Let Your Eyes Shine

“It is often that we see young and old alike who just want one magic cream—to make their dark circles and the puffiness under their eyes disappear.”

Here’s some good news. There are fixes for under eye pigmentation and bags. The first step is figuring out where the problem lies.

Colds, sinus infections and seasonal allergies: The nose and the eyes share a common drainage system and any process that clogs up your nose, will make your dark circles appear more prominent.

Anemia and thyroid disease: Low functioning Thryroid or low iron in the blood can cause darkening of the skin around the eyes

Constant eye strain: Professionals who have constant eye strain with working on computers, or doing close work, may notice dark circles as well

Other every day habits like rubbing your eyes frequently, going to bed with make up on, excessive intake of alcohol or salty foods can contribute to the formation of bags under the eyes. Eating salty foods or taking too much alcohol cause dehydration, causing the delicate skin under the eyes to wrinkle or sag. Makeup if left on overnight, can cause irritation of the skin and the appearance of fine lines and dark circles.

Sleepless nights and night shifts can add to the problem, making your eyes look tired.

Can the doctor help?

If you are prone for recurrent colds or allergies, then you should see your ENT doctor. He will prescribe anti-allergic drugs and decongestants, which will make the dark circles better for sure.

If you constantly rubbing your eyes, you may be suffering from eye-strain. Your ophthalmologist can tell you if you need glasses or prescribe you some drops if you are suffering from any allergies

What can you do?

Look into your lifestyle. Cut down on salty foods and alcohol. Make sure you take regular breaks when you are doing close work or if you are staring into that computer monitor. Make sure the lighting setting on your monitor is neither too bright nor too low.

Take off your eye make up at night. Make sure you are using a makeup remover specifically designed for the delicate under eye area. Strong make up removers can dry up the skin and make you prone for wrinkles.

Get a good nights’ sleep. Making sure your body is rested is important not only for your eyes, but also for your mind and body.

Eat well, eat healthy. Fresh fruits and salads contain antioxidants which are great for skin.

Do eye creams work?

Yes, some of them do. But make sure you are choosing a cream with products like caffeine (reduces swelling), VitK1 , retinol and hyaluronic acid, as these give the best results.

Use a gel instead of a rich cream over the eyelids, as creams can increase the puffiness around the eyes.

Use your ring finger to apply your cream in gentle circular motions. Do not stretch the skin unduly as the skin under the eyes is very delicate.

Make sure you use your sunscreens around the eyes, and wear UV protective sun glasses when you go out.

Creams are medicines, not magic. If your creams are not working inspite of paying attention to your lifestyle, it may be time to meet your dermatologist to get an expert opinion.

Get Your Quick Fix

Need to look great for a party: Try grating raw potatoes and cucumbers. Mix it and leave on your eyes for twenty minutes. Wash off with lots of cold water. You can see your skin looking better immediately.

Don’t throw that used green tea bag away. Store it in the fridge. You can use the bag over the eyes for ten minutes as a great pick me up for the eyes. Green tea contains antioxidants and can reduce puffiness around the eyes significantly.

Rub your palms together and cup them over the eyes gently. The increased warmth will soothe the area around the eyes reducing strain. Do this especially when your eyes are experiencing strain with close work.