Dark circles under the eyes can indicate health problems. Dermatologists advise checking for deficiencies in vitamins D, K, and E, and recommend lifestyle changes.
What Deficiency Causes Dark Eye Circles on Skin? Vitamin deficiencies that are associated with dark circles include vitamins E, D, K vitamin, A, and B12. In addition to that, iron deficiency is also a root cause of dark circles.
Dr. David adds that hyperpigmentation—which can be a result of an inflammatory condition like eczema, seasonal allergies, or even a reaction to certain skincare products—can also cause dark circles. If your dark circles are caused by hyperpigmentation, then vitamin C can do the trick.
Dehydration. The skin under your eyes can start to look dull when you don't drink enough water. Lifestyle factors. Other factors such as stress, excessive alcohol use and smoking can cause dark circles under your eyes.
Signs of liver disease:
About 20% of people with liver disease have noticeable dark circles around their eyes and other exposed areas of their body. If you notice these symptoms, it's important to see a doctor for proper treatment. Additionally, changing your diet and daily habits can help.
Vitamin B12
It may contribute to a healthier complexion and lessen the appearance of dark circles.
Vitamin A — Crucial for good vision, vitamin A helps protect the cornea and is essential for low-light vision. Vitamin C — An antioxidant that is believed to protect eyes from oxidative stress. Vitamin E — Protects the eyes from free radicals and is vital for healthy skin and immune function.
One overlooked tip for managing dark circles is to incorporate more magnesium-rich foods into your diet.
Certain foods are more likely to cause puffiness and dark circles than others. These include: Refined carbs: Refined carbs are found in foods like white bread, pasta, pastries, and desserts. They are high in sugar and low in fiber, which can cause inflammation and fluid retention.
Laser therapy or chemical peels can be helpful to some people. Injectable fillers can smooth the hollows that cause shadows. Other options are platelet-rich plasma injections and surgery to reduce puffy lids.
Vitamin E, known for its antioxidant properties, works to reduce puffiness and rejuvenate the delicate skin under your eyes, leaving you with a refreshed and youthful appearance.
While, unfortunately, Vaseline won't do much to help erase deep-set wrinkles or brighten dark circles, Sarkar says the product can provide some of the same hydrating effects as your go-to eye cream — especially when it's paired with a moisturizing cream. "Vaseline is something that's called an occlusive," she says.
Vitamin A is absolutely essential for vision, Johnson says. A deficiency can cause night blindness, particularly among older individuals, and if it progresses, permanent blindness can result.
Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons and grapefruit are high in vitamin C. Vitamin C helps the body form and maintain connective tissue, including collagen found in the cornea of the eye. Vitamin C also supports the health of blood vessels in the eye.
The deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause specific skin manifestations, such as hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair and nail changes [1].
In fact, studies show that your dark circles are most likely caused by an iron deficiency. How blood iron affects the undereye skin. The skin around your eyes is ten times thinner than the skin on the rest of your body. This means it is more susceptible to damage, irritation, and any sort of pigmentation as well.
Dark circles under the eyes happen when the skin beneath both eyes becomes darker than usual. Dark circles under the eyes are usually more noticeable when you're tired. Other lifestyle factors that may contribute to dark circles under the eyes are smoking, drinking too much alcohol and stress.
It may seem complicated but it's actually quite simple. “For lighter skin tones, a warm peach will cancel out the blueish purple in under-eye darkness, and a true orange/red will work best for darker complexions,” says celebrity makeup artist Nick Lennon who counts Charli XCX as a client.
Caffeine naturally tightens the blood vessel wall muscles. This can lighten under-eye circles. When blood vessels clamp down, less blood passes through them. The combination of tightened blood vessels and less blood flow translates to lighter under-eye circles.