What causes dark circles under your eyes?

What causes dark circles under your eyes?

Our eyes are often one of the first areas to show signs of ageing, or tiredness. The skin under our eyes is referred to as periorbital skin, and it is the thinnest, softest area of our whole face and body.

Dark circles are one of the most common concerns when looking at the eye area - but before we can start looking at ways to reduce the appearance of dark circles, let’s first find out what may be causing them. 

Lifestyle and genetics affect our skin

The first thing that always gets mentioned when discussing dark circles is sleep - or being tired. And that does play a part to some extent - but why? Well, the eye area has more melanocyte cells making it prone to darkness and discolouration naturally. Being such a thin, fragile area, vitamin deficiencies can also play a part in the darkening of the eye area.

Another factor that may be contributing to your eye area concerns is genetics, which unfortunately is a lot harder to avoid. Dark circles can be genetic, which means it may be harder to completely minimise the appearance due to the excess melanocyte cells in this area prone to darkening as you age. But not all hope is lost, as some ingredients can work deep within our skin, specifically targeting and inhibiting the melanocytes from producing melanin. And then we have intrinsic ageing - which is just natural, over time the area around our eyes will thin, and the melanin may darken in turn causing dark circles. 

How to reduce the appearance of dark circles? 

There are many causes of dark circles, such as genetics, allergies, eczema, and sleep deprivation. There are also many ways to improve them, including using cold compresses, using light concealer, and getting more sleep. 

Here are 6 ways you can reduce the appearance of dark circles

1. Use a cold compress: Applying a cold compress can help to constrict the blood vessels and reduce the swelling and darkness under your eyes. 

2. Get more sleep: A lack of sleep can cause dark circles, so getting more sleep may help to improve the appearance of this area. 

3. Drink plenty of water: Drinking plenty of water can help to keep your skin hydrated and healthy, especially the thinner areas such as our delicate eye area. 

4. Eat healthily: Eating foods rich in antioxidants can help to keep your skin healthy and may assist in minimising any darkness around the eyes.

5. Avoid excess caffeine and alcohol: Consuming excess caffeine and alcohol can dehydrate your skin, which can make dark circles more noticeable. 

6. Use a good quality eye serum: An eye product formulated to target the delicate skin around the eyes is essential for dark circles, our Hexapeptide5 Anti-Wrinkle Eye Serum contains a unique blend of active peptides and nourishing probiotics, expertly engineered to reduce the appearance of fine lines and dark circles.

Experience The New Era Of Skin

Loved learning about the world of skincare? Find more articles like this one in our learning center here. 

Want to start your SumaNurica skincare journey? Shop our Hexapeptide5 Anti-Wrinkle Eye Serum here, or shop the entire SumaNurica range here.

Question not answered? Or want to speak to one of our friendly skincare experts? Head to our live chat in the bottom right corner and a skin specialist will be there to assist with all your skincare questions and concerns.