How To Get Rid of Dark Circles: Long and Short Term Solutions

Guest post by Trysh Sutton.

Dark circles under the eyes can really stand out when we’re sleep deprived or have particularly thin skin around the periorbital area. They’re also more likely to show up with age but there also exists a hand-full of other situations that can cause this unsightly discoloration.

Apart from the obvious concealer, there are several other long and short-term approaches to ridding yourself of dark circles so you save some money on concealing or save your concealer for a rainy day instead of having to constantly use it.

Short Term Solutions

Sleep

A lack of adequate sleep is a well-known trigger for dark circles in many individuals because blood vessels in the area dilate and become more visible when we’re tired. In some cases, fluid can also collect in the area and form undereye bags, especially when sleeping face down.

Tea Bags

Tea bags are a beauty industry secret famous for reducing dark circles and under eye bags, especially in the mornings.

The combination of tannins and caffeine help to constrict blood vessels in the area, thereby making them less visible.

To use tea bags for your dark circles, steep the tea bags in hot water as you normally would, put them in the fridge/freezer to cool and then place one over each eye.

Hydrate

When the body becomes dehydrated, fluid retention can occur and one of the places that the retention will present itself is under the eyes. Therefore, like many health and beauty problems, drinking adequate water could possibly be the answer for your under eye bags.

Be Gentle

The skin and blood vessels around the eyes are very sensitive. Whether you’re constantly rubbing the area or tend to be particularly rough when removing your makeup, damage can occur quite easily so it is important to be very gentle when touching with that part of your face.

Long Term Solutions

Blood Testing

Lack of certain nutrients, particularly iron and vitamin B12, can manifest as dark circles around the eyes. There are other symptoms you can look out for, however, the only way to be entirely sure is to get a blood test done by your doctor.

Derma Roller

A derma roller is a small, handheld device that has hundreds of tiny needles that create micro-injuries in the skin to jump-start collagen production in the area.

This collagen production increases the thickness of the skin which will reduce or clear your dark circles if thin skin is the culprit.

Retinol Creams

A retinoid is a vitamin A derivative that is hailed for its long list of benefits for the skin, one of which is boosting collagen production.

Like a derma roller, the increase in collagen production can lead to a thickening of the skin around the eye which can reduce the appearance of dark circles, if caused by thin skin.

Prescription retinoids usually give the best and fastest results but otc retinol creams are still pretty effective.

Cosmetic Procedures

There are several cosmetic procedures that you can take as a last resort for your dark circles. One of these is a fractional CO2 laser which is a procedure where the top layer of the skin is heated, boosting collagen production to create make it thicker and better able to hide the blood vessels underneath.

These tips and tricks will keep your under eye area looking bright and young. Do try these out to keep the concealer away!