What Causes Dark Circles Under Eyes? - JPKee.com
[ad_1]
Sleeping on your side or belly
While most people believe lack of sleep is the solitary reason behind dark circles under eyes, the way you sleep could be the true culprit. If your sleeping position tends to be lying on your side or your belly, your face will fold into the pillow and put strain around your eyes. Harold Lancer, MD, a celebrity dermatologist, notes, "Try to sleep on your back, which doesn't just benefit your face, but also prevents wrinkles from potentially forming on your chest. You may also want to consider sleeping with an extra pillow when your eyes are extremely puffy, since elevating your head will get the fluid to move away from your lids." Find out the best sleep positions for 11 common health problems.
Sunlight
If your under eye area happens to look more brownish in tone, it may be due to pigmentation. "The skin around the eyes is also very sensitive to hydration or lack thereof and is also constantly exposed the environment. Therefore, it is subject to sun damage," reports Joshua Zuckerman, MD, board-certified plastic surgeon. Because the sun signals melanin production, sun exposure will aggravate the appearance of crow's feet and dark circles. As a solution, be sure to invest in a good pair of sunglasses that are labeled 100 percent UV protection or UV 400 protection to efficiently blocks the sun's rays. (This is how to pick out the best sunglasses for your face shape).
Too much salt or caffeine
You may notice that if you indulge in a salt-heavy meal before you go to bed, you'll wake up with bags under your eyes. Certain foods with high levels of sodium and caffeine content will cause your body to retain water, aggravating the skin under the eyes and making them appear darker. If you find it too hard to sacrifice the coffee (trust us, we understand), Ami Mallon, global corporate educator for Osmosis Skincare, recommends counteracting this condition with ingredients like Niacinamide (a form of vitamin B). "This assists with increasing blood flow to areas that may have formerly been stagnant. Niacinamide also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits," she says. "Bearberry extract is also a wonderful and natural skin lightener and can help brighten under your eyes." Here are other signs you're eating too much sodium.
Content continues below ad
Makeup products
Makeup is supposed to cover up our dark circles under eyes, right? While it may seem counterintuitive, using a bad product can actually irritate your skin and lead to worsened circles. According to Rebecca Lee, RN and founder of the natural health resource, RemediesForMe.com, "Makeup is supposed to hide discolorations and imperfections but if your specific makeup brand is not well tolerated by the body, it can actually cause the exact opposite. Whether it's an eyeliner, mascara, concealer, or a powder, it could cause irritation or an allergic reaction." To stay on the safe side, if you notice your under eye area looking particularly rough after using a new product, steer clear. (There are 18 ways your makeup might be making you sick).
Scratching or rubbing your eyes
Itching, rubbing, scratching, you name it: all of it can lead to dark circles under eyes. If you happen to rub them instinctively in the middle of the night and are in dire need of an immediate fix, Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills, recommends hemorrhoid creams to temporarily shrink the vessels; it's a handy modeling trick used before photo shoots. If you have a bit more time on your hands, consider cold cucumbers on the eyes—they're high in sodium and will draw out water from under the skin.
Bad genetics
Unfortunately, sometimes dark circles can just be hereditary (and is actually one of the most common causes of them). If the skin around your eyes is fragile, transparent, and extremely thin, it will make it easy for blood to show through. Dark circles from bad genes will tend to show more as a bluish tint, and may get worse with age due to the loss of subcutaneous fat. "There are three types of enlarged blood vessels: they can be purple, blue, or pink," says Neal Schultz, MD, a dermatologist based in New York City, host of DermTV.com and creator of BeautyRx by Dr. Schultz. "And there are two types of shadows that cause them: One shadow comes from the bulge of fat from the lower lid as we get older and the other comes from fine wrinkling of the lower lid skin, which appears as parallel lines. When light hits them from above, it causes shadows just like light hitting open flat, parallel blinds." If you were dealt a bad hand of genetic codes, your best bet may be to seek out your dermatologist so they can help you treat them as effectively as possible. Here are 12 other ways your mom's health can affect you.
Content continues below ad
Too many hours in front of the computer
Staring at a computer all day can put a lot of stress on the blood vessels around the eyes, which are forced to work harder without proper rest. According to Maricela Lewis Watson of The Shoreditch Spa, "When the blood vessels get bigger around your eyes, it makes the skin surrounding them look darker. This happens when the body produces more cortisol to combat the added stress that the eye muscles are under." If you're in a job that mandates hours spent in front of a computer screen, frequently take small breaks—even if for 30 seconds every hour—to look away and give your eyes some time to recover. (This is how to help your body recover from a day of sitting).
Fluid retention
Fluid retention will cause blood to pool underneath your eyes and produce a darkened appearance. According to Mahmoud Khattab, MD, of Precision MD, "There are many reasons your body might retain fluids: hormone levels fluctuating temporarily with your menstrual cycle or aging, a high salt diet, medications that encourage fluid retention, and changes in the weather (particularly hot, humid days)." Other reasons may include chronic disorders that increase lower lid sagging by increasing water retention such as thyroid disease, kidney disease, and heart ailments. If you do happen to notice your under eye circles worsening after taking a new medication, consult your doctor for a prescription change.
Allergies
Allergic reactions, dryness, and eczema symptoms as some of the most common symptoms that lead to patients' dark circles, shares Lee. "Allergies cause the body to release histamines that cause blood vessels to dilate. Excessive rubbing to soothe itchiness or irritation can also cause increased inflammation, swelling, and broken blood vessels around the eye." If you find yourself suffering from allergies, try taking an antihistamine or taking pseudoephedrine to reduce swelling. (Here are 12 other natural allergy remedies that are sure to provide relief).
Content continues below ad
[ad_2]
Source link
- #Diet_Weight_Loss #Health
Author - Vikash Kumar
No comments: