Ah the holidays...traffic, late night shopping, end-of-year deadlines. Feeling stressed and haggard at a time when you want to look and feel your best, especially for those holiday parties?
Even if you can't get more sleep, you can take steps to minimize the dark circles that are aggravated by lack of sleep and sun as well as by other causes discussed below.
So what are the causes of that racoon look and, more importantly, what cures dark circles under eyes?
Dark Causes
Many people occasionally get dark circles under their eyes and fatigue is often not the main culprit. Causes of dark circles include nasal congestion, eyelid swelling during sleep, and allergies (sometimes to irritating cosmetics, like mascara, which may contain a dye to which some people are allergic).
Dark circles under eyes can result from chronic skin conditions, such as atopic eczema. Dark circles can also run in families. Using alcohol based toners, smoking and a bad diet can also contribute to discoloration around the eyes.
Bags under the eyes can run in some families. Shadows from overhead lighting may cause the appearance of circles, or thin skin on the lower eyelid may let the dark-red or purple inside of the lid show through.
If fluid is retained in the body, these bags can get even bigger. (Some conditions that cause fluid retention include heart, thyroid, kidney and liver problems, high blood pressure and premenstrual bloating.) Medications can also cause fluid problems.
Fatigue may make muscles relax or lose their tone, with the same results, but fatigue is probably not as big a cause as most folks think.
Brighter Solutions
So what cures dark circles under eyes? Experts advise that you should cut salt intake, to fight fluid retention, and try sleeping with extra pillows, to let gravity fight the pooling of liquid.
There are also a number of skin care products may help diminish dark circles under eyes. Look for creams that contain vitamin C or vitamin K, alpha hydroxy acid and kinetin.
How about a home remedy that temporarily cures dark circles under eyes? One easy solution is to apply a cold compress, such as a washcloth wrung out in cold water for 10 to 15 minutes, or longer when dark circles are more noticeable. The cold compress to help constrict blood vessels and turn tissue white, so the darkness' doesn't show as much.
Treatment for chronic and severe undereye circles may include bleaching agents and laser therapy.
In some people, puffiness results from a protrusion of excess fat around the eyes. There are two fat pads on the upper lid and three on the lower, giving many people that tired, haggard look. The pads can be removed with a kind of plastic surgery called blepharoplasty.
