What to Eat to Get Rid of Dark Circles
Dark circles beneath your eyes can make you look fatigued and older than you are 2. Eye creams promise to heal the shaded areas but are not usually enough to remove the stubborn rings. Changes to your diet may improve the condition of the skin under your baby blues -- or greens or browns.
Get More Iron
Many people, especially women, suffer from anemia. This condition is caused by a lack of iron in the diet. Insufficient levels of this nutrient cause the skin to look pale. When this lightened skin presses against the dark inner recesses of the eye, it looks dark. Women suffer from anemia more commonly than men because of the loss of iron-rich blood during the monthly menstrual cycle. The richest sources of iron are red meats and dark green, leafy vegetables. Incorporate kale, spinach or chard into your diet, as well as lean red meats. For vegetarians, add egg yolks, beans, chickpeas and lentils to meals.
- Many people, especially women, suffer from anemia.
- Incorporate kale, spinach or chard into your diet, as well as lean red meats.
Stay Hydrated
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Not drinking enough water is unhealthy for the entire body. One effect of dehydration is dark eye circles 3. Because the skin is much thinner under the eyes than elsewhere on the body, it will show the effects of not drinking sufficient fluids almost immediately. Carry a bottle of water with you and sip it often. By the time you feel thirsty, you are often already dehydrated.
- Not drinking enough water is unhealthy for the entire body.
Avoid Caffeine
Drinking lots of caffeine-containing beverages, such as coffee or energy drinks, can make dark circles worse. Caffeine can cause the dehydration that creates or worsens shaded rings. Limit or cut it from your diet to improve the look of the delicate skin beneath your eyes.
Cut the Salt
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Eating a diet too rich in salt causes the body to retain water. Water retention causes the body and, more specifically, the skin beneath the eyes to puff up and make dark circles more noticeable.
Healthy Lifestyle
To help limit the appearance of dark circles, eat a varied, healthful diet that is rich in protein and vegetables. Drink enough fluids and get enough sleep. Limit your intake of cigarettes and alcohol. If you suspect allergies are contributing to your under-eye discoloration, speak to your physician about allergy testing.
- To help limit the appearance of dark circles, eat a varied, healthful diet that is rich in protein and vegetables.
- If you suspect allergies are contributing to your under-eye discoloration, speak to your physician about allergy testing.
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References
- Daily Mail: Why Do I Have Dark Circles Under My Eyes?
- Allure: 7 Ways to Get Rid of Dark Circles Under Your Eyes
- Health Doctor: Dark Circles Under Eye
- Sarkar R, Ranjan R, Garg S, Garg VK, Sonthalia S, Bansal S. Periorbital hyperpigmentation: A comprehensive review. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2016;9(1):49–55.
- Ahmadraji, Fatemeh & Shatalebi, Mohammad. (2015). Evaluation of the clinical efficacy and safety of an eye counter pad containing caffeine and vitamin K in emulsified Emu oil base. Advanced biomedical research. 4. doi: 10.10.4103/2277-9175.148292.
- Sarkar R, Ranjan R, Garg S, Garg VK, Sonthalia S, Bansal S. Periorbital hyperpigmentation: A comprehensive review. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2016;9(1):49–55.
- Vrcek I, Ozgur O, Nakra T. Infraorbital dark circles: A review of the pathogenesis, evaluation and treatment. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2016;9(2):65–72. doi:10.4103/0974-2077.184046
- American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. What are allergic shiners?
- Mukherjee, Pulok & Nema, Neelesh & Maity, Niladri & Sarkar, Birendra. (2012). Phytochemical and therapeutic potential of cucumber. Fitoterapia. 84. 10.1016/j.fitote.2012.10.003
- Marini A, Grether-beck S, Jaenicke T, et al. Pycnogenol® effects on skin elasticity and hydration coincide with increased gene expressions of collagen type I and hyaluronic acid synthase in women. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2012;25(2):86-92. doi:10.1159/000335261
- Ahmadraji, Fatemeh & Shatalebi, Mohammad. (2015). Evaluation of the clinical efficacy and safety of an eye counter pad containing caffeine and vitamin K in emulsified Emu oil base. Advanced biomedical research. 4. doi: 10.10.4103/2277-9175.148292.
Writer Bio
Laurel Tuohy was certified as a yoga teacher in 2009 after spending a year honing her craft in India. She has held editorial positions from music critic to lifestyle editor since 2000. She holds a degree in anthropology from Western Connecticut State University and her award-winning articles have appeared in publications around the globe from "The Mirror" to "The Times of India."