Dark Circles

4 Tips to Reduce Dark Circles Depending on What’s Causing Them

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Learn what the color of your dark circles means and how to treat them accordingly.

4 Tips to Reduce Dark Circles Depending on What’s Causing Them

Are you bothered by dark circles under your eyes? Depending on what caused them, there are different ways to treat them. The color of your dark circles can also give you insight into where in your body the problem arises. TCM practitioner Yu Yawen from Royal Jade Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic in Taiwan introduces four practical ways to reduce those annoying dark circles.

Which Type of ‘Panda Eyes’ Do You Have?

Dark circles, or “panda eyes,” can be divided into three distinct categories according to how they are formed: vascular, hyperpigmented, and structural.

1. Vascular (Allergies)

Oversleeping, staying up late, or overusing your eyes will result in poor blood circulation. Consequently, as the veins and blood vessels around the eyes expand, the tissue swells with fluid (edema), or capillaries may bleed. Moreover, as the skin around the eyes is thinner, when red blood cells accumulate in the dermis, they will appear purplish black through the refraction of light.

Ms. Yu said that allergies are the most common cause of vascular dark circles because patients with allergies do not absorb enough oxygen, which may cause poor circulation around the eyes, resulting in dark circles.

2. Hyperpigmented

Bad habits, such as forgetting to remove makeup or pulling the skin too hard while removing makeup, can cause hyperpigmentation. Dark circles can even come from too much sun exposure or repeated inflammation around the eyes.

3. Structural (Aging)

The hollows of the eyes deepen with age and fatigue, relaxing the skin around the eyes. This makes it thin and lose elasticity, causing dark circles.

What Does the Color Mean?

Ms. Yu said that in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), she most often encounters vascular and pigmented dark circles. The color or quality of the dark circles can be used to determine which organ in the body has a problem. The following qualities indicate different issues:

  • Very dark or black: This indicates kidney deficiency. The kidney controls black and dark colors. If the color is particularly dark or the whole face is particularly gray, this is usually found in people with a cold constitution.
  • Waxy: These are spleen-deficient types. With higher humidity in Taiwan, the spleen and stomach are most affected. Coupled with edema under the eyes, these purplish bags will make a person look older.
  • Black and blue or bruisy: These types indicate liver deficiency. Black and blue are more liver-like colors. They mainly occur in people with liver qi stagnation due to staying up late, being anxious, and having unstable menstrual cycles. According to TCM, qi is a highly energetic and constantly moving substance in the human body. This basic substance constitutes the body and maintains all physiological activities. Some types of qi are kidney, spleen, liver, and stomach. When qi is lacking, the organ will be considered deficient.

In TCM, the liver is regarded as the organ responsible for dispersion. Its main functions are regulating qi and storing and regulating blood. It is not analogous to the “liver” in Western medicine. “Liver qi stagnation” refers to problems caused by dysfunction of the liver’s regulation of qi, resulting in poor qi movement. In TCM, the liver is closely related to emotions and stress.

4 Tricks to Reduce Dark Circles

The key to eliminating dark circles is avoiding staying up late, avoiding allergy triggers, and avoiding rubbing the skin around the eyes too heavily. Ms. Yu also provided the following methods to help reduce the appearance of dark circles:

1. Hot/Cold Treatments

Ms. Yu believes the most effective way to treat dark circles is to enhance blood circulation around the eyes by alternating hot and cold dressings or using steam eye masks.

Type of dark circles: Vascular

  • Step 1: Prepare a warm, wet towel at 38 to 40 C (100 to 104 F).
  • Step 2: Put another wet towel into a plastic bag and place it in the fridge.
  • Step 3: Apply the heated towel for one minute, then apply the icy towel for another minute.
  • Step 4: Alternate the hot and cold cycle for about 10 minutes.

Note: Cover your eyes with gauze or a cotton handkerchief if you have sensitive skin before performing the cycles.

2. Acupoint Massage Around the Eyes

Type of dark circles: Structural

This massage targets the Jingming (BL-1) acupoint in the corner of the eyes, the Chengqi (ST-1) under the pupil, the Tongziliao (GB-1) extending from the outer corner of the eye, and the Yuyao point (EX- HN4), which is an extra meridian acupoint. Press each of them for six seconds and repeat 20 to 30 times.

（The Epoch Times）
（The Epoch Times）

3. Acupoint Massage Around the Nose

Type of dark circles: Vascular

The Yingxiang (LI-20) is at the intersection of the horizontal line outside the nose wing and the nasolabial fold. Move upward from the Yingxiang along the outer edge of the nose wing until reaching the intersection with the nasal cartilage at the Bitong (also known as Shangyingxiang, (EX-HN8, part of the extra meridian acupoint). Press each point for six seconds and repeat 20 to 30 times.

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（The Epoch Times）
（The Epoch Times）

4. Scalp Massage

Type of dark circles: Structural

One Bright Side program mentioned that people with aging dark circles can restore lost elasticity by massaging the scalp to increase blood circulation.

Ms. Yu said taking care of the rest of your body daily is also essential. Eat less salty food one hour before bed to reduce edema, and ensure your home is well-ventilated. The body will have better blood circulation when there is sufficient oxygen. In addition, eat more foods rich in vitamin C, such as bell peppers, cauliflower, and guava, and collagen-rich foods, such as pig’s feet and food with skin and tendons, and consume fewer cold drinks (considered to reduce the chance of blood clotting in TCM).

4 Simple and Effective Tips to Improve Dark Circles Around the Eyes

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Four types of dark circles under the eyes can be improved by acupuncture massage at the four acupuncture points of the eyes. (Shutterstock)

Four types of dark circles under the eyes can be improved by acupuncture massage at the four acupuncture points of the eyes.

Staying up late is often the cause of dark circles under the eyes. However, sometimes the appearance of dark circles is a reflection of one’s physical condition.

Dr. Liao Wanrong, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner from Yurong Chinese Medicine Clinic in Taiwan, said there are four types of dark circles under the eyes: stasis and swelling type, nasal disease type, chronic allergic type, and aging eye bag type.

The dark circles of the stasis and swelling type are related to daily life and stress. Nasal ailments, such as allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis, cause the nasal disease type. Chronic allergic type mainly occurs in patients with “blood stasis physique” (caused by circulation disorders), chronic conjunctivitis, allergies, and so on. Aging eye bag type is formed by fat sagging due to aging.

Liao emphasized that dark circles can reflect other diseases in the body, such as liver cirrhosis, kidney failure, and aplastic anemia.

TCM Treatment of Dark Circles

For the four types of dark circles, Liao proposed various treatments.

  1. Stasis and swelling type: take TCM herbal medicines for soothing the liver and regulating qi (vital energy).
  2. Nasal disease type: first, deal with the underlying nasal conditions.
  3. Chronic allergic type: use a cold compress to relieve itching and then use TCM medicine to promote blood circulation.
  4. Aging eye bag type: take herbal supplements such as astragalus and codonopsis; apply alternating hot and cold compresses and acupuncture massage, which can help reduce eye bags.

In TCM, qi (vital energy), blood, essence, and body fluids originate from the internal organs and constantly flow inside the body—they are vital for health and well-being.

Apply hot and cold compresses alternately

Applying hot and cold compresses alternately is the easiest way to address all four types of dark circles, especially those related to stasis and swelling. Using compresses in this way not only improves blood and lymph circulation around the eyes but also eliminates edema and dark circles.

  • Prepare a warm towel, about 100.4-104 degrees Fahrenheit (38-40 degrees Celsius).
  • Put a wet towel in a plastic bag and place it in the freezer to create an “ice towel.”
  • Apply the warm towel for one minute, then the ice towel for one minute (or 30 seconds if it feels too cold).
  • Alternate between the hot and cold compresses about every 10 minutes.

The skin around the eyes is sensitive. Preparing gauze or a cotton handkerchief for children to cover their eyes before applying compresses is recommended.

Acupuncture massage around the eyes

TCM practitioners believe the human body has more than 2,000 acupuncture points connected by pathways or meridians. These pathways create an energy flow (qi) through the body that is responsible for overall health. Disruption of the energy flow can cause disease. Applying acupuncture to specific points is thought to improve the flow of qi, thereby improving health.

Massaging acupuncture points around the eyes can improve the four types of dark circles, particularly for aging eye bags.

  • Jingming point: located in the depression in the inner corner of the eye.
  • Chengqi point: located directly below the pupil (with the eyes looking straight ahead) at the lower orbit.
  • Tongziliao point: extending from the outer corner of the eye to the far edge of the outermost orbital bone.
  • Yuyao point: the ancients thought that the eyebrows were like fish; the Yuyao—which means fish waist—is in the middle of the eyebrows.

The four acupuncture points are pressed alternately with the left and right fingers. Press each point for six seconds, and repeat the cycle 20-30 times.

Epoch Times Photo
Jingming point: located in the depression in the inner corner of the eye. Chengqi point: situated directly below the pupil at the lower orbit.

Massage the acupuncture points around the nose

If you have dark circles caused by nasal problems, you should press the acupuncture points at each side of the nose, the Yingxiang and Bitong points.

  • Yingxiang points: located at the lower outer sides of the nose.
  • Bitong point:s located slightly above Yingxiang points.

Press each point for six seconds, and repeat the cycle 20-30 times to improve nasal problems.

According to TCM, forces in our environment cause many diseases. These forces are called the six external pathogenic influences: wind, cold, heat, dryness, dampness, and summer heat.

Liao said that the formation of dark circles is related to blood circulation, and “cold” can easily cause blood coagulation. Iced drinks affect blood circulation around the eyes and should generally be avoided.

Two groups of food can help

Liao suggested eating food rich in vitamin C and collagen to improve dark circles.

1. Vitamin C reduces the precipitation of melanin

Vitamin C improves vascular permeability and helps to reduce pigmentation around the eyes. Liao said, “Sweet peppers, cauliflower, and fruits such as guava are recommended. In TCM’s concept, they are rich in vitamin C and [are] non-cold foods.”

2. Collagen fights sagging eye bags

The aging eye bag type is related to the loss of collagen. People can eat more collagen-rich foods such as duck wings or the feet, skin, and tendons of pork.

Those who are worried about high cholesterol content and the possibility of cardiovascular disease can choose fish skin, sea cucumber, or food with high-quality protein, such as fish, meat, eggs, milk, and beans, combined with vitamin C, which can help collagen hyperplasia.

Use caution applying tea bags

Green tea and black tea contain tannins, which can reduce swelling and are good astringents, but tea bags also have other ingredients that can irritate the thin and tender skin around the eyes. Liao reminded people when using hot and cold tea bags alternately:

  • Cover eyes with gauze first, then apply the tea bag.
  • The temperature of the tea bag for the hot compress should be 100.4-104 degrees Fahrenheit (38-40 degrees Celsius); it should not be too hot.
  • Store the iced tea bags in the refrigerator overnight (storing them for extended periods can cause mold).

Dark circles are not only an external problem but also reflect the condition of the internal organs. Liao emphasized that improving dark circles is based on internal conditioning, not applying eye creams or concealer.

“Enough sleep, a regular lifestyle, and proper exercise, which can relieve stress, really can help you to achieve big bright eyes,” she said.

What’s Behind Dark Circles Under Eyes?

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At one time or another, most people are plagued with dark circles under their eyes. Whether you are overly tired, aging or suffering from allergies, you may be faced with dark circles in your mirror.

Dark Eye Circles

Story at-a-glance

  • Dark circles under your eyes may appear because of thin skin or because of hyperpigmentation around your eyes
  • In some cases, dark circles are accompanied by sagging skin, also known as bags, under your eyes
  • Both dark circles and sagging skin are related to environment factors and genetics, and both may be affected by the choices you make each day

However, while they are not dangerous to your health, the condition does have a psychological effect on how you see yourself and what others think when they meet you. Despite warnings not to make first impressions from the way others look, the reality is that virtually everyone does it.1

There are changes you can make that will reduce the appearance of dark circles under your eyes. Some are easy and others are a bit more challenging. However, the result will be that you’ll no longer look as tired and worn-out when you first get up in the morning.

Thin Skin and the Color of Your Blood

The reasons for dark circles are varied, but they all start with the difference in thickness of the skin around your eyes. This is called the periorbital area. In most areas of your body, the skin is between 2 and 3 millimeters (mm) thick. However, under the eyes the skin is normally 0.5 mm in thickness.

Thinner skin means the blood vessels under your skin are more visible to the naked eye and produce a different color to your skin. Here’s where what you see on the surface is a reflection of what’s directly below.

Your skin and the tissue directly below the outside layer of skin, called the subcutaneous tissue, only allow blue or violet wavelengths to pass through. This results in your veins appearing blue, because only the blue light is reflected back.2

This reflected color is different if you have darker or whiter (albino) skin. In the former case, the veins will appear green or brown and in the latter, dark purple or dark red.

This is just one of the reasons dark circles appear below your eyes. You are more likely to see the bluish hint of blood vessels below your eyes, compared to thicker skinned areas of your body. As you age, your skin also loses collagen and elasticity, making the skin thinner and your circles more prominent.

Not All Circles Are Created Equally

Not all circles are due to the visibility of your blood vessels beneath thin skin, though. While this is a common reason, and a higher probability if you are genetically more prone to thin skin under the eyes, it isn’t the only reason.

The second type of circle is caused from hyperpigmentation of the skin under the eyes and is more commonly brown in color.3 This hyperpigmentation, or higher amount of pigmentation in the skin, is the result of more melanin being produced in the skin under the eyes.

This particular condition is more noticeable in people whose skin is normally darker or has more pigmentation. In a study by the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Medical College in India, researchers found dark circles under the eyes was the most common condition found in a routine dermatology practice.4

This type of dark circles caused by hyperpigmentation can have either a primary or secondary cause. In a primary cause the increased pigmentation is found under both eyes and occurs spontaneously. In a secondary cause, the increased pigmentation is caused by a systemic or localized process.5

Some of the causes believed to contribute to hyperpigmentation around the periorbital area are temporary and resolve after the irritant has been removed. Possible temporary and permanent triggers for periorbital hyperpigmentation include:6

Sun exposure Genetic pigmentation Dermal melanocytosis
Allergic dermatitis Contact dermatitis Edema (swelling)
Drugs Aging Hormones

Dark circles under your eyes may also be triggered from the oxidation of blood leaking from the blood vessels around the eyes. The release of blood and oxidation leads to not only dark circles, but also swelling and bags under your eyes.7

This occurs when the body attempts to clear blood leakage from a thin-skinned area easily affected by gravity.

This condition is relatively harmless to your health, but can be a challenge to deal with. There are surgical and medical treatments available to stop the blood leaking, but it is best to start with lifestyle changes and nutrition to treat the condition and avoid other more invasive options.

Bags With Your Circles?

Another condition that can make your dark circles appear even darker and more noticeable is swelling under the eyes, commonly called bags. When you are young, this swelling may be caused by allergic reactions, illness or an excessive buildup of fluid in your body.8

As you age there are yet other reasons for developing puffiness and swelling under your eyes. The effect of gravity on tissue that is slowly losing collagen and elasticity can result in tissue sagging. This includes the fat under your eye tissue.9

Fat deposits around your eyes help protect them. As you age, fat may escape from the membrane normally containing it, resulting in the fat falling beneath the eye, causing bagging.

However, in recent research published in Clinical Neurophysiology, scientists discovered the possibility of another reason for the fat deposits beneath your eyes.

Plastic surgeons from California found that in study participants, it wasn’t the fat that escaped the membranes with age, but rather the body produced more fat in the eye area, creating the bags.10

The exact mechanism of the fat deposits beneath the eye may not be completely understood, but doctors recognize the increased risk of bags under your eyes as you age.

Although you might be tempted to point the finger at a lack of sleep and rest to the increasing size of the bags under your eyes, there is no scientific proof linking this cause and effect. However, lack of sleep does increase the severity of the puffiness under your eyes, especially first thing in the morning.

How to Lighten Your Dark Circles

Although they are usually relatively harmless, you may want to reduce the effect as much as possible. There are several choices you can make daily to help reduce both bagginess and discoloration under your eyes. Each of these options will work, but may not work for everyone, depending on your condition.

Before considering surgical choices, use these strategies to reduce the effects. If you choose surgery, be aware that inappropriate daily choices may cause your hyperpigmentation or puffiness around the eyes to quickly return.

Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes

The skin under your eyes is thin, losing elasticity and collagen as you age and may be prone to blood leakage. All of these factors contribute to under eye circles and are worsened when you rub the skin. Do your best to stop rubbing your eyes.
Manage Your Allergies

Allergies can cause itchy, watery eyes. This may contribute to rubbing a sensitive area and can increase the puffiness around the eyes.
Switch the Way You Sleep

Are you a stomach sleeper? Gravity causes fluid to collect under your eyes and consistent pressure on your facial skin can lead to deepening wrinkles. Try sleeping on your back. Avoid sleeping on more than one pillow since it significantly alters your neck and back alignment.11,12
Remove Your Makeup — Gently

Leaving makeup on during the night can increase irritation to your sensitive eye tissue.13 But rubbing your eyes each night to remove your eye makeup can cause capillary damage and inflammation to the eye area, making your dark circles even worse.14

Instead, use a gentle eye makeup remover you can swipe on your eyes and leave for a minute and then wash off. A good moisturizer or virgin coconut oil are also good options.
Reduce Your Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol is dehydrating, pulling the water out of your skin. This increases the risk of further damage to the area if you accidently start rubbing your eyes.15 If you drink alcohol, drink approximately 56 to 64 ounces of water before you go to bed. It might seem like a lot of fluid, but it will help to rehydrate your skin.
Wear Eye Protection

Wear quality sunglasses when you’re outside. They help protect both your eyes and the delicate skin around the eyes from the sun. Look for UV 400 or 99 to 100 percent UV absorption.

Choose larger lenses that wrap around and protect the skin on the side of your eyes. The color of the lens does not indicate the strength of the UV protection.
Reduce or Quit Smoking

Smoking speeds the loss of collagen from your skin, increasing the bags around your eyes. Smoking is a strong addiction. You may find the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) can help reduce the cravings and increase your success rate. The process is easy to learn and use at home.
Reduce Indoor Air Pollution

Air pollution is a significant eye irritant and common both outdoors and indoors.16,17 Because most people who work and live in the U.S. spend approximately 98 percent of their time indoors, it’s important to reduce your indoor air pollution.18
Use a Soothing Eye Treatment

The area around your eye responds well to soothing treatments to help reduce puffiness. Experiment with different options to find the one you enjoy and works for your eyes.19,20 Several suggestions are listed below.
Honey

Honey has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory benefits. Look for raw, locally sourced honey. Simply dab a small amount under your eyes just before bed and allow it to soak in overnight.

 Cucumber Slices

Long used in spas and for eye treatments, these little slices of heaven help reduce puffiness because they have skin-lightening properties and anti-inflammatory effects.

Thick slices of cold cucumber over your eyes for 10 minutes at the end of a long day are rejuvenating.
Almond Oil

Dab some under your eyes before bed and allow it to work overnight. Wash off in the morning with a quick splash of water.

 Buttermilk and Turmeric

Sprinkle some turmeric in a bit of buttermilk and soak two large cotton balls in it. Squeeze out the fluid and place over your eyes for 15 minutes five times per week. Buttermilk constricts the blood vessels and turmeric is an anti-inflammatory.
Avocado

Rich in fat and emollients, avocados are wonderful to eat, but also make a great eye mask.

Place a slice of ripe avocado under each eye, or make a mask with a teaspoon of avocado and a couple drops of almond oil. Leave on for 15 minutes.

 Mint Leaves

Mint is cool, tingling and just feels great. It’s a great pick-me-up at the end of a long day. Crush raw leaves and apply over the dark circles for 5 to 10 minutes. Wash off.
Black Tea Bags

Once you’ve brewed your tea, put the bags in the refrigerator and recycle them later in the day. Once cooled, they help reduce end-of-day puffiness around the eyes.

Apply one on each eye for 10 minutes and then discard the bags.

 Potatoes or Tomatoes

If your dark circles are from too much pigment, then you’ll want to try lightening the skin with either the juice of a potato (grate to extract the juice) or a tomato (fresh).

Soak a cotton ball in the juice, squeeze out and rest them over your dark circles for 10 minutes; rinse your face.