How to Deal with Dark Circles

As teenagers in high school, many of us have noticed the dark bags under our eyes. Whether it’s from being in a tougher environment, or changes in our daily routines, dark circles can be frustrating. Experiencing these new problems most likely have us lost in how to treat them, so, here is a guide on the main things you need to know about your dark circles.

Causes

First of all, it is important to know what dark circles are and be aware if you have them. Directly under the eyes are the areas where dark circles form. Depending on skin color and individual appearance, dark circles will usually have dark purple, blue, or brown/black colors to them. It is wise to know that dark circles can affect anyone, but usually get more common as you age. Aging itself can be one of the most common reasons, but as a youth, it is unlikely that it is the cause. Instead, here are some causes that are more likely to be the root problem of developing dark circles.

1. Dehydration

When your body is dehydrated, the skin under your eyes begins to look more sunken, sometimes making the bone under slightly visible. Dehydration can also cause hyperpigmentation (the purple/blue/brown/black colors under the eyes)

2. Exhaustion 

For high school students, one of the most common causes of dark circles. Continuing with dark vessels, they also appear more visible when our skin is more dull/pale from tiredness. Fatigue can also cause puffy eyes, which is when the skin around your eyes looks swollen. Therefore, the shadows under those swollen eyes can also resemble the look of dark circles

3. Eyestrain

Your eyes, as well as the blood vessels around them, get strained when you watch long periods worth of screen devices (phone, TV,...). This may cause dark circles, especially if it is also interfering with your sleep 

These are the most common reasons teenagers specifically develop dark circles. However, these are of course, not the only reasons, as there are many more causes such as allergies, sun exposure, genetics, and in rare cases, health conditions. 

Habits

Now that causes have been made aware of, habits shall be viewed next. Many of the causes above directly correlate to unhealthy habits we have. By improving on them, dark circles will generally become less of a problem. The main habits you should look out for are:

• Lack of sleep- Make sure you are not staying up late into the night often, and receive the proper amount of sleep majority of the time 

• Sunscreen- sunscreen should be a mandatory requirement every day as it protects your skin from harmful UV rays, which prevents not only dark circles but also more serious conditions such as skin cancer

• Drink enough water- Many students are unconcerned about the fact that their body is deprived of the needed amounts of water. Staying hydrated will provide energy and brighten your complexion (make you look less tired). The minimum amount of water intake for those ages 14-18 is 1.9 L per day. 

Skincare

Other than fixing your schedule and being aware of why you get dark circles, the next resort may be skincare. Whether it's chemical ingredients in products or natural ones in home remedies, there are properties available that will tackle your dark under eyes. The most common home remedies are cold compression, and tea/coffee. Cold compresses help with tightening blood vessels (making them less visible). Tea and coffee also help with blood vessels, as they include caffeine in them. Several skincare products also have caffeine in them, as well as other ingredients that serve a variety of additional benefits.  

It is important to keep in mind that skincare for the under eyes during youth isn’t incredibly necessary, and it is actually best to try other solutions first. That being said, it is also observable that eye creams are typically expensive, with a few drugstore options being the exception. The safest ingredient for youth in skincare is hyaluronic acid, which will give a variety of benefits including plumping up the skin and improving your under eye. Eye creams like the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Eye Cream and Elf’s Holy Hydration Eye Cream are both products containing hyaluronic acid. It is best to apply these eye creams when the skin is damp. Another cheap eye cream is The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream. The caffeine in this product will mostly help depuff the eyes.

Even though dark circles dull down our appearance, they can be reminders that we may need to change our routine so we can remain healthy. It is crucial to ensure that you are receiving the proper amount of rest so you are not overworked. It is challenging as a high school student, but it is nonetheless important. Remember, if you do choose to use products it is better to use ones containing ingredients that you fully understand, rather than complex ones which can harm your skin. Researching suitable skincare according to your age range is always a good idea, as well as knowing when to throw away a product (if it starts damaging your skin; reaches its expiration date, etc.). When it comes to dark circles, please note that they may be hard to get rid of, but with physical health, patience is very much required. With this information, it is best that you make yourself your first priority! 

Works Cited

Caldwell, Amanda, and Kiara Anthony. “Dark Circles Under Your Eyes: Causes, Treatments, and More.” Healthline, https://www.healthline.com/health/dark-circle-under-eyes#age. Accessed 15 November 2024.

“Dark circles under eyes Causes.” Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/dark-circles-under-eyes/basics/causes/sym-20050624?p=1. Accessed 15 November 2024.

“Dark Circles Under The Eyes: Causes & Treatments.” Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23128-dark-circles-under-eyes. Accessed 15 November 2024.

Denton, Tembe, and Dominique Pariso. “12 Best Drugstore Eye Creams 2024 | The Strategist.” New York Magazine, 4 October 2024, https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-drugstore-eye-creams.html. Accessed 15 November 2024.