You need expert help when a good night’s sleep no longer works – here are the best dark circle treatment options that you may not be aware of.

With the fast-paced lives we lead, every meeting drags on for hours, the concept of work-life balance is a myth, and most of our work was due yesterday. In such a situation, it is understandable that our bodies suffer quite as much, and perhaps a little more, than our tired minds. We have all reached a place in our lives where the mirror is full of surprises, and not all pleasant ones either. It is common to see a tired face complete with humongous dark circles staring back at us when we look in the mirror. When a good night’s sleep is not enough to alleviate the dark circles, the need to look for best dark circle treatment options rears its head.

Why Do You Have Dark Circles?

Most cosmetic solutions available to you are quick-fix ones that serve to reduce the dreadful appearance of dark circles in a marginal and temporary manner. In order to get rid of dark circles for good, it is important for you to understand what is causing the dark circles in the first place.

• Genetic Anomalies

Perhaps the most common cause of dark circles is just bad genetics. If you are fair skinned or have inherited thin skin in the under-eye area, dark circles become more visible and obvious. Lack of sleep causes slow blood circulation, which in turn causes the blood to pool in the area under the eyes. This accumulation results in the stretching and leaking of the fragile capillaries in the under-eye area. And these are the puffy eyes that are making you look for best dark circle treatment options.

• Seasonal Allergies

For some people, seasonal allergies are the culprit. Allergies trigger a histamine release in the body. Histamine causes the inflammation and swelling of blood vessels, which then leads to dark circles.

• Aging

Age is another prominent factor that causes dark circles. As you age, the skin on your face and the rest of your body becomes less elastic owing to the breakdown of collagen. When this happens, the nerves and capillaries in your body become easily visible under the skin. The breaking down of collagen is further exacerbated due to exposure to the sun’s UV rays while sunbathing.

How do you know which of these factors is causing your dark circles? There’s a simple trick to find out which is the best dark circle treatment option for you. Tenderly stretch the skin under your eyes. If you find that the color of the area does not change, your dark circles are most probably caused by allergies or sun damage. On the other hand, if the color changes, genetics or aging is to blame.

Best Dark Circle Treatment

• If your dark circles are caused by blood circulation issues, place another pillow under your head when you sleep. This will keep the blood from accumulating under your eyes. When you wake up in the morning, apply a cold compress on your eyes for a few minutes to constrict the vessels. The best dark circle treatment for this issue is an eye cream that has caffeine in it. Caffeine helps to constrict the blood vessels. You can also try eye creams that are arnica-based, or those which have green tea or grapeseed oil which serve to strengthen the walls of the capillaries under your eyes. Add more dark chocolate and foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids to your diet.

• The best dark circle treatment for allergy-induced circles is to simply prevent the allergies completely. Take an OTC antihistamine beforehand to keep the dark circles at bay.

• If your dark circles are more visible due to thin skin under the eyes, start using a collagen-building cream. Use creams that contain retinol and vitamin C which help increase collagen production. Ensure that you use sunscreen daily or you may not see any effects of using the collagen creams.

While you wait for these best dark circle treatment options to work, you may feel the need for a quick-fix temporary solution. Simply apply your eye cream, and wait for it to dry. Follow it up with a layer of creamy concealer that compliments your skin tone. Dust loose powder in the under eye area so as to prevent the concealer from caking up and creasing.