Having dark circles under eyes is a problem for a lot of people. It’s somewhat a nuisance for some women who would like to opt for a more nude, natural look, but unfortunately cannot do so since the region under their eyes is dark all the time.

Having these dark eye circles makes them look tired and old, even in instances in which they have been well-rested and are energized.

So, they have to use a lot of make-up in the darkened region to hide the circles, making them look fresher and less stressed.  These circles under the eyes don’t just make you look stressed; they also add a good number of years in your look.

I mean, who would like to look five years older just because your eye region looks more hollow and deep? It’s downright depressing when you notice people look at you and automatically assume that you’ve had no sleep or you have a huge problem just because you have these dark circles.

There are a number of reasons dark circles under eyes happen.  A lot of people have these dark regions in their eyes because of the thinning skin on that area of their face.  As you get older, unfortunately the skin and the layer of fat under the eyes lessen their suppleness and thickness.  These cause blood vessels to become more visually prominent.

Moreover, the skin on that area also weakens and becomes thinner with constant sun exposure. Dark circles may also occur because of allergies you may have.  People may rub their eyes unnecessarily because of airborne substances such as dust and pollen.  Hay fever patients may notice this occurrence more during spring months.

Constant eye rubbing can also affect this portion of the eyes.  Lastly, sad to say, genetics also plays a major role in determining whether a person is more likely to get dark circles in the eye area or not.  This trait is something that runs in the blood as they say.  The condition becomes more noticeable visually for families with deep set eyes or those with fair skin.

If you suffer from dark circles under eyes, there are some things that you can do to actually make their appearance less prominent.  As earlier mentioned, allergies can cause skin discoloration under the eyes.  So, you can definitely try to identify what allergens there are and avoid them.

You may ask a dermatologist for help in identifying them.  If you don’t take multivitamins, you may try that as allergies are tied to deficiencies in some vitamins such as folic acid and B12.  Taking vitamin supplements may reduce your deficiency in these vitamins and in turn may contribute to lessening those dark circles.

As for remedies when you sleep, you can try very basic solutions such as facial masques that you may use overnight.  You can also just use a washcloth, dip it in freezing water, remove excess water, and place it over your eyes while you sleep.

You do not need to bother with those creams and ointments that may work, yet cost a fortune, when compared to some remedies that you yourself could actually do with the things that are already present in your house.

You’ve probably heard it all before – from your friend, lover, mother-in-law or even your next-door neighbor. Staying up late at night and stress can cause dark circles under the eyes. However, the truth may surprise you.

While fatigue and burning the midnight candle can contribute to the condition, dark circles under the eyes are often the result of nasal congestion, according to Mayo Clinic dermatologist Dr. Lawrence Gibson.

“You may be surprised to learn that fatigue usually isn’t the cause of dark circles. Instead, the most common cause is nasal congestion. When your nose is congested, veins that usually drain from your eyes into your nose become widened (dilated) and darker,” Gibson explained.

Eyelid swelling during sleep is another common cause. When you lie down, fluid collects in your lower eyelids because of gravity. As the eyelids swell, this may create the appearance of shadows or dark circles below your eyes.

Other possible causes are chronic skin conditions such as atopic eczema (also called atopic dermatitis), a disease characterized by red, flaky, and itchy skin, and fluid retention due to excessive salt intake, too much smoking, and heart, kidney or liver disease. The condition may also be a sign of dehydration or iron deficiency anemia.

But don’t panic! In most cases, the condition is temporary and not a serious medical problem. It tends to run in families so if one of your parents have it, chances are so will you. As blood passes through tiny capillaries close to the surface of the eyes, it becomes more noticeable in fair skinned people, contributing to dark circles. The problem becomes worse with aging since the skin under the eyes becomes thinner, making the blood vessels or dark circles more visible. If you love the outdoors and spend a lot of time under the sun, you may also develop dark circles below the eyes because the harmful rays of the sun can weaken the skin.

To get rid of those dark circles, here are some tips from Dr. Mark Van Wormer, a board certified diplomat of the American Board of Anti – Aging Medicine:

“Place cotton pads soaked in eye soothing fluid in the refrigerator. On the morning you wake up with puffy eyes or in the evening when you must go out after a long hard day’s work but those dark circles are jumping out at you in the mirror, do the following:

• Start by removing all eye makeup.

• Lie down with feet up.

• Place the cool soaked pads over eyes.

• Rest 10 minutes while listening to soft, soothing music.

“Ten minutes later, your puffiness will be gone and you will look rested,” he said.

Some people swear by Eyevive, an eye cream for men and women that strengthens tiny vessels around the eyes to reduce the formation of dark circles, fine lines, wrinkles, and puffiness. This breakthrough formula contains special ingredients enhanced with green tea extract, aloe and Pro-Vitamin B5 to give you a fresher and more vibrant look. For more information, visit http://www.eyevive.com.