Q. I have dark circles under my eyes. No matter how much sleep I get they never go away. What do you suggest?




A. I get this question a lot because the problem is a common one. It’s a problem with many possible causes. I just had a client in my facial room this weekend asking me about her dark circles. I gave her the advice I am going to give to you. The leading causes for dark under eye circles are lack of quality sleep, allergies and heredity. You can usually correct the first two but you are stuck with the DNA you inherit. Sleep deprivation is a real problem; often not taken seriously enough but one that is the source of many health complications. You indicated to me that the circles remain no matter how much sleep you get, so this may not be your issue. On the other hand, it’s the quality of sleep you are getting that is as important as the number of hours you spend in bed. Things like alcohol use, some medications or drugs, sleep apnea or even menopausal symptoms can impact the quality of sleep. When sleep quality is poor your skin can become pale and circulation is reduced. This alone will make the dark circles more pronounced and visible. Allergies are a major cause of under eye darkness. If you can have a doctor test you for allergies and remove the allergen, your dark circle problem should go away. Your DNA is another matter entirely. You can’t change that. No matter what the source of your dark circles here are some treatments that work. Before going to bed soften some caffeinated tea bags (not herbal or decaf) in hot water, put them into zip bags and store in the fridge. In the morning put the cold tea bags over your eyes and put a pillow or towel under your neck. Let the top of your head fall down a little with your neck supported and the bags on your eyes. The combination of gravity and tannin (an ingredient in tea) mixed with the cooling bags will rid you of both the dark circles and any puffiness. You’ll need to leave them on about 10 – 15 mins. You can do this trick right before you go out for the evening and your eyes will look fresh and circle free. Another treatment many find successful is Vitamin K and Retinol. These can be found in many under eye creams. Choose creams that have high contents of both the K and Retinol. Other things that help are plenty of water, good fresh fruits and veggies in your diet, limiting your salt intake and not smoking. If in the end you still have some darkness remaining, stop in to a spa and have a professional makeup lesson. You’ll be amazed at what the correct cover up can do.