Understanding dark circles and puffy eyes: Causes and cure.
Sometimes people can read your eyes, and know everything that you try to hide from the world. Our eyes can unravel our emotions better than words can ever do. Eyes are like windows to our soul, and you can easily take a glimpse into a person's eye and know everything about them.
If your colleagues or classmates ask you why you look so tired, you might wonder- how do they know? No, they don't know that your sleeping schedule is ruined because of the new series you have been bingeing for several nights, but they know because of the puffiness and dark circles under your eyes.
Though the common assumption is that the circles under your eyes and puffiness are because your body is not getting enough rest, that’s not always the case. There are various reasons behind the dullness growing under your eyes and taking away your shine.
What are the reasons that can explain the dark circles under my eyes?
Here are some justified explanations that can help you solve the mystery of the dark circles under your eyes and find the right solution to keep them far away from you.
- Reduced hours of sleep
It is not a big secret that staying up for the entire night might lead to dark circles forming underneath your eyes. Reduced hours of sleep can cause the skin to look dull and pale. If you are not getting enough sleep, fluid starts to build underneath your eyes, making them look puffy. Sometimes the dark circles are an illusion created under the shadow of your puffy eyes, bringing out the hollow look under your eyes.
- Living under stress
Stress is another common reason that causes dullness and puffiness. Let us explain the science. The adrenal glands in your body release the stress hormone (excessive cortisol) when you think too much about something. The hormones can alter the salt balance in your body and lead to puffiness of the eyes.
- Allergies
When your body is allergic to something and you come in contact with that substance, your body goes into vigilante mode and releases histamines to fight the invaders. Histamines can cause allergic symptoms like inflammation, irritation, redness, and watery eyes.
Moreover, the allergic reaction can force you to rub your eyes and scratch the affected skin. But you need to fight off this urge because it will worsen the symptoms, leading to puffy eyes. Food intolerance and vitamin deficiencies can cause dark circles too.
- Eyestrain
Another common reason behind dark circles and puffiness is excessive strain on your eyes. Looking at the television and computer screen for excessive hours can enlarge the blood vessels underneath your eye. So, if you like watching and scrolling on the internet at night with all the room lights switched off, you are inviting the problem all by yourself.
- Dehydration
Work pressure or excitement can make us forget all the other essential things in our life, like drinking water. If your body does not receive enough water, the skin under your eyes looks dull and tired. If you are reading this and have not had a glass of water in a while, this might be a sign to hydrate yourself.
- Sun damage
Long hours of sun exposure can lead to a boost in the production of melanin (a pigment that gives colour to the skin), causing the pigmentation around the eyes to increase. Always wear sunscreen and cover your body whether you are stepping out in summers or winters.
- Ageing and genetics
We have no control over factors like ageing and genetics. Ageing can cause a decrease in the production of fat and collagen that makes your skin tight. The skin becomes thinner, and all the blood vessels below it become visible.
How to get rid of the puffy eyes and dark circles under my eyes?
Do not worry! We have got the solution to all your skin problems.
- Apply a broad spectrum coverage sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection to avoid hyperpigmentation under the eyes due to sun rays.
- Antioxidant creams with the richness of vitamins A, vitamin E, and vitamin K help increase the blood flow to the skin and protect the skin's cells from damage.
- Eye creams with hyaluronic acid with vitamin A can be beneficial for puffiness.
- Follow a new diet and include all the different fruits and vegetables in your routine. And do not forget to keep yourself hydrated all the time.
- Use concealer to even out your skin tone and cover up the dark circles until you see the above measures' results. You can even use a colour corrector to make you look fresh as a daisy.
- Sleep for at least seven hours to wake up looking refreshed and beautiful.
Try the above steps and incorporate them into your daily routine to see a noticeable reduction in your dark circles!