Natural Herbal Remedies for Dark Under-Eye Circles

No, you aren't sick. No, you aren't tired. In fact, you were feeling pretty fabulous until someone inquired about your health, mentioning the dark circles under your eyes. Dark under-eye circles are a bane for many people who have them regardless of how much they sleep they get or how healthy they are. Sometimes it's a simple but unfortunate outcome of genetics. There are some natural remedies for combating under-eye circles.

Dark under-eye circles are comparable to sustaining a bruise. The darkness is caused by leaky capillaries, according to DarkCircles.net. The circles are oxidizing hemoglobin. If you are hit, the blood vessels at the site of the injury are traumatized, making the vessels break. Blood leaks out. As your body tries to repair the injury, discoloration--a bruise--occurs. Under-eye circles are produced by the same mechanism. The skin under and around the eyes is thin and translucent, so the dark color shows up more.

Besides genetics, age can exacerbate the situation. A person's skin gets thinner as she ages, so the dark circles are more evident. Allergies can cause dark circles because of a histamine reaction and because an allergy sufferer is apt to rub his eyes frequently. Sun exposure increases the level of melanin and brings it closer to the surface, making dark circles look darker.

Retrieve a can of tomato puree, lemon juice, orange lentil flour and turmeric powder. Make a paste with the ingredients, mixing them together thoroughly, and apply it to the area under your eyes. Leave the paste on for 10 to 15 minutes, then wash it off. If you think you are having an allergic reaction, remove the paste immediately. Tumeric is a herb that is used to treat fever, hemorrhage, hemorrhoids, eye inflammation, itching, ringworm and fever. It contains curcuminoids and curcumin, which are anti-inflammatory ingredients that help eliminate pain, according to Hubpages.com/hub/Medicinal-Uses of-Tumeric-Herb.

Cucumbers are effective to treat puffy eyes and dark under-eye circles. They also help tighten, cool and soothe the skin. Place cucumber slices on and under your closed eyes. DarkCircles.net recommends putting tea bags under your eyes. The caffeine in the tea helps diminish dark circles and puffiness. Caffeine absorbs water that has been retained under your puffy eyes. According to ArticleBASE Technologies, chamomile is superb for battling under-eye darkness because it is a natural antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory. Make a cold compress out of chamomile leaves, and put it under your eyes. Steep chamomile tea, then chill the tea. Soak cotton balls in the tea and apply them to your dark circles, leaving the cotton balls in place for 10 to 15 minutes. GoHerbalRemedies.com suggests putting a mixture of almond oil and milk under your eyes for 15 to 20 minutes. Potato and avocado slices work well together, with the avocado lightening the dark color. Lemon juice combined with tomato juice is a natural bleach. Yellow fruits and lemon extracts can be applied and will lighten the dark color. Vitamin E oil and collagen products are also useful for combating dark circles. MangoMadnessSkinCare.com recommends using Vitamin K reduce the accumulation of blood and also suggests using rice bran extract, which regulates the production of melanin, the cause of dark pigmentation.

Be smart about your eyes. The area consists of thin skin and is easily damaged. Use sunscreen and wear sunglasses to protect this sensitive area, which is susceptible to puffiness, wrinkling and darkening. Get enough sleep, but try not to sleep on your face. Better yet, elevate your head slightly when sleeping. Drink lots of water, and limit your consumption of alcohol and caffeine.

Chamomile should be used with caution. If you are allergic to daisies, avoid chamomile. Avoid it also if you are pregnant or taking an anti-coagulant.