13 Natural Ways To Treat Dark Circles Under The Eyes At Home

Lemon is a rich source of vitamin C. Vitamin C exhibits anti-pigmentary properties and may help increase the dermal thickness under the eyes (10). This can help conceal the blood vessels that become visible due to the thinning of the skin and lighten dark circles.

What You Can Do: Extract the juice of fresh lemon. Dab a cotton ball in this juice and apply it to the dark circles. Leave it on for 15 minutes and wash off. Repeat this remedy twice a week for 3-4 weeks.

Note: Lemon juice can cause a stinging sensation on your skin, so do a patch test before trying this remedy. Also, make sure you apply sunscreen before stepping out in the sun as lemon juice can make your skin photosensitiveⁱ  XA condition in which the skin becomes very sensitive to UV rays present in sunlight, causing it to burn easily. .

6. Rosehip Oil

Rosehip oil contains proanthocyanidins that exhibit melanogenesisⁱ  XThe complex process by which melanocytes produce melanin that leads to skin pigmentation and protects the skin from UV rays. which is the production of melanin pigment of melanocytes that results in skin whitening.” ] properties (6). Hence, it may inhibit pigmentation in the skin around your eyes and reduce dark circles.

What You Can Do: Take a few drops of rosehip oil. Dilute it with coconut oil and apply it to the dark circles with a cotton pad. Leave it on overnight and wash it off from your skin in the morning. Repeat this remedy every night until the dark circles fade away.

7. Licorice Extract

Licorice extracts contain glabridin, which inhibits melanin synthesis (11). This effect can help in reducing the appearance of dark circles.

What You Can Do: Take a few drops of licorice extract and mix well with a vitamin K capsule until you get a smooth paste. Apply this paste on your dark circles and leave it on for 10 minutes. Wash it thoroughly. You can apply this paste thrice a week.

8. Yogurt

Yogurt contains L-cysteine that inhibits tyrosinase activity and prevents pigmentation and dark circles (12).

What You Can Do: Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to two teaspoons of yogurt. Mix well, apply this paste to the dark circles, and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. Wash it off. You can do this at least twice a week.

Note: Lemon can irritate some skin types. Make sure to carry out a patch test before trying out this remedy.

9. Potato

Potato juice contains azelaic acid that can inhibit tyrosinase activity to reduce pigmentation (13). This may help in fading dark circles.

What You Can Do: Extract about 1-2 tablespoons of potato juice in a bowl. Apply the juice on the dark circles and leave it on until it dries. Rinse off with water. Do this at least twice a week.

10. Saffron

Bioactive compounds, like carotenoids and riboflavin, promote the anti-tyrosinase activity of saffron (14). These compounds may help prevent excessive pigmentation of the skin and reduce the appearance of dark circles.

What You Can Do: Take 3-4 strands of saffron and soak them in a quarter cup of milk for about 2 hours. Strain the milk and apply it on the skin surrounding your eyes. You can wash it off in about 10 minutes.

11. Honey

Honey contains polyphenols that inhibit tyrosinase activity (15). This can help reduce excessive pigmentation and fade dark circles.

What You Can Do: Mix a teaspoon of lemon juice with a tablespoon of honey. Apply this mixture to the skin surrounding your eyes and leave for about 10-15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with water. Repeat this once a day until the dark circles fade.

12. Green Tea Bags

Green tea contains phenolic compounds that inhibit melanogenesis (16). This may help prevent excessive pigmentation of the skin and reduce dark circles.

What You Can Do: Take two green tea bags and soak them in water. Refrigerate for a short while and place them on your eyes. Wash your face after 10-15 minutes. You can repeat daily until the dark circles fade away.

13. Grapeseed Oil

Grapeseed oil contains bioactive compounds that can inhibit melanogenesis (17). This may help reduce pigmentation and dark circles.

What You Can Do: Take 2-3 drops of grapeseed oil and gently massage it into the skin surrounding your lower eyelids. Leave it on overnight and wash off the next morning. You can repeat this every night for a few weeks.

Besides trying these dark circles remedies at home, you can also seek medical treatments to reduce their appearance.

Medical Treatment Options For Dark Circles

• Chemical Peels: Chemical peels can help eliminate dark circles by modulating the melanin content in the skin surface (18).
• Laser Therapy: Laser therapy can help lighten dark circles by targeting the pigmentation around your eyes and also promoting collagen formation (19).
• Blepharopigmentation: The pigment is injected into the areas where the skin is thinning or pigmented (20). This procedure might lead to complications like pigmentation and resultant inflammation in the area around the surgical area.

These methods are invasive and need medical intervention. You must also keep in mind that you will require ample time for recovery from these procedures.

When To See A Doctor

Typically, dark circles occur due to stress or insomniaⁱ  XA sleep disorder that makes it difficult to fall or stay asleep for a period normally required by the body to properly function. . They can vanish over time if you rectify your lifestyle and get adequate rest. However, if the dark circles do not go away with time or if there is a swelling under one eye, you must get it checked by your doctor.

Prevention Tips For Dark Circles

• Get adequate rest if you indulge in high-intensity workouts or activity.
• Ensure that you get at least 7 hours of sleep every day.
• Staying hydrated can ensure that your skin retains the moisture it needs, which keeps it supple.
• Supplementing your diet with nutritionally rich foods can increase collagen synthesis and repair the skin around your eyes and also eliminate pigmentation.