How to Prevent Dark Eye Circles

Dark circles are often troublesome and difficult to deal with, especially for women. It is not only women who suffer from them; in fact 9 out of 10 people have had to cope with dark circles under their eyes at some point in time. There are plenty of urban myths of what causes dark circles, while in reality there are three main causes.

Fair skinned people are prone to what is called hyper-pigmentation. Their skin is so fair, that veins and blood vessels often show through the delicate skin under the eyes, which causes these under eye shadows, or circles. If you also have naturally deep set eyes, circles will naturally appear more pronounced.

The second cause of under eye circles is vascular inflammation. When the blood vessels or veins beneath the skin become irritated or enlarged, bluish green shadows appear. Vascular inflammation can be caused from seasonal allergies, especially in the spring and summer when many people suffer from pollen and grass cutting allergies. Constant sneezing can cause tiny blood vessels to burst, especially under the eyes, making under eye shadows look even worse.

The third cause of under eye circles is our life style. When we do not get enough sleep, such as the suggested seven to eight hours nightly, and bodies show the strain, and one of the first areas it shows is under our eyes in the form of dark circles. If our daily diet is poor and we are not getting enough nutrition from eating the right foods, again dark circles will appear under our eyes.

While there is no one cure for dark under eye circles, there are steps to take to both reduce existing circles, and prevent them from getting any worse. Getting enough sleep is paramount, it is essential that we get at least seven hours of sleep a night.

Improving our daily diet is another great step in winning the war against dark circles. Eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, lowering our caffeine intake, drinking at least eight glasses of fluid a day, and taking a multi vitamin all help reduce the appearance of dark circles and keep our skin and bodies hydrated.

Sometimes we need to take more drastic measures against dark circles. There are several options available, home remedies, creams, and make-up.

Black tea bags can be used to treat under eye circles. Boiling some water and let a couple of generic tea bags steep for a few minutes, then remove them, let them cool slightly and when they reach a comfortable temperature for your skin, apply them under your eyes. It's good to leave these teabags on for about fifteen minutes; and using this technique twice a week, will give your under eye area a visible glow.

Another option is using the good old potato. Grate some raw potato, and make a small paste by adding a dash of milk, to make a thick consistency. Apply the paste under the eye area, and leave on for fifteen minutes, to help revitalize tired, dark under eye areas.

The cosmetic industry has come out with a multitude of creams that 'guarantee' to rid people of under eye circles. If you are looking for an under eye cream, make sure to choose one that contains vitamin K, often this vitamin when applied to the skin will cause dark circles to fade over time.

Sometimes we just have to cover those under eye circles in a hurry! For women this is a relatively easy matter; just buy a concealer and apply it to your dark circles. Make sure to choose one that is a shade lighter than your foundation, and apply it first.

Battling dark circles can be troublesome and consuming. Living a healthy lifestyle, using some home remedies, and as a last resort creams and make-up should greatly reduce dark circles over time.