Dark circles under the eyes are unsightly and annoying, as anyone who has ever had them can confirm. As the name suggests, dark circles under the eyes are visible dark shadows that appear unsightly and annoying.
Physiologically, dark circles are dark or shadowy discolorations of the skin around the eyes. However, they can also be a symptom of an underlying disease or disorder. The discoloration is usually most visible in the area below the eye socket (orbit).
A distinction is made between:
- Skin with hyperpigmentation
- a dark appearance of the skin caused by translucent underlying vessels
The most important facts in brief
- Dark circles under the eyes can indicate that you are not getting enough sleep or that you are stressed.
- There are many ways to get rid of dark circles under the eyes without resorting to surgery or expensive creams. Caffeine, potatoes and cucumbers can all help to reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes.
- If you notice severe discoloration or swelling under the eyes, you should consult a doctor as a precaution.
Dark circles under the eyes - what causes them?
The thinnest part of the body is the skin under our eyes. During sleep, lymph circulation slows down and lymph fluid can accumulate under the eyes. This causes the blood vessels to dilate, resulting in a darker skin tone around the eyes.
The most common causes of dark circles under our eyes are lack of sleep, stress and exhaustion. Smoking also accelerates skin ageing, makes it thinner and increases dark circles under the eyes.
However, dark circles under the eyes can be caused by organ or blood diseases. So if your dark circles get bigger or you notice repeated swelling or even bruising, you should see a doctor.
The individual triggers for dark circles
Sleep deprivation
The oxygen content in the blood drops as a result of fatigue. The decrease in oxygen concentration makes the blood appear darker. Dark circles under the eyes occur as a result of the reduced flow rate, the less oxygenated blood and the limited availability of fatty tissue under the eyes.
Stress
Tension and stress not only affect our mental health, but also our physical appearance. For example, exhaustion can cause dark circles to form under the eyes - when the cells lose water, wrinkles appear and cast shadows. To avoid this lack of moisture in the skin, we need to learn how to care for it properly.
Age
The appearance of dark circles under the eyes can also be due to some age-related changes. The skin becomes thinner, causing the subcutaneous fat to lose substance and appear flabbier. These two factors contribute to the vessels showing through more easily. In addition, the tear trough - a specific area on the inside of the eye socket - becomes deeper over time, which increases the shadows and creates a darker appearance
Pigmentation
The color of the skin can also change due to so-called melasma. Melanins are special pigment molecules that give the skin its color. The more of them there are in the skin, the darker it appears. If additional melanins are deposited in certain regions, this is known as hyperpigmentation or melasma if the eye region is affected. Blue or blue-grey circles appear under the eyes when hyperpigmentation affects the eye area. Find out what causes hyperpigmentation.
Vessels
The reason for dark circles under the eyes may lie even deeper. As the skin and subcutaneous fatty tissue are particularly thin, especially under the eye, the blood vessels that supply this muscle can show through. As a result, the affected areas appear dull and visible black circles appear. The extent to which blood vessels show through the skin varies greatly from person to person. It depends on a variety of factors, including skin type and the thickness of the infraorbital subcutaneous fat.
Wrong diet
In addition to sleep, your diet also has an influence on the formation of shadows under your eyes. If you have a deficiency of iron, vitamins or minerals, you are more likely to get darker shadows. However, if the shadows are a different color than your skin tone, this is most likely due to genetics or sun exposure. To prevent this facial discoloration, you should find out which foods help against eye shadows.
Alcohol and nicotine
Nicotine, for example, reduces blood circulation. In most cases, a single glass of wine alone will not cause dark circles under the eyes. However, avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, as this can stress the metabolism and lead to skin ageing and black circles under the eyes.
Screen work
Computer work takes its toll on the eyes. Poor lighting and shiny displays put additional strain on them. The heavily strained eye muscles need more oxygen when overworked, and the blood flow increases here and shimmers through the skin. Screen breaks help to prevent dark circles from forming over time. Just a few moments with your eyes closed can help to relax the eye muscles.
Diseases
While the listed causes of dark circles under the eyes are relatively harmless and easily remedied, there are other possible explanations that could be more serious. If you cannot determine the cause of your own dark circles or they appear without warning at a time when you are leading a healthy lifestyle and do not go away, you should see a doctor.
Thyroid, kidney, gallbladder and liver diseases are also associated with noticeable eye problems such as shadows and puffiness under the eyes. Waste products that have been excreted but not removed can build up in the vessels under the eyes. The yellow pigment bilirubin, which is found in the blood in liver diseases such as hepatitis, can be visible through the thin skin under the eyes. Anyone who has been struggling with dark circles for a long time should see a doctor to find out what is causing them.
Dark circles under the eyes in children
Dark circles under the eyes are often associated with a lack of sleep, especially in children. In reality, this is rarely the case. Instead, the discoloration usually occurs as a result of an allergy or a cold that is accompanied by a blocked or runny nose. This occurs due to swelling in the nasal passage and congested nasal secretions, causing the blood vessels near the eyes to dilate and appear darker than normal due to their thin layer.
What to do about dark circles?
Are dark circles permanent? Not always. In fact, they are often just a sign of tiredness or too little sleep. This is good news because it means you can get rid of them relatively easily without having to resort to expensive treatments. While some people use concealer or special creams to hide the dark spots under their eyes, others rely on home remedies such as cucumber slices or tea bags.
Sliced cucumber or black tea bags are both excellent for moisturizing and soothing your eyes. When you place cucumber slices on your eyes, the water, vitamins and minerals soothe your eyes. The tannins in black tea have a similar effect when you place softened tea bags on each eye.
If you don't have cucumbers, black tea or a cream against dark circles at home, you can try the following simple methods:
- Caffeine: Caffeine not only makes you more alert, but can also tighten the skin. As a result, the bags and dark circles under the eyes caused by the dilation of the blood vessels will recede.
- Potatoes: Potatoes have anti-inflammatory, skin-soothing and lightening components that can help against dark circles under the eyes. Finely grated potatoes or thicker potato slices placed on the eyes are suitable for this application.
There are three main things you can do to get rid of dark circles without seeking medical treatment: Sleep, exercise and eat a balanced diet.
Vitamins against dark circles
A healthy diet can help prevent the appearance of dark circles and a balanced diet prevents them. These are the substances you should consume:
- Vitamin C: It is found in many types of fruit and vegetables, including oranges, kiwis and blackcurrants, as well as in peppers, spinach and cabbage varieties such as Brussels sprouts, kale and broccoli.
- Vitamin K is needed for blood clotting and is found in cabbage, green leafy vegetables and herbs such as chives and parsley.
- Zinc is a nutrient that can help reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. You can get it by eating whole grains, nuts and cheese.
- Buckwheat, millet, oat flakes and wheat bran are good sources of iron, as are seeds and nuts.
Have dark circles professionally removed
It is also possible to have dark circles professionally removed. Manual or mechanical lymphatic drainage, for example, helps the tissue fluid, the lymph, to flow out from under the eyes, thereby fading the dark circles. However, this type of treatment requires the help of a specialist.
Conclusion
To get rid of or combat dark circles under the eyes, it is usually enough to make some lifestyle changes. Under certain circumstances, however, there may be other reasons for dark circles and shadows around the eyes. A specialist can determine whether dark circles under the eyes are caused by very dry, sensitive or fragile skin and offer you the right eye treatment if necessary.
