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Dark Circles - Bags Under Eyes

Chandramita Bora
Puffiness and bags under the eyes can be caused by a deficiency of some important vitamins and minerals, or certain other factors. Read on to find out what causes dark sagging skin under the eyes, and how to get rid of this annoying problem.
Dark circles or eye circles are blemishes that develop around the eyes due to numerous reasons. They often give a tired look to your face, and make you look much older than your age. The under-eye circles, especially the constant ones can be a symptom of certain illnesses and disorders, which are discussed here.

Causes
There can be numerous factors that can cause periorbital dark circles. One of the most common causes is inadequate sleep or rest, which can make your skin pale and the circles more prominent. Tiredness or fatigue is another factor that can cause this problem.
Allergies, both seasonal and food allergies can also be associated with this condition. Seasonal allergies like hay fever can cause sagging skin under the eyes. Food allergies can also cause puffiness under the eyes.
Sometimes, eye circles can be hereditary. The skin around the eyes is usually thinner than the skin of the other parts of the body. In some individuals, the skin around the eyes is more transparent than others, which is an inherited trait.
In such individuals, eye circles can be nothing but a bluish discoloration produced when the blood passes through the veins. They become more prominent due to the thinness of the skin.
Another possible cause is incomplete digestion of proteins caused by the lack of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. This in turn may be caused by the deficiency of vitamin B6 and folic acid. When protein is not digested completely, carbon gets deposited under the skin around the eyes, and make the eye circles more prominent.
Eye circles can become more prominent due to the deficiency of vitamin B12 as well. Anemia caused by the deficiency of iron can also cause this condition.
Sometimes, it can be caused by periorbital pigmentation or the production of more melanin in the skin under the eyes. When more melanin is produced in the epidermis (the outer layer of skin), the dark circles appear brown.
On the other hand, when excess melanin is produced in the dermis, it gives a bluish or bluish-gray color to the eye circles.
Apart from these, this condition can be associated with premenstrual syndrome, especially if the eye circles appear before menstruation. Poor blood circulation and a deficiency of vitamin K can also be responsible for causing this condition.

How to Get Rid of Dark Circles?
A number of herbal remedies can help reduce the appearance of under-eye circles, of which a few are enlisted here:
>>Tea bags are very effective in reducing the swelling or puffiness under the eyes. Place them over your eyelids and keep them for at least 15 minutes.
>>Drink plenty of water (about 8 to 9 glasses) throughout the day.
>>Get adequate sleep in the night. Usually, we need 7 to 8 hours of sleep daily.
>> Cucumber slices are very effective in reducing blemishes. They can be placed over the eyes for 10 to 15 minutes to reduce puffiness and the appearance of dark circles.
>>You can also make a mixture of cucumber and potato juice, and apply it around your eyes.

>>Olive and almond oil can also be beneficial, as these oils have a nourishing effect on the skin.
To sum up, follow a healthy and balanced diet that contains all the essential vitamins and minerals, drink plenty of water, get enough sleep, and quit smoking, in order to get rid of dark circles and bags under the eyes. But if these measures fail to eliminate or reduce the appearance of eye circles and puffiness, talk to a dermatologist.