The presence of dark circles under the lower eyelids is quite common among men and women. When you have dark circles, you may look much older than your actual age. This visible discoloration of skin is quite hard to eliminate. Most people will face this situation at some point in time.

Risk factors for dark circles
Dark circles could affect anybody. Primarily, they affect the following people:

• People who are old
• People with a family history of dark circles

Causes of dark circles
Many people associate fatigue as the sole reason for the appearance of the dark circles. However, apart from fatigue, there are numerous reasons because of which dark circles could appear. Here are some of them:

• Age
  Aging is one of the causes of dark circles. When you start to get older, your skin naturally becomes thinner than before. You will start losing collagen and fat which are needed to maintain your skin’s elasticity. When this happens, the dark vessels inside your skin will become more and more visible. Because of this, dark circles will appear underneath your lower eyelids.
• Too much strain on your eyes
  When you work on your computer for about 10 to 12 hours per day, you tend to strain your eyes. Also, watching television for a long duration of time will put similar pressure on the eyes. Because of this strain, the blood vessels in and around your eyes will become enlarged. As a result of this, you start getting dark circles.
• Fatigue
  Fatigue is one of the more prominent causes of dark circles. Oversleeping, staying awake after your usual bedtime or being extremely tired could result in dark circles. If you are not getting adequate sleep, then your skin will become dark and pale which will allow the blood vessels and deep tissues to become visible, causing dark circles.
• Allergies
  Dry eyes and allergies can be one of the reasons of dark circles. Your body will release histamine at the time when you get an allergic reaction. Histamines will dilate your blood vessels, and as a result of that, these vessels will become visible and cause dark circles. Moreover, the itchiness, which is a symptom of allergy, will make you rub your eyes which might cause the vessels to break, causing dark circles underneath your eyes.
• Insufficient water intake
  One of the most common causes for dark circles is dehydration. Your skin may become dull and pale when you do not give your body the water it needs to function. Your eyes will look sunken because of the underlying bone.

Treatment options for dark circles

Home Remedies

• Apply a cold compress
  A cold compress is one of the best treatments for dark circles. It will shrink the visible tissues and vessels, thus reducing any swelling. You could also wrap a few ice cubes in a clean washcloth and apply it to your eyes.
• Get some extra sleep
  If you are not getting adequate sleep, then getting some extra sleep could help eliminate dark circles from underneath your eyes. In the case of sleep deprivation, sleeping for a long time would help to treat dark circles.
• Get the right posture for your head while sleeping
  Though sleep deprivation is one of the reasons for dark circles, sometimes, it could the way you sleep that leads to dark circles underneath your eyes. You can use a few pillows to elevate your head while sleeping to prevent the accumulation of fluids under your eyes.
• Apply tea bags
  One of the more useful dark circle treatments would require the application of cold tea bags under your eyes. The antioxidants and caffeine present in the tea will help stimulate the blood circulation and shrink any blood vessels that are prominently visible.
• Use makeup
  Makeup is not really a treatment option for dark circles. However, you can use it to camouflage and reduce the visibility of dark circles. Concealers will help you cover up those dark circles so that your looks don’t get hampered. Before you use makeup, you should know that some makeup products that might end up worsening the dark circles.

Medical treatments
These are some medical treatment options for dark circles:

• Chemical peels
• Laser surgery
• Medical tattoos
• Tissue fillers
• Surgical implants

If you have dark circles, then you can use these home remedies to eliminate them. However, make sure that you opt for medical treatment procedures only after consulting a doctor. Additionally, remember that in many instances, dark circles are a part of growing older. It is better to accept them as a sign of aging and not worry about it too much.