Panda eyes

 

Dark circles are dark blemishes around the eyes. In most cases, they are blood vessels that are visible on the skin around the eyelids, being the thinnest skin in the body (around 0.5 mm thick compared with 2 mm in other areas).

As such, any direct contact with your under-eye skin should be gentle. Avoid rubbing your eyes as the irritant is frequently brought on by allergies, an anxious habit or a reflex action. Hard rubbing on this spot can break the tiny capillaries underneath, causing both puffiness and discoloration.

CAUSES

Lack of sleep, poor nutrition, dehydration, excessive drinking and smoking and over-exposure to sun are some of the common causes leading to those raccoon-like dark eye circles.

+  Heredity. Like varicose veins, dark circles under the eyes are usually an inherited trait. When blood passes through the large veins close to the surface of the skin, it can produce a bluish tint. The more transparent the skin—also an inherited trait—the darker the circles appear. In people with a deep-set bone structure, shadowing can also contribute to the dark color under the eyes.

+  Allergies, asthma and eczema. Any condition that causes the eyes to itch can contribute to darker circles due to rubbing or scratching the skin around them. In general, allergies are a common cause of skin discoloration under the eyes.

--  Hay fever sufferers usually get under-eye “smudges” during the height of the allergy season. It can be effectively treated with over-the-counter and prescription medications.

--  Some food allergies can also cause the area under the eyes to appear darker. If your dark circles or puffiness are constant, you should suspect an undetected food allergy or a chemical allergy around you. For instance, a common allergy that causes dark circles is gluten intolerance, which is an allergy to wheat flour (eg. found in bread) in particular.

--  If an allergy is the root of your problem, treat the allergy or remove the allergen. For other allergies, the best course of action is usually avoidance. A dermatologist may be able to assist. Sufferers tend to be deficient in B6, folic acid and B12 on occasion. Taking a multivitamin may help to fix up the problem.

+  Medications. Any medications that cause any increased blood flow through the delicate skin can cause blood vessels circling the eyes to darken.

+  Nasal congestion. A blocked nose can result in dark circles under your eyes because the veins that drain from your eyes to your nose are darkened and dilated.

+  Anemia. The lack of nutrients in the diet, or the lack of a balanced diet, can contribute to the discoloration of the area under the eyes. It is believed that a lack of mineral iron can cause dark circles as well. Iron and B12 deficiency are the most common type of anemia and this condition is a sign that not enough oxygen is getting to the body tissues. The skin can also become more pale during pregnancy and menstruation (due to lack of iron), allowing the underlying veins under the eyes to become more visible.

+  Fatigue. A lack of sleep or excessive tiredness can cause paleness of the skin. Reduced circulation gives the skin appearance more visibility and bluer or darker color. Before going to bed at night, develop a habit of removing all eye makeup. Failing which, the accumulative effect is tired eyes due to lack of oxygen.

+  Liver disorder. Dark circles under eyes can be a symptom of liver disease due to lack of oxygen and toxins clogging blood vessels. Examine the cause of liver damage to rid the dark circle.

+  Bad diet. Maintain a healthy and balanced diet, and have adequate fluids to improve circulation. Dark circles and puffiness are possibly due to lack of vitamin K or inadequate antioxidants. As mentioned above, a deficiency in B12 and iron are anemia-related and can result in dark circles. What to do?

• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially cabbage, spinach and other leafy green vegetables. Take a daily vitamin supplement if necessary.
• Reduce salt intake. Excess salt causes the body to retain water in unusual places, and this can result in puffiness under the eyes. Poor blood circulation also causes the blood vessels under the skin to appear bluer.
• In a resting mode, the body is unable to dissipate excess water fluids. Drinking too much water before bedtime can contribute or add to bags under your eyes.

+  Smoking. Smoking cut off oxygen supply and make your blood vessels appear more prominent and bluer.

+  Not relaxed. Your body needs to relax to remove stress and anxiety that are preventing you from sleeping, eating and resting well which in turn help your eye skin to improve when you are more at ease. In fact, skin tone reflects your underlying emotional and physical conditions.

+  Aging. Dark circles become more noticeable and permanent with age for most senior citizens. This is a gradual process whereby the skin loses collagen and fat, and become thinner and more translucent. Circles may begin to appear darker in one eye than the other as a result of some habitual facial expressions, such as an uneven smile.

+  Hyperpigmentation. This is the condiiton when there is more melanin produced around the eyes than is usual, giving them a darker color.

APPLICATIONS

• Apply cool tea bags or an ice cube wrapped in soft cloth to your eyes daily. The tannin in tea bags reduces swelling and discoloration. Refrigenerate overnite, place the cool and damp caffeinated tea bags over your closed eyes for about 10-15 minutes in the morning lying down.
• Make a saline solution. Add 2 cups water with a 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt and/or a half tea-spoon of baking soda in one of your nostrils. Have your head tilted to the side so that the water comes out the other nostril. Apply this method when you are experiencing nasal congestion.
• Use a potato. Place an uncooked potato into a liquidizer and liquidize the whole potato. Scoop out and place the pureed potato on your closed eyes. Keep it there for 30 minutes, lying on your back. Wash it off with warm water.
• Use a frozen spoon. Put a spoon in the freezer for 10-15 minutes. Take it out and cover the circles with it. Hold it there until the spoon is warm again.
  
  
• Use cucumber slices. Cucumber slices are commonly used to reduce puffiness and refresh the appearance of skin around the eyes, providing a quick relief for tired and puffy eyes. Place a slice over each eye, extending over the darkened area. Do this daily for 10-15 minutes on shut eyes whilst lying down.
• Apply an eye cream containing vitamin K and retinol. Dark circles may be caused by a deficiency of vitamin K. Both ingredients reduce puffiness and discoloration significantly in many people. Long-term daily use seems to have the greatest effect.
• Use an under-eye cream. Use a matching-color concealer (eg. yellow or peach) to camouflage the dark under-eye circles, to follow with a light dusting of translucent powder.

VIVA CORNER

To promote healthy eyes, antioxidants are necessary to protect against cellular damage. Vivashield offers 4 potent antioxidants, namely Vitamin A, C, E and selenium in one for synergistic effect.
VIVA Cellpex provides the mean to penetrate the bloodstream fast and supports blood platelet flow around the eye skin tissue and may protect capillaries by neutralising free radicals that contribute to the breakdown of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. For those with liver damage, it supports the liver’s detoxifying function and aids in recovery.

VIVA Omega3 helps to reduce inflammation and improves blood circulation around the eyes.
VIVA Oxypower is rich in antioxidant vitamin A, C, E and co-enzyme10 that can effectively neutralise free radicals, thus reducing the damage caused to the cells around the eyes. Also it enables these cells to use oxygen more efficiently and thus improves blood circulation.