Why Do I Have Dark Circles Under My Eyes?

panda eyesMost women can agree that having dark circles under their eyes is one of their main beauty insecurities. It’s no secret the “panda eyes” do not just come from lack of sleep. Diet, sun exposure, allergies, heredity, contact dermatitis, eczema and thinning of the skin related are all common causes of dark under eye circles. Being sleep deprived is the most common cause and can be simple to prevent, however oversleeping can cause dark eye circles as well. If the dark circles appeared in early childhood, one can assume it is an inherited trait that some people may or may not grow out of. Nasal congestion from allergies dilates the blood vessels around the eyes making the circles more apparent. Iron deficiency can also stop blood circulation to carry oxygen into the eye tissues. Excessive drinking and smoking is also a main contributor. Since alcohol dehydrates the body, after a night of heavy drinking it is important to drink lots of water and apply moisturizer to the under eye area. Controlling the amount of sodium your body intakes will also help with under eye circles because salt causes fluid retention in the body as well as the eye area.

One should seek medical attention in rare cases like hypothyroidism which is a disorder that does not let the thyroid gland produce enough thyroid hormone, liver disease and Trichinosis, a disease caused by parasite worms.

  1. Do not exceed frequent sun exposure
  2. Cold eye compresses: any frozen item with a soft cloth around it can be applied o the eyes
  3. Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep. Lack of sleep leaves dark ugly circles making one look “hollow-eyed”
  4. Concealer: For a temporary alternative, makeup application can lessen the dark rings around your eyes

Healthy faceBesides the four listed items above, there are many helpful remedies you can try at home. I provided you with a list below.

  1. Cucumbers and Potatoes: thinly slicing some and apply to the eyes for 15 min
  2. Tea bags: freeze or refrigerate tea bags and apply to the eyes
  3. Almond oil: massage a small amount to the under eyes and leave overnight
  4. Lemon juice: squeeze lemon juice on a cotton ball and apply to under eye area
  5. Mint: make a paste combining tomato juice and mint leaves, apply to the under eyes
  6. Yoga: relaxing the body and mind will help you feel more rested
  7. Water: consume plenty of water to keep your skin glowing
  8. Coffee beans and Honey: ground coffee and honey to make a paste, apply to under eye area
  9. Baking soda: apply baking soda to hot water making a paste and apply to under eye area
  10. Aloe Vera: apply gel to under eye area to help reduce inflammation

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A BRIEF NOTE ABOUT DR. BRIAN

Throughout his highly respected career, cornea specialist Dr. Brian has never wavered with his integrity and dedication to always do the best for each and every patient - even in the face of adversity and peer pressure. Case in point: when he developed a procedure to treat a cornea condition known as Keratoconus. While other eye surgeons were entrenched in performing invasive and painful cornea transplants, Dr. Brian invented a new non-invasive procedure that prevented needing cornea transplants. He was shocked by the medical establishment being unwelcoming to his innovation because, as he later found out, his new procedure was preventing other eye surgeons from performing their lucrative cornea transplants. Dr. Brian persisted, went against the grain and didn’t give up because he believed in himself and in his procedure as it was in the best interest of patients. Eventually, he crossed paths with U.S. Olympic bobsled driver Steven Holcomb who had Keratoconus and became so depressed over it that he tried to commit suicide. Luckily, he survived. The United States Olympic team and his coaches found Dr. Brian and sent Steven to see him. Dr. Brian restored his vision to 20/20 which enabled Steven later win a historic Olympic gold medal for United States in bobsled - the first in 62 years! As a result, Dr. Brian was later invited to give a prestigious TEDx talk about his integrity and dedication to patients. You can watch his moving and inspiring TEDx talk here.

Vision Correction in Los Angeles