Home Beauty Remedies to Get Rid of Dark Circles

Dark circles under your eyes are not a serious health problem, but they give you the appearance of being tired, run-down and unhealthy. In some cases, dark circles are a symptom of something else that could eventually become a problem. There are several ways to relieve dark circles naturally, but it is also important to determine their cause. If you have black circles, determine what is causing the problem and use a combination of natural remedies to ease the problem.

Causes

There are several possible causes of dark circles. Sometimes they are unavoidable, like if your circles are inherited. Thin skin under the eyes is a genetic trait which causes the bluish tint from the blood passing through the vessels in this area. Allergies and skin conditions also cause the darkening, because there is a tendency to rub the skin to relieve itching and watering. Age is another unavoidable factor. The darkness becomes intensified as you grow older if you do not find a cure or treatment that lessens the effect.

Other causes are controllable and once a problem is fixed, the circles will disappear. Lack of sleep causes skin to be pale, making the blood under the skin more visible. This causes the bluish hue. A poor diet is another cause of circles, so eating right and satisfying nutritional deficiencies will solve the problem. Other causes of dark circles that are temporary include stress, sun exposure, medication, pregnancy and menstruation.

Remedies With Food

Food is one of the best natural solutions to a variety of physical problems and dark circles are no exception. Placing cold cucumber slices over your eyes for 20 minutes creates a noticeable reduction in the bluish tint of under eye circles and reduces puffiness. Potato slices have the same effect. Mixing juices from potatoes and cucumbers in equal parts, creating enough to soak a cotton ball, is also effective for reducing dark circles when the juice is applied around the eyes. Other food remedies for under eye circles include mint, almond oil, turmeric powder and pineapple juice and parsley.

Compresses

Compresses are similar to cucumbers in that they are placed on the eyes for about 20 minutes. Make a compress for each eye by steeping a half cup of fresh rosemary in a quart of water for 20 minutes. Strain the water and chill. Soak a washcloth in the water and place over your eyes. The rosemary increases circulation around the eyes, reducing the darkness and the cold temperature reduces the swelling of the tissues, reducing puffiness.

Other Tips

There are several other natural remedies for dark eye circles. Gentle massage around the eyes will stimulate circulation, but avoid rubbing too hard because you can worsen the circles and create eye pain. Protect your skin from the sun with sun-block, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and drink at least 64 ounces of water each day to stay hydrated. Avoiding coffee, alcohol and caffeinated soft drinks also reduces the appearance of dark circles.