When you look in the mirror, do you see dark circles around your eyes? If so, you're not alone. According to a 2006 study by the cosmetics company Clinique, 50 per cent of women said that dark circles and puffiness around the eyes were major beauty concerns. 'Dark circles and puffiness are two of the most common problems that people notice around their eyes, especially when exacerbated by lack of sleep,' says consultant dermatologist, Dr Nick Lowe. 'These conditions are best treated separately using formulations and treatments designed for specific concerns.' Common causes The most common cause is too much pigment in the eye area. 'This is a natural part of the skin and is more common in people of Asian or African ancestry,' says Dr Lowe. 'The pigment shows through the skin under the eyes because it's so thin.' Blood vessels under the eye can show as a bluish black shadow and ageing skin can sag, throwing shadows under the eye. Too much sun exposure can make the condition worse because it leads to skin wrinkles. 'Always use a high factor sunscreen when you're going out in the sun, especially on the face and avoid going out in the heat of the day without a hat and sunglasses,' says Dr Lowe. Often known as 'panda eyes', the condition can also be worsened by poor diet, too much alcohol consumption, smoking or even underlying medical conditions. Allergic reactions, like hay fever, can cause skin around the eye area to darken over time, while nasal congestion can lead to swelling of the blood vessels that run from your eyes to your nose, which makes the skin darken. Constant rubbing of irritated eyes can also damage the skin. Women who are pregnant may find that the skin around their eyes darkens due to hormonal changes and increased dilation of blood vessels, which are visible through the skin. What can you do? Luckily, there are a number of options available to those who want to say goodbye to panda eyes. 'When I see a patient, I look into the causes of the condition first. If too much pigment is causing the problem, I would suggest skin lightening creams and retinoids,' says Dr Lowe. Shallow skin lasers, which destroy pigment-producing cells called melanocytes, can reduce the dark patches considerably. 'It may also be helpful to have very superficial microabrasion in the area where the uppermost layers of skin are removed with abrasives. Of course, this should be done by an expert.' Creams containing ingredients such as niacinamide, a water-soluble B-complex vitamin, may reduce the appearance of underlying blood vessels. Puffy eyes can be reduced with gels that contain soothing plant extracts and even caffeine, which reduces the water content of the skin. Quick DIY fixes include chilled cucumber slices straight out of the fridge. 'This will help to reduce puffiness and constrict blood vessels in the area,' explains Dr Lowe. Cucumbers are almost 95 per cent water and this will not only soothe the dark bags underneath your eyes, they will moisturise the area too. Keep the cucumber on your eyes for 15 minutes for full effect. Another well-known solution is to place cold tea bags on your eyes. Cover your eyes with two damp teabags for approximately 10 minutes. Tea contains tannin, which will help reduce swelling, and the moisture of the wet tea bag will absorb into your eyes. Aloe has been used for hundreds of years to brighten and refresh tired skin and is found in many products designed to reduce the appearance of eye bags. A quick fix What's more, make-up can hide the problem temporarily. Make-up artist Emmalene Sophia, an expert in bridal and vintage make-up based in Didsbury, South Manchester, suggests applying concealer around the eye, starting at the darkest section at the corner of the eye. 'Blend the concealer into this area gently until you can no longer see the make-up or dark circles,' she says. A concealer with a greenish tinge will help to offset any redness in the eye area. Eye creams, which reduce puffiness, should be applied twice a day, being careful not to apply it too close to the eye but on the orbital bone. 'Otherwise, the cream can irritate the cornea, causing further problems,' she says. Eye serums are commonly packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and lifting ingredients while being non-irritating. When choosing a cream or serum to remove the dark circles around the eyes, you need to make sure that the ingredients are hydrating and include antioxidants to keep skin protected. Peptides, which encourage collagen production and cell turnover, actively firm and lift the skin. 'No one needs to live with dark circles under their eyes,' says Emmalene Sophia. 'There are so many ways to tackle the problem, and with a little effort, you can make them disappear.' Source
Dark circles can also point to a serious health problem or to a reduces consumption of water so it can be more than a cosmetical and aspect matter
