Sav'nFace.com

Can You Count the Ways?   12  Causes of Dark Circles.

1. Aging ...a triple whammy

2.  Allergies and Sinus Congestion

Thought to be the most common cause of under eye discoloration.  Blocked sinuses cause swelling and congestion around the eyes and dark circles are the result.

Anything from seasonal allergies to pets to food allergies can cause dark circles and puffiness. If your eyes itch, be careful not to rub or scratch the skin.

Eliminating the contaminants can get rid of your circles while improving your general.

While lack of sleep is usually seen on the list of probable suspects, Mayo Clinic's Dr. Lawrence Gibson says fatigue is not the problem. He identified nasal congestion as the real culprit.

Congestion causes veins that drain from the eyes to the nose to dilate and darken. As we incline during sleep fluid pools in the eyelids causing swelling and mimics an appearance of shadows under the eyes.

3.  Anemia

Not just an iron deficiency, an unbalanced or non-nutritious diet can show up under the eyes. A lack of iron is a sign that not enough oxygen is getting to the tissues.

Dark circles are often experienced during pregnancy and menstruation and the culprit, anemia, is best treated by your doctor.

4.  Adrenal Glands (Hormones)

Adrenal fatigue or exhaustion happens after intense or lengthy physical or emotional stress.

These glands' main job is to enable the body to deal with stress - the fight or flight response.  Over stimulated, the burnt-out glands fail to do their job.  A lack or poor absorption of vitamin B6, folic acid, calcium, magnesium and other nutrients can adversely affect adrenal function.

5.  Dehydration and Fluid Retention

By our 40's our skin's hydration has decreased as much as 50%.  Sunken eyes are commonly a sign of dehydration in children. Keeping skin pumped up will lessen the appearance of dark circles.

6.  Eczema

Often mistakenly called an allergy, eczema is actually a hypersensitivity causing inflammation. The skin reacts or become sensitive to allergens, and you get itchy and scaly skin that can be long lasting and very difficult to treat.

Post-eczema pigmentation can result after treatment. It tends to fade over several months but can last longer. Avoiding the sun will prevent further damage.

7.  Heredity

You get the eyes you're born with and if dark circles run in your family you will likely experience the same. You have inherited an excessive transparency of the skin or more predominant blood vessels that are showing through the skin or both! Veins close to the surface have a bluish tint that appear brown through the skin.

A vitamin B12 deficiency or malabsorption may be at fault. Topical vitamin K and concealer may be your best approach.

8.  Persistent Eye Rubbing

9.  Poor Circulation

You have to keep that blood flowing or pooling will result and dark circles will follow. Natural remedies such as cayenne stimulate and strengthen the heart, clean out the arteries and boost metabolic rates.

Topical treatments of hot and cold pack, tea bags and cucumbers bring blood to the area and increase oxidation. Exercise, the natural cure all, is your body's and face's best friend for improving circulation.

10.  Stress

There is nothing in our life that won't get better when we manage our stress.  Even if you don't think you are stressed, if you are overworked, around noise, pollution and demands, you are experiencing overload.

11.  Sun Damage

You've heard it all before; those wonderful rays of the sun are not your friend.  Damage causes blood vessels to lose stability and dark circles instead of a tan will be the result.

Wear sunglasses that block 99% of UV-A and UV-B radiation and screen 75-90% of visible light.

12.  Toxins and Sensitivity Reactions

Medications, chemicals in the environment and some topical products can cause the skin to react adversely with inflammation and hyperpigmentation. Prescription drugs can cause blood vessels to dilate and cause dark circles.