What is the truth about dark spots under eyes? What causes them? Today we are here to give all you need to get rid this dark marks, circles or spots. Before that, we shall look at the various causes including at pregnancy, in children and men plus more on the possible ways of treatments and some home remedies.
Causes with images
Table of content
I have a dark spot under my eye but am not sure what brought it there. If that is your worry, you are nearly getting to cast it away.
1. Periorbital Hyperpigmentation
One of the common causes is periorbital hyperpigmentation. This condition is characterized by excess production of melanin in the thin skin layer under the eye. It is contributed by subcutaneous vascularity, drugs, hormones and genetic factors.
The nature of light skin tone in this area makes it even easier for these dark patches to be clearly visible. Patients who suffer from the venous stasis of the eyelid will tend to easily exhibit periorbital hyperpigmentation. However, it may not cause a lot of health concern.
Identifying the underlying that the cause is due to periorbital hyperpigmentation treatment tricky and difficult. You can talk to your doctor about a possible eye surgery to get rid of the dark pigment but individuals who have a naturally dark complexion may apply makeups to conceal them.
2. Allergies
Can allergy be a dark spot under eyes cause? An allergic reaction will occur if your immune system in presence of the allergen reacts in a manner that stimulates the production of certain substances such as histamine, inhibitors or antibodies. What are these things responsible for dark spots under eyes from allergies? This is as follows.
a. Seasonal Allergies
A very profound and common seasonal allergen is hay fever. Once you are allergic to hay fever the eyelids are inflamed and swell. This inflammation contributes to hypervascularity – a process that causes expansion of blood vessels/capillaries. Hypervascularity makes blood vessels move closer to the skin where they begin to rub against it. That is how dark spots under eyes from allergies start to appear.
For your information, some people who are allergic to seasonal allergy esp. children are either vitamin B12 or B6 deficient. For medication purposes, one can apply retinoic acid creams over the counter. However, if you find it has more repercussions and discomforts you stop its use and try to avoid the sources of allergens.
b. Dairy Allergens
What are some of the dairy allergens, and how do they lead to the formation of dark patches under eyes?
Your body reacts differently to protein proponents that get into the digestive system or respiratory system e.g. cheese, milk, and yogurt. For instance, if you lack enzyme lactase cells fail to metabolize lactose. This means that you have high levels of lactose in the blood which can show up as darkened patches under eyelid easily because of its typical light skin.
This group of allergens are quite common and affect a majority of children and a number of individuals. Doctors have recommended an injection of epinephrine to help children with fatal reactions.
Other symptoms that are associated with spots or dots from allergens of dairy goods and products include:
- Nasal congestion and difficulty in breathing,
- Indigestion,
- Sneezing,
- Formation of hives,
- Itchiness in nose, eyes or the roof of the oral cavity,
- Skin rash,
- Vomiting and nausea.
c. Certain foods
What food do allergies cause this problem? Foods rich in amino acids such as avocado, yeast, herring, shellfish, and chocolate have tyramine, (an amino acid itself). Few persons have a particular way of reacting to these foods in that the skin develops inflammation and to the extent of showing pigments of dark patches around eyes.
Other foods that may be a source of allergic for you or sensitive to include wheat, soy and egg whites. Chestnuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts and cashew nuts may be problematic to some people.
All in all, more young children will be affected by allergens whereas other people have an allergic tolerable immune system to certain allergies which may have little or huge allergic effect on same family members.
d. Food additives and Preservatives
For those whose hearts are in processed foods beware that most of them contain food additives that may be the reason why you are seeing those dark pigments around the eyes and nose. You need to be careful while acquiring them otherwise you need to rely on fresh foods.
Dealing with black spots due to allergies
When dealing with cases from allergies, be careful since they often cause nasal congestion when “veins from the eyes to the nose become dark and dilated.” [patch.com]. Consult your practitioner to know your kid’s nutrient deficiency (folic acid, vitamin B12) status. For the case of children, therefore, a multivitamin followed by an allergy medication should be indeed vital.
3. Sun Exposure
Whenever the human skin is exposed to the sun for longer durations more melanin is released under the influence of melanocyte cells. Excessive melanin, which accounts for hyperpigmentation one this area, is then deposited in top layers of the skin. In contrast, the thinner skin around the eye is most affected. Why? UVR rays are less blocked.
4. Old Age
With aging, everyone naturally loses the binding force of natural collagen in the skin. This is what contributes to thinning out and thus it becomes a weak point for the formation of the dark spots.
5. Chronic Eye Rubbing
Apart from the allergies, we have looked at, chronic eye rubbing could also be another cause. Excessive rubbing may become a habit thus chronic. This not only triggers inflammation but also can lead to the formation of scars which upon healing will leave dark patches. The keen parents will find this phenomenon or dark spots under eyes in children very common.
To help the children or any other person who has developed this hyperpigmentation due to rubbing you need the daily skin brightener serums or creams.
6. Atopic Dermatitis or Eczema
Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis is due to a combination of factors one of them being inflamed skin. If you have a dry skin then there are more chances of you developing pigments of dark patches or on the eyelids. Therefore, eczema may not really present dark spots rather they are also made to appear prominent on the natural light brown skin.
7. Why during Pregnancy?
Don’t suspect yourself during the last trimester pregnancy period because it is normal for the changes you may suddenly be taking note of one of the – lesser pigmented or dark spots under your eyes.
One thing for sure is hormonal shifts in estrogen. In such context, a few body processes are diverted. The skin seems to be overwhelmed due to too many wastes. As a result, some of the retained wastes end up in cells because normal blood flow and circulation of oxygen are interrupted.
The more you lose important body nutrients to the fetus, the more the patches become darker. Furthermore, there is a likelihood of hyperpigmentation of even with little exposure to the sun during pregnancy.
8. Heredity Factor
As opposed to the dark spots under eyes causes, dark patches around eyes may run across the family members of a certain genealogy or group.
How to get rid of them in men, women, and children
The black circles, spots or patches can certainly make your eyes look less attractive if you will ignore them. You will learn that it will be even more difficult to get rid of the dark of them when it will be too late. It is a high time to start caring for them using cream products over the counter.
Topical Creams
The first way in which the creams will help in getting rid of dark spots under the eyes is by constricting blood vessels such that circulation is raised. Some of the topical creams or serums are those with caffeine as ingredients.
You may be forced to apply them to a daily routine as most of them have day long effects. For instance, Kiehl’s creams such as Kiehl’s eye alert Energy Booster is a beauty and cosmetic cream to get rid of dark spots in men specific problems including eye puffiness.
Retinoic Acid Creams
This category of creams helps in thickening this area so that there is minimized effects from reflection by light. An example of these is Philosophy Miracle Worker, Lancome Genifique Eye Light-Pearl.
Hydrating Creams
Secondly, try the hydrating non-prescription creams to increase the moisture content. La Roche- Posay Hydraphase Intense Eyes or La Roche non-oily lotions among other hydrating creams are going to cut back puffiness while creating perfect smoothness on your skin.
- Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Replenishing Moisture,
- Bioelements Beyond Hydration,
NOTE: As you intend to remove this hyperpigmentation avoid harsh chemical products and creams that have hydroquinone.
Topical Dark Spot Brightening Creams
If you or loved ones may be suffering from chronic rubbing an eye skin brightener is all you need to lighten the dark patches that have resulted. In a period of not more than six weeks apply Murad Renewing Eye Cream. It acts as an efficient peel and will ensure that the light skin is renewed.
Makeup – Eyeliners, Waterproof Mascara
If treatment or therapy is quite demanding, you should be ready for other options such as the use of makeup. If you have a dark skin use your favorite dark colored pencil to line the lower or upper eyelids. Furthermore, you will also want to create more sparkling with a dark blue eyeliner, especially on the upper eyelids.
- Benefit Eyebright Instant Brightener Pencil,
- Eleven Skin Perfection Cream & Concealer,
- Bobbi Brown Tinted Brightener,
Another thing you can think of doing is to include a waterproof mascara. This cosmetic substance is good to avoid the smudges which contribute to dark spots under eyes appearing. Other important issues in regard are:
- Making a selection of good concealer and quality products to get rid of dark patches around eyes,
- To ensure that you remove the makeups at most before going to bed – but it is more prudent to do so immediately their effects wears out.
Q-Switched Laser Therapy
It will be the time to try it when you feel that you have had enough frustrations after trying all sorts creams without much expected from the results. This process will utilize intensely pulsed light wave to remove the notorious fat deposits which persistently keep on beckoning your skin surrounding the eyes.
Your dermatologist may not prefer this therapy for the following health reasons:
- If you have cases of cold sores and herpes simplex viral (HSV) infections.
- When under certain medications,
- If you have dark spots under eyes during pregnancy.
Surgery or Blepharoplasty
Even though it is so expensive, surgery is an optional but considerable way to get rid of dark patches around eyes faster. This process will remove and eliminate the fats or rather the deposits of fat tissue lying in the skin on this area. However, it is costly.
How to reduce or remove with home remedies
Dark spots under eyes home remedies naturally help you to manage and turn around the stressful situation by gradually reducing the appearance. To prove the worth of natural remedies in either lightening or getting rid of this problem you should be consistent.
1. Tea Bags
As mentioned earlier caffeine is a beneficial ingredient to help shrink blood vessels. Moreover, an added advantage is that using this natural procedure aims at bringing down eye puffiness as well as reducing fluid retention. Do it yourself in this manner:
- Freeze some green tea bags with ice cold equipment or refrigerator.
- After half an hour, take a tea bag and hold lightly affected area leaving them for just 10 minutes.
CAUTION: Close your eyes not to let tea get into them.
- Do the same to both eyes then wash and rinse.
- Repeat the procedure at least twice daily for two weeks
2. Turmeric and Pineapple Juice
Before you can try this remedy around the eyes, do a small test in other areas of your skin to determine how sensitive it may be.
- Prepare a mixture of 3 teaspoons of turmeric powder and fresh to ripen pineapple juice.
- Apply carefully to the affected surrounding areas using a soft cotton piece.
- Wipe after 15 minutes using a wet cloth.
Turmeric is a supernatural antioxidant that will reduce dark spots under the eyes by not allowing blue dark spots to appear especially when you are in much light.
3. Raw Potato
- Clean few potatoes and wipe them to dry.
- Use a grating tool to make small pieces.
- Place them in a sieve through which you extract some juice.
- Soak a small cotton ball in the potato juice and rub across and around the eyelids for few minutes.
- Wash thoroughly with water.
Potato has some bleaching components so as a natural home remedy expect to reduce and lighten dark spots from sun exposure after several repeated procedure.
4. Cold Cucumber Compress
Cold cucumber will really help in shrinking blood capillaries and have a special soothing effect.
- Cut a fresh cucumber into toe-thick pieces and cool them in an ice container.
- Place them over the eyelids and the near the eyebrows putting a little pressure.
- When you start to feel some warmth remove them and repeat the same on the other eye.
- Repeat it when necessary.
5. Pure Rose Water
If your eye dark spots are from tiredness you need to follow the rose water home trick that is excellent skin toner and rejuvenator.
- Wash your hands and soak some cotton pads in pure rose water.
- Rub in the soaked cotton balls over the dark patches under eyelid skin a horizontal position.
- Repeat it for 10 – 15 minutes and thereafter you can wipe excess rose water.
6. Tomato Juice
Tomato juice is another bleacher whose quality is natural. In addition, if you need faster results just add two to three drops of lemon juice/tbsp. of pineapple juice. Use the similar steps outlined in the second home remedy i.e. turmeric & pineapple juice.
Fast results- Topical Brighteners, Laser Resurfacing or Surgery
Dealing with these black patches or spots can be very crucial because you need to be so careful so that no other eye problem arises. Bearing in mind that they cause a lot of concerns, to get rid of dark spots under eyes fast requires you have a good knowledge of the causes.
Before you rush to try to get rid of these spots overnight, quickly or fast, it is important to know the case. In general, laser treatments and surgical treatments will give quicker results as opposed to home remedies, use of creams and other treatments.
In children and kids?
The major causes of dark spots around eyes in kids include allergens i.e. seasonal allergies, food allergens, chronic eye rubbing and too much sun exposure. One of the reasons is attributed to the immune system of many children being generally not very stable to counter adverse effects of foreign substances.
What do I do about it?
In general, this issue in children is prevalent. Anything possible to stop them from premature skin aging is absolutely necessary. Good health is your desire and everyone’s great concern. If you don’t want them during pregnancy have a good proportion of essential vitamins i.e. vitamin A, B and C in the diet. Stay away from the sun, avoid too many fats, alcohol or smoking and do regular exercises to keep blood circulation at best.
References and sources
- http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Black-Circles-Under-Your-Eyes
- http://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/skincare/skincare-face/causes-dark-circles-under-eyes
- http://www.livestrong.com/article/279445-what-food-allergies-cause-under-eye-circles/
- http://www.eyehealthweb.com/dark-circles-under-eyes/
- http://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/skincare/skincare-face/causes-dark-circles-under-eyes#
- http://www.top10homeremedies.com/how-to/how-to-get-rid-of-dark-circles-fast.html
- H http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Dark-Circles-Under-Your-Eyes-Fast
- https://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/eye-skin-care/faq/can-pregnancy-cause-dark-circles-under-eyes.html
- https://www.advdermatology.com/q-switched-laser-treatment-pages-70.php