If you’ve discovered dark circles underneath your eyes that won’t go away, they may be caused by allergies, sun damage, diet or heredity. In order to determine the best treatment for your dark eyes, you must first determine the cause of your dark circles. If your dark circles do not respond to at-home care, consult a doctor for further treatment.
Cold Compress
Dark circles can form underneath the eyes when blood vessels become enlarged due to allergies or drinking caffeine or alcohol. To temporarily reduce the appearance of dark eyes, place a cold compress over the eye area, recommends the Mayo Clinic. Wrap a few ice cubes in a towel, then place the towel over the eyes for five to 10 minutes. Using a cold compress will also help temporarily make tissue around the eyes brighter, says Eric Donnenfeld, M.D., associate professor of ophthalmology at North Shore University Hospital/Cornell Medical College. Repeat as needed throughout the day to temporarily constrict the blood vessels that are making eyes look dark.
Saline Nasal Spray
When exposed to allergens, your eyes may look darker. When the body responds to allergens, the sinuses may become congested, making blood vessels under the eyes large and swollen. To reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes, spray a saline nasal spray up each nostril, then blow your nose. The saline nasal spray will relieve nasal congestion and reduce dark circles, says the Mayo Clinic.
Sleep
If you are not getting eight hours of sleep per night, dark circles may appear underneath the eyes. Dark circles may become more obvious when you have had less sleep because your skin will appear lighter, says the Mayo Clinic. Catch up on your sleep by getting at least seven to eight hours per night to help reduce dark circles underneath your eyes.
Laser Resurfacing
Dark circles may appear under the eyes due to pigmented skin. When skin is exposed to the sun, pigment can accumulate on the skin, making dark circles look even worse. To reduce dark circles due to sun damage, a cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist can perform a laser resurfacing treatment to remove the excess pigment underneath the eyes. To help prevent new pigment from forming, wear sunscreen and sunglasses when going out in the sun.
