What are dark circles under eyes?
Oh no, dark circles under eyes again 😒! “You must have slept poorly,” is the immediate remark from others.
But what are dark circles under eyes [1], actually?
Dark circles are darkened blood vessels that form when the body isn't sufficiently supplied with oxygen or moisture.
And you see them under the eyes immediately because the skin there is so thin! It contains no fat tissue and has several blood vessels and lymph nodes.
Dark circles are usually more pronounced in the morning because the flow of blood and lymph and thus the transport of tissue fluid is slowed.
This is almost like an “aftershock” from sleep - only upon waking does the normal blood and lymph flow get stimulated again.
Dark circles or eye bags: What's the difference?
Who would have thought: Dark circles and eye bags are not the same!
Eye bags [2] are caused by fat tissue within this facial area, or when the skin sags with age. However, it can also be hereditary.
What causes dark circles under the eyes?
“What is actually the reason for dark circles under eyes?” - you've probably asked yourself this before.
And we’ve asked ourselves this question too! There are different causes [3].
Whenever there is too little oxygen or moisture in the body, blood flows more slowly and the spots on the body automatically darken.
The dark circles under the eyes are blood vessels that become more visible.
Depending on the skin type, they may appear brownish or even bluish.
Unfortunately, this is not a sign of noble ancestry but indicates that there is a deficiency or something else is wrong:
- Unhealthy lifestyle (a lot of alcohol, smoking, stress)
- Poor diet (lack of iron, vitamin C, and zinc)
- Medical problem (iron deficiency, thyroid disorder)
- Allergies (hay fever and frequent rubbing of the eye)
- Too much screen time
- Fatigue, stress, and anxiety
- Dehydration
- Too much sun during the day
- Hormonal cycle (often in the second half of the cycle)
But the tear trough can also be the culprit. It is located below the eye and extends to the outer corner of the eye and the cheekbone.
When the skin in this area has too little volume (due to environmental factors or ageing), this trough becomes deeper.
Who is prone to dark circles under the eyes?
Did you know? Certain people are more prone to dark circles under the eyes than others. These include:
- People with darker skin tones (prone to pigmentation spots)
- Seniors (skin becomes thinner)
- People with conditions such as a thyroid problem
If you feel addressed now, read on quickly. We reveal more tricks to quickly get rid of dark circles.
How can you get rid of dark circles?
In addition to our 5 tips at the beginning, we have more helpful tricks to help you get rid of those pesky dark circles under eyes:
- Reduce caffeine consumption
- Exercise more (promotes blood circulation)
- Wear sunglasses to reduce pigmentation spots
- Use care creams with hyaluronic acid, vitamin A, C, and E
- Drink plenty of water!
Conclusion
Circles under the eyes are annoying, make us look tired and disrupt our overall look.
There are many different ways to remove dark circles or have them removed.
Of course, they can also be treated with simple means. But surgery is also possible [4].
Try out our tips and tricks and let us know in the comments what has helped you!
Frequently asked questions
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What home remedies help with dark circles?
Home remedies like black tea (place a cold bag on the eyes for 10 minutes), a facial massage with almond oil,...
… or the tried-and-true method: simply place two cucumber slices on the eyes and wait.
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Can I cover dark circles with makeup?
Yes, it's best to use moisturizing day creams (tinted) or concealers in your skin tone.
If the dark circles are really stubborn, the right foundation, a suitable primer, and a color corrector can help.
And don’t forget to remove makeup in the evening!
Otherwise, the makeup can dry out the skin overnight, causing new dark circles and eye bags to form.
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Can dark circles be removed with surgery?
Yes, it is possible to remove dark circles surgically. Three methods are common:
- Laser treatment
- Hyperpigmentation will be removed
- Filling the tear trough with hyaluronic acid
Finally, there is the option of upper and lower eyelid tightening (if the dark circles are very deep).
- Laser treatment
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What is the cost of surgery to remove dark circles?
Injecting fillers for dark circles usually costs from 300 pounds upwards. If you want to remove dark circles with a laser, you should expect to pay 400-600 pounds.
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What types of dark circles are there?
There are not just one form of dark circles but several. From bluish, violet to brownish...
If the skin is particularly thin, dark circles can quickly appear bluish.
Brownish discolored skin results from hyperpigmentation and excessive UV exposure.
This leads to an excess of melanin and, ultimately, to discoloration.
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References
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