Prof Dr Abdus SadirHead, Skin & VDSir Salimullah Medical College & Mitford Hospital, Dhaka

Dear doctor
I am 26 years old. For a couple of months, I observed that there are dark circles under my both eyes. They stand in stark contrast to the rest of my appearance. It looks ugly and makes me worried. How can I get rid of this problem and what causes this?
Please suggest.
Regards
Sabiha Rahaman
Elephant road, Dhaka.

Answer:
It is very usual that many people get dark circles under their eyes time to time. Dark circles under eyes usually are temporary, and not a major concern.

You may be surprised to learn that fatigue and stress usually are not the cause of dark circles. Instead, the most common cause is nasal congestion. When your nose is congested, veins that usually drain from your eyes into your nose become widened and darker.

Another cause of under eye circles is eyelid swelling during sleep. When you lie down, gravity can cause fluid to collect in your lower eyelids. This swelling may create the appearance of shadows below your eyes.

In addition, dark circles can result from chronic skin conditions, such as atopic eczema. Dark circles can also run in families.

There are some home remedies that may help to diminish the appearance of temporary dark circles under the eyes, and prevent dark circles from worsening.

• Be sure to drink enough water.
• Wear sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 under the eyes to prevent skin weakening caused by sun damage.
• Get adequate sleep.
• Apply plain cool teabags over closed eyes. Don’t use herbal tea bags, because most are not as effective.
• Be careful not to consume too much dietary salt.
• You can apply skin creams that contain vitamin C or K, alpha hydroxy acid. Treatment for chronic and severe under-eye circles is directed at the underlying causes, if known, and may include bleaching agents and laser therapy.

But you must consult with a skin specialist to get proper treatment guideline.