About This Quiz
Dark circles are actually hyper-pigmented areas that make that spot under your eye look darker than the skin that surrounds it. But what causes them -- and how on Earth can they be erased? See how much you know with this quiz.Shadows may appear in the hollows underneath your eyes due to your bone structure or develop as you age and your skin gets thinner.
Sunbathers, be careful. Melanin -- the substance responsible for skin pigmentation -- can darken the delicate area under the eyes.
Overindulging in caffeinated sodas can lead to those raccoon-like rings, as can drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes.
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Dark circles can indicate a vitamin K deficiency. Sleep disorders also can cause dark circles, as can certain medications designed to dilate blood vessels.
To reduce dark circles, place brewed and cooled teabags over the eyes for 15 minutes. Green tea bags may work better than black or herbal tea bags because green tea contains a natural anti-inflammatory chemical, EGCG, which can reduce puffiness. The caffeine in tea bags also works as a diuretic that pulls fluid from the eye sockets and reduces puffiness.
Modifying your diet can help reduce dark circles. Eliminating salty snacks like pretzels and potato chips can also work because salt makes many people retain water -- even around the eyes.
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Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, treats the skin on the upper and lower eyelids, along with the skin around the eye, to reduce the appearance of dark circles.
Dark circles can be a sign of dehydration, so drinking more water will help hydrate skin. Eating foods rich in folic acid or taking vitamin B and fish oil supplements is a good idea as well.
Intense pulse laser (IPL) treatment is used by plastic surgeons to correct the excessive pigmentation that can cause dark circles. Doctors use an instrument that emits different wavelengths of light to destroy the melanin that makes those circles stand out.
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Because you lose fat as you age and the skin becomes thinner, fat grafting can mask blood vessels that might otherwise show underneath the skin. During a fat graft, a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon will take some healthy fat cells from one part of your body and inject the cells into the area under your eyes.