What causes dark circles around our eyes?

The skin under the eyes is very thin and delicate. The epidermins have no oil glands and are more susceptible to developing dark circles or rings. The dark circles under the eyes are formed due to multiple factors like mental or physical stress, hormonal changes, lack of sleep, and nutritional deficiency. Here are the root causes of dark circles:

Lack of sleep

This is one of the most common causes of under-eye-circle. The reason is our body can only repair the skin and other tissues only when a person is in a state of deep sleep. Only in the sleep phase, there is a focus on tissues and cells of facial skin for repair and rejuvenation. Try to sleep for 8 hours a day and take measures to improve to quality of sleep too.

Iron deficiency 

The discoloration under the eyes can be due to a deficiency of minerals such as iron. Whenever you lack iron in your system, the dark under the eye area becomes more noticeable. Most commonly the underlying health condition is anemia which is fairly common amongst vegetarians. As a large population in India is vegetarian, taking iron supplements becomes important. Consult with your doctor to check whether you have anemia or not and discuss supplementation. 

Allergies

Allergies can cause swelling and inflammation that can contribute to dark circles. During inflammation, histamine is released which causes swelling of tissues and change in circulation. Rubbing of the skin due to itching and irritation can damage the circulatory system of the area which darkens the skin permanently.

Tobacco consumption

This can restrict the blood flow, and cause a pale appearance on the skin. Cigarettes contain chemical toxins that have many negative effects on the skin. Smokers end up spending more time in light sleep than nonsmokers, which further contributes to developing dark circles.

Alcohol

Alcohol can worsen dark circles. It can disrupt the normal sleep patterns in the body, which causes fatigue. The best advice to people who consume alcohol heavily would be to decrease the amount or try to quit. Consult with your doctor who can advise you on how to stop alcohol consumption.

Dark circles can get better!

It is possible to reduce or even completely heal dark circles. Try to get rid of all the causes, take proper sleep and consult with your doctor who can help you identify causes and advice you on treatment plans.