Most Common Causes Of Puffy Eyes And Dark Circles

A lot of people go to a lot of efforts in hiding their under-eye dark circles and eye bags with a lot of makeup. Despite one's best efforts, however, these skin imperfections are still very much visible. In fact, people with raccoon and puffy eyes often look haggard, stressed or downright older than they really are.

But aside from buying the best concealer, highlighter, foundation and other makeup, you can also look at the problem from a different angle. Maybe you need to understand what are causing these problems so that you can find a better way of dealing with the issue.

Basically, eye bags are formed when the muscles found underneath your upper and lower eyelids become less elastic. When this happens, the fat underneath your skin starts to stick out or protrude. On the other hand, dark circles usually develop when the veins on the surface of the skin appear visible. Here are the most common underlying reasons for your eye woes.

Allergies And Asthma

Whenever you have asthma attack or allergies, there is a tendency for you to rub your eyes. Anything that actually contributes to your urge to rub the sensitive area around the eyes can cause skin discoloration or dark circles. Although rare, those who have eczema may suffer from what is called Dennis Lines or conspicuous red lines under the eyes.

Diet

Many people do not realize that what they eat or do not eat can actually affect not only their health, but their appearance as well. Those who do not get enough vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in their diet may experience raccoon eyes. For people who like salty foods, eye bags may form because of water retention brought about by a high-sodium diet. Also, drinking too much alcohol can surely give you puffy eyes the following day.

Genes

People who were born with darker skin tones are more susceptible to getting dark circles because they produce more melanocytes, cells that are responsible for producing pigments. If you have parents, siblings, and relatives that have dark eye circles, there is a high probability that you will have them too, especially if you do not take precautionary measures to prevent them from developing.

Environmental Factors

Environmental toxins and the rays of the sun are very harmful to your skin, especially to the area near your eyes. Thus, if you are not the type of person who wears shades or uses sun block, then you will be likely to suffer often from raccoon eyes.

Sleep Deprivation And Fatigue

Your skin turns pale when you are very tired or when you do not get enough sleep. When this happens, your skin discoloration, especially under your eyes, becomes more pronounced and visible.

Blood Circulation Problems

One primary cause of discoloration of the skin underneath the eyes is poor blood circulation. As you know, the blood that passes through the blood vessels near your eyes has a bluish tint. If you have circulatory problems, the veins will be more pronounced. The color of your under eye circles can even be darker if the blood and other fluids leak out from the blood vessels.

Age

You must accept the fact that as you age, the skin underneath your pearly orbs will start to thin, which will make blood vessels beneath the skin become visible. If you do not start using eye products now, there will be a big chance that these eye problems will become more permanent.

About the Author

Janet Martin

Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine. http://www.thearticleinsiders.com.