In this article, we will talk about Dark Circles under the eyes, which is a fairly common problem. What causes dark circles? Can we do something about it? And what are some of the effective natural remedies that we can try.
Let’s get into it right away.
We can buy all the creams and cosmetics that promise to remove dark circles, but it’s important to understand the underlying issue to be able to really make a change and fix the root cause. Else it becomes a superficial solution of covering it with makeup or concealers.
The skin under our eyes, is the thinnest skin in our body. Below the skin is a fine network of capillaries. For varied reasons, blood vessels, which are dark, start to show, and pigmentation starts to appear, leaving a dark greyish layer.
It’s connected to something in our lifestyle and we should find the connection to understand the area to fix. We will come back to this topic later in the article. For now, lets jump into some of the effective and totally natural remedies.
Remedy #1: Green Tea Bags:
Take 2 used Green Tea bags and soak them in a bowl of water for a while. Now store the tea bags in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Place the cool tea bags on your eyes and leave it for 10 to 12 minutes. Discard the tea bags when done and wash your eyes with water.
Remedy #2: Cucumber
Cut a few thick slices of cucumber, which has been kept in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Place them gently on your eyes as you lie down. Leave them on for 10-15 mins. It’s very relaxing. Then remove and wash your face with water.
The anti-oxidative properties of Cucumber help shave off darkening over time.
Remedy #3: Aloe Vera Gel
If you have an Aloe vera plant, you can cut open a leaf and extract the gel. Else feel free to buy it from a store or online. I use the gel from my aloe vera plant at home. Collect some gel in a bowl and then Refrigerate it for at least 2 hours. Now apply the gel on your under-eye area and leave it overnight. you can wash it off in the morning.
Remedy #4: Yoghurt
Pour 2 tablespoons of fresh Yogurt in a bowl. Squeeze 2 drops of Lemon Juice into the bowl and stir well. Apply this paste under the eye. You can use cotton balls to apply it on the skin. Let it stay for 15 minutes, and then wash off with lukewarm water.
Remedy #5. Tomato Juice + Lemon
Blend a Tomato to get a thick paste. Squeeze 2 drops of Lemon Juice in the paste. Dip a cotton ball in the mixture and dab it on your under-eye area. After leaving it for 10 minutes, wash off with water.
I developed dark circles a while back. They haven’t gone completely yet. But I see significant improvement. Around that time, I was working late nights. The sleep cycle had gone for a toss and I often found myself watching TV or scrolling through my social feed late night, to unwind, once the kids were asleep.
The first thing I worked on was my sleep routine. And that was the time I tried the remedies as well. My favourite is the cucumber one. I also try to combine this activity with my daily meditation. So, whichever remedy I use on a particular day, Once I apply, I lie down in Shavasana and play a guided meditation for 10-15 minutes. That helps me tick 2 things off my list, in one go.
Note that for the remedies we discussed, we need to repeat twice a day and continue for at least 15-20 days to start seeing some impact. Natural things take time to bring change unlike chemicals or medical drugs.
Another important point is that The remedies we discussed so far are external applications. For long lasting impact, and to tackle the root cause of dark circles, apart from external things, we need to make lifestyle changes.
Our lifestyle impacts our body. The external symptoms on our body, like the dark circles, are an indication of something wrong inside. And unless we deal with that head-on- we may not solve the issue and only mask it temporarily.
Lack of proper sleep, fatigue and stress are the leading causes of dark circles. It’s telling us that something is not right and needs change. Another key issue is that we spend a lot of time staring at screens, be it laptops, TV or mobile phones. There is too much strain around the eyes. Whenever possible, Every 1 hour, just close your eyes, look away for some time or massage gently.
Dehydration is another main cause. While the techniques above provide external hydration, its critical to stay hydrated.
Sometimes, it’s also an indication of Low Haemoglobin levels, suboptimal lever function, or other vitamin deficiency. It’s important to do regular checkups and consult a doctor.
It can also be hereditary. In that case, it may be difficult, but you can still put in some effort to at least try and make improvements . And there is age factor. As we age, the skin becomes thinner and the blood vessels start to show, causing a dark patch.
Life happens. Sometimes there will be extra work. Sometimes you may have to work late. There are situations that can cause stress. Life happens. So you may not be able to follow the ideal routine every day. And thats ok. we are not trying to be super humans here.
It’s just about being aware of what we need to do and then try to do our best. Do your part well and everything will be fine.
Stay positive and keep smiling.
