Top 5 Causes and Remedies for Dark Circles Under the Eyes

You have beautiful eyes everybody is envious of, but what about those dark circles below your eyes? Dark circles certainly make you look older. Some people think that dark circles occur only when you are tired or have not slept well, but that is not always the case. Dark circles occur due to a variety of reasons. If we try and eliminate the reasons, we have a lesser chance of having dark circles.

Let us find out the major factors that contribute to dark circles.

•Heredity: Surprisingly enough, dark circles are hereditary. It can run in the family for generations. So if you don't have dark circles which spoil the beauty of your eyes, then you have to thank your parents for that!

•Age factor: Youthful skin has the quality of being elastic. As we grow with age, our skin loses its tightness and begins to sag. The skin around our eyes is delicate and thin. Along with age, the skin becomes thinner and you can easily see the blood vessels near your eyes. This can lead to dark circles.

•Avoid allergy inducing foods: Many times allergies are the reason behind dark circles. A person may be allergic to any type of food, drink or even something like a typical flower or tree. In case of a reaction, simple tests are available to determine the allergy inducing food. We must take care to keep away from such allergens of which we know as far as possible. This is the best we can do.

•Improper sleep or exhaustion: If you are using the computer for a long time or watching too much television, you are at risk. An irregular sleep also stresses your eyes as much as the computer screen.

•Passive smoking: Even though we don't smoke, the smoke that we are exposed to due to other people around us surely affects us. This is called passive smoking. It may result in watery eyes or redness in the eyes.

Dark circles can be also caused due to menstrual periods, pregnancy, thyroid and excess sun exposure.

Now let us look at various remedies for dark circles:

1.Keep your head lower than your feet while lying down. Close your eyes. Place wet cotton swabs dipped in rosewater or milk on your eyes. Let the swabs remain for ten minutes. Practice this once daily and you will be amazed at the outcome!

2.Dab a little almond oil on the dark circles at bedtime. A slice of fresh cucumber or potato placed on each eyelid for fifteen minutes will work wonders too.

3.Splash your eyes with cold water at least twice a day. For those people who use computer constantly, this is a must. It helps relax the eyes and reduces the chances of dark circles.

4.Maintain a healthy diet consisting of iron, proteins and vitamins. Deficiency of any kind always shows up as dark circles. Remember to drink lots of water everyday. Sleep well.

5.Mix cucumber juice or almond oil along with lemon drops and apply on the dark area. This is helpful in lightening the skin.

Along with the above remedies, you can also consult your eye care practitioner for simple eye exercises. Just like our body, our eyes stay fit with exercise too!