Will More Sleep Mean Less Noticeable Dark Circles?

Question: Will More Sleep Mean Less Noticeable Dark Circles?

Skin Expert: Dr. Rocio Rivera, Director of Scientific Communications at L'Oréal Skin Expert Paris

Skin Expert Answer: Not really, puffy eyes and tired eyes are more of a matter of sleep deprivation. Dark circles are caused by many different factors; sleep being one of the minute reasons. Most likely, the cause in most cases is genetics.

A common skin concern for many, dark circles could get their color from excess pigmentation found in the skin or dilated blood vessels that sit close to skin’s surface. Pigmentary issues that cause under-eye discoloration are common among people of Asian, Indian and African descent.

If the dark rings under your eyes are bluish in color and are small and seem to come and go, then your dark circles may be due to a lack of sleep. Fluids accumulate under your eye when you sleep, and your veins will expand to hold the extra blood, giving you the look of dark circles. They’ll be more visible in the mornings, contributing to a more tired-looking appearance. Try sleeping with your pillow propped up a bit to lessen the collection of blood under the eye.

However, if you experience hollow dark rings that are brown in color and constant – maybe you can even remember having them in your childhood – then the odds are, your dark circles are genetic. Just like your hair or eye color, dark circles can be hereditary.

Hereditary dark circles can’t be prevented, just as maybe you always had hoped you could have green eyes, but still only wake up with brown; your dark circles are here to stay. That being said, you can take a few measures to help lessen their appearance. First, try to drink more water. Foods high in sodium may also increase puffiness due to fluid retention. Try to not reach for the saltshaker and stay away from chips and other processed foods. Also, a good trick is to sleep with your head up, so fluids don’t accumulate on the face.