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

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.

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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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).