It is quite evident that every individual is dealing with some form of stress—be it work-related, financial, or the constant fear of missing out on life. Stress can lead to various health issues, but one of the earliest indicators is often the eyes.

If you’ve spent excessive time staring at screens, your eyes may become puffy, teary, or itchy. When you’re under emotional or mental stress, the area around your eyes can start to feel sore or achy because the eyes reflect it all.

One of the most common concerns faced by both women and men is the appearance of dark circles. These are not just cosmetic issues; they are your body’s way of sending a signal an alarm that says, “Whatever you’re doing, please slow down.”

Let’s dive into some of the causes of dark circles.

Causes of Dark Circles

Our eyes are the most sensitive yet important part of our body. They need care and attention, so as the area around it. Dark circles are common in male and females. 

1. Inadequate Sleep

Sleep deprivation is a state in which a person is not able to sleep for an adequate period of time. Sleeping after the normal bedtime which is 9 pm to 10 pm. Sleep deprivation causes fluid filled vessels under your face which causes eye puffiness. Overuse of anything causes fatigue. The tissue tends to fatigue with overuse, in this scenario by overuse we mean not letting the eye muscles rest and using them continuously causing dark patches under the lower eye lid. 

2. Eye Strain

Long hours spent on mobile phones and computer screens contributes a lot in formation of dark circles. Mobiles phones emit low levels of UV radiation. However, these levels are significantly lower than that of the sun. Mobiles also emit “Blue light”. Blue light can easily damage your eyes causing prominent blood vessels, itching, throbbing pain or pulsating pain on the sides of your head. 

3. Age

Everyone is beautiful in their own way, but sadly natural aging is another common cause of those dark circles beneath your eyes. As you get older, your skin becomes thinner. The person may also lose the fat and collagen which is needed to maintain the elasticity. As this occurs, the dark blood vessels beneath your skin become more visible causing the area below your eyes to darken.

4. Genetic

It can be passed to you by generations.
It could be because of hormonal diseases as well. 
Passed by family, it can be inherited since childhood and may go after some time but do not wait for too long. 
Consult a doctor, dark circles may indicate some nutritional deficiencies as well. 

5. Sun Exposure

UV radiations cause our lower eye lids to get drained of all the essential fluids. 
Overexposure to the sun can also make the lower eye lids wrinkling and sagging. It may also cause skin cancer, as UVA & UVB both kinds are harmful. 

6. Dehydration

Water is the most important makeup of all time. 
Such a simple chemical formula H₂O saves a human system in a million ways. 
When your body isn’t receiving plenty amount of water your body goes through dehydration and your blood vessels shrink, causing decrease in fluid of the blood vessels.

Treatment of Dark Circles

1. Eat Healthy

•Collagen boosting food:  green leafy vegetables, meat, oysters
•Vitamin A: carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash, cantaloupe, apricots, 
spinach, kale, and collard greens
•Vitamin D: milk, dairy products, cheese, egg yolk, beef liver
•Vitamin E: nuts, soybean, avocado, kiwi fruit. 
•Vitamin K: Prunes, kiwi, avocado, blackberries, blueberries, pomegranates, figs, tomatoes.

2. Stay Hydrated

Drink plenty of water 8 liters of water.
Drinking water can do wonders for your dark circles. 

3. Limit Your Screen Hours

Take breaks & keep phone away from your eyes for about 40-76 cm.
Set up timers, set up daily reminders on Instagram or YouTube (it provides a limited time period after which it informs you to stop using the app) 

4. Home Remedies

Paste of turmeric and honey.  It soothes the area under the eye and lightens the darken tissue. 

• Use eye creams daily, add it to your daily routine. 
• Use Ayurveda creams which are extracted naturally. 
• Apply green tea bags, boil water and put Green tea bags in it. You may extract the tea and drink and freeze the tea bags. Now whenever you feel discomfort in your eyes wash them with running cold water and put those bags on the eyelids as shown in the picture. 
• Green tea bags have antioxidants which helps to eliminate all the fatigue and dullness around the eye and helps to reduce under eye patches. 
• Cold Spoon and icing, this is as simple as it looks, you just need to put two wide spoons inside the freezer for a while for 15-20 minutes this will reduce strained eyes and will relax the muscles of the eyes. 
• It will help in circulation of blood, which will automatically reduce production of dark circles.