Key Takeaways
- Dark circles can be caused by a variety of factors, including aging, poor sleep, lifestyle habits, genetics, and certain medical conditions.
- Lack of sleep and lifestyle choices may worsen under-eye darkness, as stress hormones, fluid retention, and blood vessel dilation can make circles appear more pronounced.
- Genetics and natural aging play a role in pigmentation and skin elasticity, which can affect the appearance of the delicate under-eye area over time.
- Targeted eye care products, like eye creams and gel eye patches, can help reduce the look of dark circles and puffiness, especially formulas designed to hydrate, soothe, and support skin renewal.
Black under-eye causes can vary widely, from not getting enough sleep to natural aging to health conditions to lifestyle choices. In order to find a solution, you need to first determine why dark circles appear in the first place! We’re here to help.
While you should always talk to your doctor about potential health issues, you may find that clearing up those dark circles is as easy as using the right skincare product! Here’s what you need to know to determine the right course of action.
Common Causes
First things first. What causes the dark circles under your eyes? Let’s take a look at the most common reasons why they occur.
Aging
Under-eye spots and bags are most common among adults aged 40 and up. However, children can get them, too, so aging skin isn’t guaranteed to be the culprit. That said, it’s normal for complexions to have pigmentation and less elasticity as we reach our golden years. The good news is that with the right skincare routine, you can still achieve glowing skin over 50!
Poor Sleep
We’ve all been there. You wake up (if you slept at all) after a long night of tossing and turning, and your eyes say it all. If you’re asking yourself what causes the dark circles under your eyes, you may want to consider your sleep habits. A lack of sleep can cause your body to produce more cortisol (a stress hormone), which can cause blood vessels under the eyes to dilate and appear darker than usual.
Lifestyle Choices
Black under-eye causes can also include lifestyle choices, such as excessive smoking or drinking. Just like not sleeping enough, substances can cause blood vessel dilation. Salty foods can also be to blame, as excessive amounts of salt can cause fluid retention that leads to puffiness, which creates an under-eye shadow. Exposure to allergens may also cause eye puffiness and darkness.
Genetic Predisposition
If you’ve been wondering what causes the dark circles under your eyes, and you’re not finding any relevant reasons, you may simply be genetically predisposed to having them. Genetics plays a role in the body’s production of collagen, which affects skin elasticity, and melanin, which affects pigmentation.
Medical Conditions
While most black under-eye causes are not related to serious medical conditions, it never hurts to get a check-up to be sure. Swelling or dark circles could be caused by kidney or thyroid problems, so talk to your doctor if there’s even a slight chance this cause could apply to you.
How to Prevent Under-Eye Dark Circles
Now that you have a better understanding of what causes the dark circles under your eyes, let’s talk about solutions. While some causes are not completely reversible, such as aging, for example, there are still skincare products that can help. We highly recommend trying them before considering other treatments or even surgeries.
Use a High-Quality Eye Cream
Lea Black Beauty® Premium Hemp Soothing Eye Cream is a great product to use around the eyes. A light, silky cream that contains the registered trademark ingredients EYE REGENER® and CBD, this natural eye cream moisturizes the sensitive area around the eye while reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness.
Use Gel Eye Patches
If you’re curious about what causes the dark circles under your eyes, we also suggest giving
Lea Black Beauty® Hyaluronic Hydra-Gel Eye Patches a try. The formula includes a potent hyaluronic acid serum, which has been shown to instantly help improve the look of fine lines and under-eye darkness by creating an evaporation-free barrier. This ensures the skin maximally absorbs the ingredients contained within the serum.
Experience Clinically Proven Results
We hope this guide to black under-eye causes can provide guidance as you seek a solution that works for you! While everyone’s skin is unique, our products have been shown to deliver proven results in clinical trials, so why not give them a try? Determining what causes the dark circles under your eyes is the first step. Now, it’s time to update your skincare routine. Shop now!
