendations concerning under eye circulation: “Drink more water.”

Age-Related Volume Loss

We experience skin aging, resulting in the loss of collagen, elastin, and facial fat that supports the structure of the under eye. This results in emptiness and phantom lives. The skin also loses its thickness and elasticity and becomes more transparent as one grows older. Venous patterns, which give rise to darkness, become more prominent.

Pigmentation

Dark circles are the outcome of skin tone disparities and melanin distribution in the vicinity of the eyes. This can be caused by sun damage, genetic factors, and hormonal changes. Ethnicity has also been known to influence the issue with darker complexions being associated with dark circles.

Anemia

A lack of iron will make under-eye circles and skin dullness worse. “You may try to change your diet or even start taking an iron supplement to solve the problem,” advises Dr. Nazarian.

Periorbital Eczema

Eczema in this region may be confused with dark circles. If the problem is itching and flaking red patchy skin especially around the eyes, then the possibility is that of eczema. Eczema can be cured by proper skin care and by avoiding the causes of the occurrence of the illness.

How to get cured from Dark circles?

Even though genetics and age cannot be altered, there are measures that can be taken to ensure that the darkness does not deepen or appear in the first place. Here are some insider tips from dermatologists.

Get Enough Sleep

The optimal hours of sleep they should get are ranging from seven to nine hours each Night. This includes going to bed at a certain time every day, waking up at a specific time also and avoiding the use of electronic devices before bedtime. Melatonin that is needed for good sleep is produced at night but blue light from gadgets such as phones interferes with its production.Night shifts or waking up often at night can also worsen the appearance of dark circles. 

Stay Hydrated

Take at least 8-10 glasses of water daily or any other fluids of your choice. Water assists to feed skin cells. Dehydration causes sunken eyes .Other types of water are herb tea, berry and citrus water, cucumber and mint water and soups such as broths and Other WATER which may be extracted from foods like cucumber, watermelon, grapefruit, celery etc.

Wear Sunglasses Outdoors

However, if the skin is exposed to UV rays for long the pigmentation of the skin becomes worse and the skin under the eyes becomes thin. As for the rest, they suggest that it is advisable to wear glasses in the form of shades anywhere one goes out doors to avoid squinting. Make sure that the sunglasses and sunscreen offer UV protection of 100 percent.

Take Eye Health Supplements

Supplements such as caffeine, vitamin C, vitamin K, and niacinamide can help with circulation and skin capillary strength around the eyes when consumed internally or applied on the skin. Suppose an Supplement made out of the following researched ingredients.

Manage Seasonal Allergies

Use your doctor’s prescribed medicines early enough before the onset of the allergy season to reduce occurrences of postnasal drip and itchy eyes. Do not rub the eyes as this is likely to irritate thin skin over time. Use salt-water spray or nasal irrigations to clean the passages. Avoid opening bedroom windows during the night especially when the pollen count is high. Take off filthy garments/ Shower after being outdoors.

Give Up Smoking

Besides the major health problems associated with smoking it also leads to dark circles as it affects skin collagen. The gestures involved when smoking also count for it. Smoking cessation programs/support groups to quit smoking successfully.

How You Can Mask Dark Circles with makeup?

If your dark circles are particularly persistent, then concealing them with makeup can be helpful while you address their sources. Follow these makeup techniques provided by celebrity makeup artists for reducing under eye shadows and discoloration.

Color Correcting

Before applying concealer or foundation, it is advisable to correct the bluish, purple or brown skin tones. Peach shade reduces the effect of blue and yellow reduces the effect of purple. Green offsets redness. You can use Bobbi Brown’s Corrector or Becca’s Under Eye Brightening Corrector.. Allow the corrector to dry prior to applying any other makeup.

Creamy Concealer

Focus on a moisturizing product that glides easily over the texture of your skin without being overly oily or settling into those fine lines we all hate. Higher viscosity provides more opacity and concealing power. Starting with your hand, warm up the formula on the back of hand first before applying it on the undereye area using your ring finger to blend it in seamlessly. Construct coverage by layering only in areas where it is necessary. For instance, you can use NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer or Tarte Shape Tape Hydrating Formula.

Brightening Powder

Sealing the undereye area with a skin brightening setting powder makes the skin appear brighter, minimizes pore, fine lines and keeps the concealer from budging. Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder is a powder that has particles that are designed to make your eyes look lively immediately. When applying powder, ensure that you use a fluffy brush to apply it under the eyes but not on the lids. Allow to set for 5 minutes but use a clean brush to wipe off the excess material.

Caffeine Eye Creams

Choose an eye cream that contains caffeine to temporarily shrink the blood vessels, thereby reducing their visibility and the signs of pigmentation. Specifically, the Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG by The Ordinary is fairly priced and produces satisfactory results. Spread evenly over the entire under eye area and pat in the skin morning and night. The integration of cooling products is rather comforting. It is important to store creams in the fridge to increase the refreshing factor of depuffing.

How dark circles can be treated?

Regular washing of the face at least twice in a day with care being taken to massage the eye area in the morning and at night is important to reduce the likelihood of having under eye circles. Topical preparations that can be bought without prescription and containing ingredients that have been demonstrated to work are a major improvement over the long-term. Pharmaceutical treatments and professional services can also effectively address persistent coloration issues.

Best Skincare products for dark circles

Retinoids

Prescription retinoids (Retin-A, Retin-A Micro, Renova) contain retinoic acid which works by increasing the rate of skin cell reproduction in order to give the skin a brighter and thicker look in addition to stimulating the growth of the skin’s structural base, collagen. This helps reduce the visibility of the vessels on the skin. Over-the-counter retinol, which can be found in serums and eye creams, becomes retinoic acid once it’s on the skin but can take longer to produce results. Consistent use is key. Begin with application 2-3 times a week and gradually step up the frequency of usage as the skin adapts.

Vitamin C

Thus, vitamin C has skin brightening effects since it has an acidic pH that prevents formation of melaninIt also helps in increasing the collagen content of the body that is very vital for the skin. Look for products containing 10-20% of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and are used as eye creams or serums which include SkinCeuticals AOX Eye Gel or Revision Skincare D. E. J. Eye Cream.

Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)

Glycolic, lactic and fruit acids are somewhat effective in exfoliating the skin so as to reduce the layers of dead skin cells hence lightening skin tone and texture.Dark circles should be addressed since Dr. Dennis Gross Stress Rescue Super Serum comes with both AHAs and vitamin C. If the AHA eye products are used for the first time, start using it once a week to avoid skin reactions such as inflammation. It should be noted that all application of acids entails the need for applying SPF on a daily basis.

Hyaluronic Acid

The hyaluronic acid is a humectant that pulls water to the skin and also the wrinkled or the faded surfaces so that they do not form hollows.It’s also an anti-inflammatory. It is a gel called Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 which does not clog the pores yet it is a hydrating product. It is applied in the morning and at night, as few drops are usually placed under the eye directly before applying other remedies.

 When done on damp skin, it increases penetration as the skin has been proven to absorb more products when moist.

Caffeine

When used as a topical solution, caffeine reduces skin pigmentation and bluish discoloration by reducing blood vessels dilation. It also has what is referred to as an anti-inflammatory function. The product range known as ‘The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG is an eye serum that has caffeine and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) that is an antioxidant. Use it in the morning and in the evening separately or mix 2-3 drops with your eye cream.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide also known as vitamin B3 decreases melanin overproduction, also of ceramide that increases skin’s protective function, and is anti-inflammatory. The INKEY List Niacinamide Eye Cream contains 5% Niacinamide, skin Healthy vitamin E and hydrating glycerine.

Kojic Acid

Extracted from fungus, Kojic acid works to inhibit melanin formation in an effort to enhance the skin’s color. It has skin-whitening properties, which are the same as those of hydroquinone but without the negative effects of irritation. One example is the LilyAna Naturals Kojic Acid Cream which uses Kojic acid, vitamin C, licorice root and hyaluronic acid for lightening dark circles without the sensitivity issue.

Arnica

Arnica montana means an herb, which has the property of lessening inflammation and swelling of soft tissuesAs for the other ingredients included in the formulation of the Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream they include such components as Arnia, antioxidant vitamin E, and organic Community Fair Trade aloe that provide the soothing effect on the eyes. Cautions include: one should not use arnica if he or she has an allergic reaction to any member of the daisy family.. 

Growth Factors

There are growth factors in our skin and they are the ones tasked with the responsibility of encouraging the production of collagen and elastin. They decline with age. This is opposed by the use of serum with protein peptides that stimulate collagen production. It even contains TNS and NouriCel growth factors for under eye skin renewal that is trapped between the skin and the eyes.

Professional Treatment to Get Rid of Dark Circle

In-Office Procedures

Professional treatments are more effective and long lasting for under eye hollowness, lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. It is recommended to repeat the exercise several times for optimal outcome. Less serious side effects include redness, swelling and dryness after the treatment has been administered. Appropriate care after the procedure shortens recovery period. It is crucial to only consult with a board-certified dermatologist or facial plastic surgeon.

Laser Resurfacing

Ablative and fractional lasers (like CO2 and Erbium) exfoliate the skin and eliminate the outer layers of the skin which causes the skin to regenerate, shrink large pores, and reduce uneven pigmentation. The controlled wounds activate collagen and elastin fibers as the wounds heal. The ideal number of sessions is between three to five with one month interval in between. If you have a tendency to scar or if you only suffer from pigmentation problems and not from loose skin, do not opt for this treatment.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels involve using acids that help in the exfoliation of the outer skin for improved tone/texture, cleared fine lines and dark spots. Facial peels, such as glycolic, salicylic, trichloroacetic, and a combination of salicylic acid, lactic acid, and resorcinol known as Jessner’s peel, can reinvent fatigued under eye skin. A series of multiple lighter depth peels 4-6 weeks apart are effective, yet do not cause intense redness and require a long recovery period. The treatments should be planned when one is not tanning, preferably during the periods of fall and winter.

Microneedling

Also known as collagen induction therapy and percutaneous collagen induction, microneedling involves the creation of micro-injuries in the skin’s deeper layer to trigger collagen and elastin production. It firms up crepey skin and increases its tone and texture. Application of a series of 3 treatments within a period of 1-2 weeks is preferred by an experienced practitioner using aseptic methods. Give 8 weeks in between the sessions to ensure adequate time for healing is given.

Injectable Fillers

Hyaluronic acid filler (Juvéderm, Restylane) corrects the hollowness and shading around the eyes. The effect is normally experienced for about six months to one year. Tear trough injection right below the eyes treats the hollowing of the skin due to aging or heredity, and the darkness that comes with it. Possible side effects are normally localized temporary skin ache, redness, and numbness with a rare possibility of the so-called Tyndall Effect.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

It is also commonly known as the ‘Vampire Facial’, PRP therapy is the process of using the platelets that come from a sample of the patient’s blood. There are factors that exist in platelets which promote the healing of tissues injured by radiation.The PRP is then introduced to the skin using microneedling to ensure that the product reaches the deeper layers of the skin while also provoking the growth of collagen. Multiple sessions 4-6 weeks apart gives long-term filling of hollowness, increased tone and natural looking Shine.By and large there is very little down time, yet in the early hours one may observe pinpoint bleeding, bruising, and mild oedema.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

IPL targets beams of direct lights on the skin to remove pigmentation and more so encourage the formation of collagen. IPL is effective in eradicating dark circles without causing harm to the outermost layer of skin. Most of the treatments are usually recommended in a cycle of 4 weeks interval for the best outcome. Apply post procedure soothing creams as instructed as it helps in reducing inflammation. Remember to put on your UVA/UVB sunscreen whenever you go out.

LED Light Therapy At Home

Portable light-emitting diode (LED) systems provide controlled therapeutic light to address sun damage, wrinkles and uneven pigment through the stimulation of collagen. The bright light together with heat significantly reduces the appearance of darkness in the under eye region. Light emitting devices that have very high intensity such as patented LHE technology or combination of RGB and infrared light like LightStim are most effective, yet very expensive. However, there are still cheaper yet effective FDA-approved products (for instance, SolaWave or Neutrogena Masks) that can also provide significant enhancement but will not require going to a dermatologist. Duration of use: 10-20 minutes per day. It will be advisable to use it in the long-term as it will have a cumulative prescription. No downtime or irritation.

Can the Dark Circle Disappear?

By using the best skincare routines, eating habits, and sometimes, seeking medical help, individuals can easily reduce and even eliminate dark circles beneath their eyes for that perfect look of someone who has slept for 8 hours. Genetics do come into play, thus experiences differ from person to person. But staying on target with topical skin care products that contain effective active ingredients, getting proper sleep, staying hydrated and having a healthy diet can all add up to create a noticeable improvement. It’s not something that will deliver the ‘miracle’ overnight, as many people are wont to believe. Stay with it and understand that progress takes time and may take 4-6 weeks to show some significant changes.

Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Black Circle Around Eyes?

Hemi Anemia is associated with dark under eye circles and pale skin. Lack of this important macro mineral, which is well provided in meat, seafood, nuts, legumes, seeds and green leafy vegetables leads to anemia. This fatigue producing condition makes veins in the vicinity of the eyes more apparent.

This is eased by increasing your iron levels. Patients with anemia should take foods that are high in iron or administer iron supplements (in consultation with their physicians) to boost ferritin. Iron absorption can be enhanced by getting enough sleep and vitamin C. If blood tests reveal that you have an iron deficiency, you could try having an iron-packed spinach salad or eating pistachios as a snack.

What causes those black circles under the eyes?

The other causes of dark circles under the eyes are skin stretching, hereditary, allergic reactions, skin rashes, lack of sleep, watching television or working on a computer, smoking, no intake of water, iron-poor diet, vitamin and mineral-poor diet, and aging.

What could be the reason for the dark circles and the eye bags?

With age, the face loses collagen and elastin and facial fat and skin cell renewal declines. This results in the skin under the eyes being finer, more crinkly and translucent, and the blood vessels and hollowness are easily seen. Gravity also leads to fat/muscle around the eyes to sag over the years.

Is dark circles indicative of having bad kidneys?

No, dark circles alone are NOT signs of kidney disease or failure unless there are other symptoms like; skin itching, fever, chills, upset stomach, foam or discoloration in urine, edema and others But some darkening under eyes CAN happen when the toxins accumulate in the body due to chronic kidney disease. Accurate diagnosis and management is crucial.

Can allergies can lead to the formation of dark circles under eyes?

Yes. This is because allergies cause inflammation, and redness or itching which may lead to constant rubbing thus creating the appearance of dark undereye circles. Eye itching from a hay fever can also cause further damage to the thin skin from rubbing the eyes. The use of antihistamine and allergy medication allows to reduce circles that are caused by such a factor as seasonal allergies and contact with such irritants as dust, animal fur, or pollen.

Can dark circles be interpreted as a sign of illness?

Not necessarily. It is also important to note that having dark circles under the eyes does not mean the person is acutely sick, or has a chronic illness. However, droopy or constantly sleepy looking eyes can be an indication of poor health in the long-run, due to sleeping disorders, lack of vitamins, sinus, smoking or it can be hereditary, eczema or old age. Getting a professional opinion from doctors can help in identifying the causes. Solving problems makes the condition look better.

What is the cause of facial puffiness in teenagers?

Hormonal changes are common during adolescence and they increase melanin pigment which makes the skin under the eyes darker. Computer vision syndrome, eye strain, improper circulation, heredity, allergic reactions, skin conditions like eczema, and nutrient deficiencies including vitamin dep and water dep also cause the undereye shadows and skin dullness typical in teenagers. Proper bedtime schedules, meal pattern, skincare regimen, and reduction of screen time are effective.