Fashion

Under-eye solutions: Dark circles

Tackling dark circles can take more than just a good night's sleep.

Dark circles

Tired of being asked if you’re tired? If only preventing dark circles were as simple as sleeping eight hours a night. Hollows under the eyes form as part of the aging process. “As we get older, the skin thins, so you can see the veins that are normally hidden under the skin,” explains Dr. Martie Gidon, a Toronto-based cosmetic dermatologist. “You can have the pooling of blood. Pooled blood oxidizes and is darker.” Eczema is another contributor, because it can cause inflammation. “There may be post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation, which is brown and adds to the darkness.” If you suffer from allergies or nasal congestion, the veins that drain fluids from your eyes to your nose can dilate and eventually darken. Genetics count: People of colour—in particular those of South Asian, African and Middle Eastern origin—may be more prone to pigmentation irregularities, and “if someone has very pale skin, everything can look darker,” says Dr. Gidon.

Read on for dark circle solutions.

VASANTI Eye Wonder Triple Action Eye Treatment Cream ($42, at Shoppers Drug Mart)

First published in FASHION Magazine March 2010

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