Dark Circles

There are different views regarding dark circles around the eyes. Some people say that it is due to insufficient sleep, excess alcohol, and dehydration. However, the scientific understanding is that it all starts in the blood vessels called Capillaries. During the blood circulation process, RBC (Red Blood Cells) get into peripheral skin. The hemoglobin of RBC breaks down leaving a dark color. Thus, dark circles under eyes are caused by leaky capillaries.

Dark Circles can affect men, women, and children of all ages. Nevertheless, they are not sign of exhaustion or severe diseases. Eventually, that might make individuals feel old, unhealthy, tired, and disturbed. Some of the most common causes of dark circles are allergies, heredity, nasal congestion, pigmentation irregularities, and rubbing or scratching eyes.

Symptoms

• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Allergies
• Mild swelling under the eyes
• Headache, facial pain, or facial pressure
• Sinus headache or sinusitis
• Itchy skin and rashes
• Nasal congestion, sneezing

Please seek medical advice immediately in case of:

• Bloody nose with swelling
• Bruising or redness and warmth of the eyelids
• Change in level of consciousness or alertness
• Change in mental status or sudden behavior change like confusion, disorientation, delirium, lethargy, hallucinations and delusions
• Change in vision
• Feeling of tightness in the throat
• High fever higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit or 38.3 degrees Celsius.
• Itching in the throat or mouth
• Moderate to severe eyelid swelling
• Severe headache
• Swelling of the face, tongue, mouth or lips
• Wheezing or difficulty while breathing

Popular treatments and recommendations

• Make a mixture of 1 tablespoon of tomato juice, 3-4 drops of lemon juice, a pinch of turmeric powder and white flour paste and put it under the eyes for 15 minutes, then wash the paste.
• Massage the area around your eyes for 5 minutes with almond oil and then leave the oil to soak in while you sleep.
• Take plenty of rest.
• Apply a cool teabag over closed eyes for 10 minutes before going to bed.
• Apply cool cucumber slices over closed eyes for 15 minutes before going to bed.
• Do not put too much salt on food.
• Take a Vitamin E capsule and carefully pierce it with a pin or needle. Take the oil on your fingertip and put that over the skin under your eyes.
• Consume foods rich in Vitamin C like citrus fruits, green peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, olives and goji berries.

Prevention:

• Do appropriate treatment on time for allergies, nasal congestion and other medical conditions.
• Take sufficient fluids, especially vegetable juices.
• Avoid smoking, excessive salt and sun exposure.
• Consume foods like cranberries, olives, goji berries, blueberries, bilberries, tea, black currant, onions, legumes and parsley.

References

• http://www.darkcircles.net/causes.html
• http://www.bettermedicine.com/article/dark-circles-under-eyes/symptoms
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dark-circles-under-eyes/MY00346/DSECTION=causes
• http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Black-Circles-Under-Your-Eyes
• http://altmedicine.about.com/od/drcathywongsanswers/f/darkcircleseyes.htm
• http://www.darkcirclesgone.com/homeremedies.html
• http://www.darkcircles.net/under-eye.html

Insert date: 2012.01.19 Last update: 2012.01.24

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