This post recommends 5 vitamins that are needed to reduce the appearance of dark circles naturally
If you thought that your lack of sleep, busy routine and hours spent in front of a screen where the cause of your dark circles, think again. There can be many reasons for dark circles but the one most overlooked is deficiencies in our diets. So the question on our lips is what deficiency causes dark circles?
There are many other contributors to dark circles including lack of sleep, alcohol, stress, smoking, pollution as well as the anatomy of this delicate area. I am all in favour of perfecting our skin care routine but the truth is that without vitamins we will never have optimal results even with the best of products.
Check out the post on 10 NATURAL WAYS TO GET RID OF DARK CIRCLES FOR GOOD
What Causes Dark Circles Under The Eyes?
There are two main causes of under eye dark circles.
Firstly, the appearance of dark circles can be caused by a build of de-oxygenated blood (which is blue ) under the eye area. Skin is thin in this area and therefore a bluish-dark tint can be seen- ie dark circles. By eating foods that boost collagen or enhance blood circulation we can make a marked reduction in the appearance of dark circles just by eating enough of the right vitamins.
Secondly, the actual skin around the eyes can be pigmented due to sun exposure or can appear to be pigmented due to irritation or an allergy. The way to determine which of these reasons is causing your under-eye dark circles is by gently pinching the surface of the skin. If the pinched skin remains dark while pinched it is likely to be hyperpigmentation whereas if it appears to be a lighter color it is possible due to the thinness of the skin exposing the veins beneath.
Vitamins For Under Eye Dark Circles
1. Vitamin C
There’s a reason why vitamin C is essential for almost all skin concerns. It is a potent antioxidant.
An anti-oxidant is basically any substance that protects against oxidative damage. Environmental factors such as UV rays and pollution lead to oxidative damage. They are important in skincare and are often included in skincare products.
Vitamin C also boosts blood circulation around the eyes which reduces the blue tint that shows as darkness and it also boosts collagen production, which contributes to the appearance of a plumper, more hydrated under eye.
With more collagen and better skin quality, dark circles appear less and the blue veins underneath are not as visible.
Found in: Tomatoes, Lemons, Oranges, Peppers and strawberries
THE NUE CO. VITAMIN C CAPSULES – 60 CAPSULES
2. Lycopene
Lycopene is an antioxidant that helps to protect blood vessels and improves the circulation of blood to the eyes.
It is an antioxidant that helps prevent and reverse the damage that has been made to collagen in the skin. As our under-eye area has the thinnest skin in the body the loss of collagen is prominent here.
What really makes lycopene special is its potential effect on sun damage. This again relates to its anti-oxidant properties.
It also has great anti-aging benefits against fine lines and wrinkles. This means less attention is drawn to this area and when applying makeup a more seamless finish can be achieved where you makeup does not gather in the fine lines.
Found in: Tomatoes, grapefruit, watermelon and guavas.
3. Iron
An iron deficiency affects the supply of oxygenated blood to the tissues-Including the area around the eyes. It also makes your skin appear paler which further enhances the appearance of dark circles. Other symptoms of an iron deficiency is dizziness(when standing up suddenly )fatigue and and tiredness.
There are two forms of dietary iron which are heme and nonheme. Heme iron is derived from hemoglobin which is found in animal foods that originally contained haemoglobin. Ie; red meats, fish, and poultry (meat, poultry, and seafood contain both heme and non-heme iron). Your body absorbs the most iron from heme sources.
Most non heme iron is from plant sources.
Found in: Liver, red meat, oysters, lentils, beans and spinach.
4. Vitamin E
Vitamin E has many skin benefits and has been used in dermatology for years. It can reduce the appearance of dark circles due to its ability to widen blood vessels and reduce the appearance of the de-oxgenated blood that can appear as darkness.
It also has anti-oxidant properties and is extremely hydrating, which helps to prevent signs of ageing.
Found in: Nuts, spinach, whole grains, olive oil, and sunflower oil
5. Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a nutrient that is known for its ability to repair damaged skin and heal skin injury.
Regular consumption of vitamin K has been thought to help with the disappearance of under-eye dark circles due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Vitamin K has known effects to help with blood clotting, theoretically, its brightening effects under the eyes are due to the effect it has on the tiny pools of blood that form in the vessels under the eye.
Vitamin K is also known for its anti-oxidant properties.
Although more research it needed on this product, it has been widely used for inflammation and bruising as well as dark spots, therefore it stands to reason that it can be of great benefit for counteracting under eye dark circles too.
Found in: Turnip greens, broccoli, cauliflower, pomegranate, and tomatoes
So there you have some of the dietary changes you can make to counteract deficiencies that may be contributing to your under-eye dark circles.
It is important to remember that these should be included in moderation and never to make drastic changes to your diet or lifestyle without expert medical advice.
This is one element of what may be causing your under eye dark circles, topical application of the right ingredients to brighten and lighten the skin area as well as lifestyle changes are all part of the process of getting a bright radiant, and youthful looking under eye area.
