Dark Under-Eye Circles...

How To Treat Them Naturally

Is there a natural way to treat under-eye circles? Dark under-eye circles can be associated with lack of sleep or allergies, but in many cases they’re inherited. Chances are if you have prominent under-eye circles, there are other members of your family that have them too. While it’s unlikely you can change your inheritance, there may be a new way to give those under-eye circles the heave-ho.

Recent research from Hirosaki University in Japan shows that eating blackcurrants may be an effective way to treat under-eye circles. Dark under-eye circles occur when blood vessels under the eye are too close to the skin surface. When Japanese researchers gave thirty-one women black currants to eat, they noted significant improvement in the appearance of dark under eye circles. It’s thought that black currants increase blood flow to the veins under the eye which causes them to expand – reducing the dark, shadowed effect that’s seen as a circle.

Black currants are a rich source of anthocyanins, compounds that are believed to increase blood flow through small veins and capillaries. A previous study showed that the anthocyanins found in black currants increase blood flow to the retina in patients with glaucoma, so it isn’t surprising that they could be an effective way to treat under eye circles. Anthocyanins are the purple and red pigments that give fruits and vegetables such as blueberries and eggplant their color. They’re also strong antioxidants that are currently being studied for their anti-inflammatory effects and their potential to lower the risk of diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes.

Other ways to treat undereye circles include the use of vitamin C cream to increase collagen production, as well as vitamin K creams and horse chestnut seed extract to strengthen capillaries. It’s unclear whether vitamin K and horse chestnut have any real effect, although long-term use of vitamin C cream can increase collagen production and thicken the skin under the eyes if a proper formulation is used.

Although one small study doesn’t prove that black currant can effectively treat under-eye circles, eating black currants comes with other health benefits. Not only are they full of antioxidants, but they’re a good source of the essential fatty acid, GLA. They’re also high in vitamin C, another important vitamin for skin health. Black currants are thought to have anti-inflammatory effects which is a positive for skin health.

If you want to treat under-eye circles naturally, add some black currants to your diet. Even if they don’t prove to be an effective treatment for under-eye circles, you’ll still be doing something good for your health.

By Dr. Kristie

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