Dark Circles
- Rebecca Paterson
- Sep 15, 2020
- 3 min read
Have you or do you suffer from dark circles under your eyes, even when you have had a good night’s sleep? Or buy hundreds of dollars’ worth of expensive eye creams without any results?
Dark circles are not only a sign that you may need more sleep or you’ve been out drinking too much alcohol, it can also indicate an underlying health condition, like an allergy to a certain food/s, or something in your environment, a nutritional deficiency, adrenal fatigue or dehydration.
Identifying and treating the cause of dark eye circles is the best solution for a clear, healthy complexion around your eyes, together with some helpful natural topical treatments.
Sun Exposure
Lots of sun exposure can be a major cause of destruction of collagen and elastin within the skin, which results in the skin losing its elasticity and tone. This sort of damage can lead to premature skin ageing, particularly around the eye area, which can worsen dark eye circles. As we know, it is so important to wear a good-quality natural sunscreen daily to help prevent sun damage on our face and around our eyes. Wearing a hat and sunglasses when out in the sun can also help reduce the risk of sun damage.
Food Allergies
Ever hear of an ‘allergic shiner’? This is when dark circles are related to allergies, and can also be associated with having nasal congestion, a cold or sinus infection. When the nasal passages are congested, blood pools in the veins and capillaries underneath the eyes, causing a dark appearance.
Food allergies and intolerances can also be a contributing factor. Dark circles can be a sign of an intolerance, such as a wheat or gluten intolerance. You could test this by going on an elimination diet controlled by your nutritionist or having an allergy test to ascertain whether specific foods or airborne allergens are problematic.
Low Iron
Low iron levels can also be a sign that you are anaemic, or deficient in iron. This essential mineral plays a vital role in the production of haemoglobin, which is essential for transporting oxygen around the body. When you are deficient in iron, your skin becomes pale, which accentuates the blue veins under your eyes, leading to dark circles. Eating iron-rich foods such as red meat, lentils and other legumes, green leafy vegetables, beans and apricots. If an iron supplement is recommended by your GP, please see your local Nutritionist or Naturopath to get the right one for you. Many at your local chemist are poor quality iron or have too many fillers, which can cause constipation and stomach issues.
Adrenal Fatigue
With long working days, after school kid activities, money issues or just life, who isn’t stressed. But this can lead to adrenal fatigue, and a symptom can be dark circles. Other common symptoms of adrenal fatigue include exhaustion, anxiety and having difficulty sleeping. This is your body’s way of telling you to slow down and take care of yourself. If you need help with this, I suggest seeing your GP or your Nutritionist.
Fluid Retention
Fluid retention can contribute to dark circles where the blood vessels under the eyes become dilated and swollen. Consuming too much sodium will cause you to retain fluid, which can result in bags and dark circles. Limiting processed foods that contain high levels of sodium and opting for fresh, natural foods are the best ways to reduce your sodium intake and prevent fluid retention.
Sleep
You should be aiming for around eight hours of sleep a night. Not getting enough, could cause dark circles. Watch what position you sleep in, too, as sleeping on your face can contribute to bags due to the force of gravity pulling the skin downwards. Also make sure you wash off your makeup before you get into bed, not only is it great for our skin, but you avoid those dreaded panda eyes.
Dehydration
Dark eye circles are a common sign of dehydration as well. Drinking too much alcohol, excessive sweating (from exercise or working outside in the heat) or illness can cause dehydration, which can cause the skin under your eyes to appear thin, baggy and darker.
Caffeine is also a diuretic, so drinking too much coffee, black tea, soft drinks, and energy drinks can dehydrate you.
If you enjoy a drink, make sure you do not overdo it. Having a big glass of water in between alcoholic drinks will make sure you stay well hydrated. And ensure you are getting your 1.5 to 2 litres of filtered water per day, maybe more during summer if you work outdoors are exercising.
References
https://jddonline.com/articles/dermatology/S1545961614P0472X
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