Help! I Suddenly Have Dark Circles
Photo: Garance Dore
What does it mean if you wake up at 30 with dark circles under your eyes? Dermatologist Dr. Vermen Verallo-Rowell says, “The good news is, they aren’t the inherited kind, nor are they due to the shape of your eyeball socket.” When dark circles appear later in life, she says, they could be from anything from physical injury to chronic rubbing of the eyes to airborne allergies or even eye strain. Her first suggestion? Fill your diet with antioxidant-rich foods. “The super foods lessen oxidative stress in your body in general, and less oxidation means less inflammation and better cell health,” she says. (Anti-oxidant rich foods include beans, berries, and apples.)
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Of course, your first thought would be a heavy-duty eye cream. Think again. “I think immediately of preservatives irritating the thin skin around your eyes,” says Verallo-Rowell. “Look for truly hypoallergenic products without preservatives or perfumes or dyes.” In fact, she recommends “a nightly light touch of virgin coconut oil to help not just moisturize the skin, but also repair the barrier; it’s anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative, too.” She also recommends resting cold cotton balls (soaked in ice water) on your eyes for no more than 10 minutes to reduce puffiness.
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The point, there is no quick fix. “Find out the cause, and correct it,” she says. Wear physical sunblock everyday—especially around the eye area—avoid processed foods, and use hypoallergenic products on your face. “There is no quick fix, but done over time, these things make a difference.”
