Dark Circles - Causes and Treatments Using Simple Home Remedies

What Causes Dark Circles Around the Eyes?

Dark circles around the eyes can be caused by a variety of problems that range from a genetic predisposition, excessive pigmentation, a lack of sleep, and even anemia. The reason why this kind of the skin is especially susceptible to a darker look is because of the thinness of the skin in this area – in fact the skin under the eyes and eyelids is the thinnest skin in the whole body. Our circulation is arranged in such a way that veins that take away deoxygenated blood – which is darker than oxygenated blood – is always near the surface, while the arteries that carry oxygenated blood is deeper down. When the veins are more pronounced the entire thin skin around the eyelids ends up looking black and darkened.

Skin Pigmentation And Role of Melanin

Skin pigmentation is a factor of the amount of melanocytes in our skin and the amount of melanin that they create. Melanin is the natural skin pigment that serves not only to give us some color but also as a natural sun block. When the harmful ultraviolet radiation comes into contact with the skin, it could cause serious damage to the skin at a cellular level. However, with the presence of melanin, this problem is reduced because melanin reacts with radiation to form harmless heat. In the process, the melanin goes a shade darker because of a chemical reaction called oxidative stress – an incomplete oxidative reaction. Skin pigmentation around the eyes is usually genetically determined and if this is the case, little can be done except to continuously bleach the skin. By bleaching, you reverse the oxidative stress effects on melanin.

Natural Cures To Prevent Dark Circles

To cure your condition, bleaching is the ideal solution and this can be done by using creams and face washes that contain substances like hydroquinone, retinol, tretinoin, and vitamin C. You can also do this naturally using vitamin C, azelaic acid, vitamin E, and pomegranate. The first step is to make a pulp out of strawberries and lemon juice and apply it over the eyes. Next, wash this off and rub a cream that contains vitamin E. From a dietary perspective, you need to consume more whole wheat, rye, and bran as well as sea food. Pomegranate also shows some benefits in suppressing melanin formation. Also start getting more sleep as the hormone melatonin, which is a powerful antioxidant, is secreted only during the sleep and this can help reverse the effects of oxidative stress and oxidizing free radicals in the body.