accumulating around the eye area. This is not exactly true. The under-eye area is not a bladder or any
type of bodily waste dump. Neither are dark circles caused by stress or fatigue. Dark circles are
caused by a very complex physiological mechanism. Here’s the skinny: fine, almost transparent skin
under the eyes is meshed with capillaries, or tiny blood vessels. These capillaries are so narrow that
red blood cells sometimes have to line up to get through. Sometimes red blood cells break through the
walls of capillaries and leak into the surrounding skin. Special enzymes break down the red blood
cells, which turn dark blue-black in color. So your dark under-eye circles are actually caused by
leaky capillaries. It’s the same mechanism that produces bruises when we are hit by something.
What can you do to prevent dark circles from forming? Actually, there isn’t very much you can do.
The thickness of the skin under the eyes and the leaking abilities of blood vessels are hereditary.
People with darker skin have more visible dark circles because of the natural pigments in their skin.
If you have deep-set eyes, natural shadows contribute to the dark circles under the eyes, making them
more visible. Also, some medications that cause blood vessels to dilate may result in darkening
circles around the eyes. Lack of sleep can make dark circles under the eyes more visible because
fatigue contributes to poor circulation and your skin looks paler.
One thing you can do is get your blood moving. Try simple lymph drainage by dry brushing your
body at least every other day. Use a soft, natural fiber brush with a long handle and a removable head
with a strap, so that you are able to reach all areas of your body. Long sweeping strokes should start
from the bottom of your feet upward, and from your hands toward your shoulders, and on the torso in
an upward direction to help drain the lymph back toward your heart. Stroking away from your heart
puts extra pressure on blood and lymph vessels and can make matters even worse. Now take a
shower as usual.
Get a cucumber from the fridge, slice it one-quarter-inch thick, lie down, and place the slices on
your eyes. Leave them on for at least five minutes. It’s a good idea to set your alarm clock if you’re
doing this early in the morning. Cucumber has gentle whitening properties, and it’s also cooling and
moisturizing.
Try green tea bags soaked in water. The caffeine in green tea is a diuretic; that is, it helps the body
lose excess water. When applied topically, it may shrink the puffiness and help boost circulation.
Couch potato remedy: slice a raw potato, and then place it on your eyes and relax on your couch.
Potatoes contain catecholase, an enzyme that works like a skin lightener. Make sure to use raw, not
cooked potato.
Add some relaxing cardio to your workout. Woga can work wonders to dissolve under-eye circles.
It takes a couple of months to see the results, but you may never need an under-eye concealer again.
Topical treatments may reduce dark eye circles. If darker skin under the eyes makes those unsightly
circles more visible, try natural lightening agents, such as kojic, ferulic, and betulinic acids,
bearberry (Uva ursi) extract, arbutine, niacinamide, vitamin C, and glucosamine. They will work
gradually by training under-eye cells to produce less pigment and help make the pigmentation less
visible. Natural skin lighteners are gentle but can take up to three months to bring noticeable results.
Antioxidant products containing vitamin E are known to stimulate fibroblast activity in the dermal
layer and help firm up the skin.
Some people swear by applying Preparation H with 0.25 percent phenylephrine. This well-known
hemorrhoid ointment may help the capillaries constrict, causing dark circles to appear less visible.
This is hardly a green treatment, but you may consider it as an emergency measure.