Combating dark eyelids can be difficult without knowing its causes. Skimming through this article would help you to know the basic reasons for dark eyelids.
Dark upper and lower eyelids can be developed by low nutrition and vitamin deficiencies, dehydration, genetics, age or hyperpigmentation, and a condition in which an area of skin or nails gets darker due to increased production of melanin. Try several natural remedies or see a dermatologist for combating dark eyelids to find out which one works wonders for you.
Poor lifestyle choices can cause Under-eye circles or dark eyelids. Based on different causes, doctors may be able to advise ways to get rid of darkness around the eye area.
Causes of Dark Eyelids
There could be several reasons which play their role in developing dark eyelids. In your eyelids, dilated blood vessels can make your skin look darker. Sometimes injuries are the reason for bruising, making your eyelids look darker compared to other skin of the body.
Let’s discuss more causes:
1. Aging
Skin becomes thin over time. It changes the structure of the skin, reduces collagen, and fat under the eyelid. It causes thinner skin on the eyelid, which makes blood vessels more visible beneath the eyelid, and makes them look darker.
2. During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, many women face skin issues. It is a common problem in most women. Hormones that belong to pregnancy can boost melanin production in your skin, which leads to dark patches called melasma.
When these patches appeared around the eye, whey caused dark eyelids. It gets worse with sun exposure. Try to protect yourself from the sun when you are facing melasma.
Few doctors think the melasma appears during pregnancy because of hormonal imbalances, but the accurate reason still disappears.
3. Genetics
According to some researchers, our genes can influence the development of eyelid discoloration. It does not mean that all family members can have it; maybe some of them will face this problem.
Researches show in many people, dark eyelids appeared in their childhood and got worse with age and stress. On the other hand, by staying relax and happy, it gets lighter.
4. Drugs
Certain medications cause brown or grey eyelids. Oral contraceptives such as birth control pills are the major culprits. Hormonal changes cause dark-skin patches. Another medicine that causes the darkening of the skin around the eyelid is glaucoma called bimatoprost.
It fades away after 6 months when you stop using these drugs.
5. Sleep Deprivation
Lack of sleep makes blood vessels under the eyes dilate and become more visible. Simultaneously, more blood can flow to the blood vessels under the eyelid, which makes the eyelid dark.
Sleep deprivation also enhances the production of melanin, which causes dark eyelids.
6. Poor Diet
Nutrition and vitamin deficiencies can cause the darkening of the eyelid. Moreover, the amount of oxygen carried by the blood to the eyelids’ area may limit with the iron deficiency.
This process boosts the amount of pallor, which makes dark eyelids more pronounced.
7. Sun Exposure
Sun damage plays a significant role in the development of dark eyelids. Its UVA and UVB rays make discoloration more prominent. Sun damaging rays increase the production of melanin and make the skin thinner.
Sun exposure also widens the blood vessels. It makes them appear darker on eyelids. Therefore it is recommended to wear sunscreen when you go under the sun. Some special UVB glasses protect the area around the eyes.
8. Hormonal Imbalances
Melasma makes skin darker that mainly affects pregnant women, women taking birth control pills, or those who are taking hormone replacement therapy. It is influenced by hormonal imbalances and worsened by sun exposure.
Melasma can vanish when hormonal levels got normal, like after pregnancy or after the end of oral contraceptives. In some severe cases, dermatological treatment can be needed to cure dark eyelids.
9. Inflammation
Chronic eczema and allergy to eyes due to inflammation may lead to hyperpigmentation and dark eyelids. Hyperpigmentation is usually caused by inflammation.
Many people are habitual of scratching and constantly rubbing their eyes, which develop dark eyelids.
Different eye allergies are the reason for eyelid darkening.
10. Dermal Melanocytosis
Melanocytes are the skin cells that produce melanin; it is the pigment that gives colour to the skin. Therefore, dark eyelids can be developed among people with dermal melanocytosis can have melanocytes between the dermis of the skin.
Most people with dermal melanocytosis have blue or grey eyelids instead of brown or black.
Dermal melanocytosis can develop through different causes such as:
- Sun exposure
- Chronic eczema
- Hormonal imbalances during pregnancy
11. Enlarged Number of Blood Vessels
When the skin around the eye becomes thin, the appearance of blood vessels becomes more prominent and enlarged, which causes darkness around the eyes.
Typically dark eyelids developed due to increased vascularity around the eyes. Doctors can analyze skin vascularity around the eyes by stretching the skin.
12. Swelling
Local and systematic causes may boost swelling around the eyes.
How to Determine If it is Swelling?
A person who has developed dark eyelids, which look worse in the morning or after consuming a salty meal, can have to swell around the eyes, which lessens all over the day.
Tear Troughs
Tear troughs can be developed among people with age, which are usually depressions around the nose or under the eye area. Tear troughs cause the skin to think of losing fat, specifically around the eye area.
Excessive Use of Alcohol
Alcohol causes dehydration, and dehydration is another cause of dark eyelids. Whenever you are involved in heavy drinking, do not forget to take a sufficient amount of water to stay hydrated.
Risk Factors
Who Are The People Who Are At High Risk For Hyperpigmentation?
People who have lighter skin tone are most at risk for hyperpigmentation. You can also be at risk of darker eyelids if you:
- Forget to wear sunscreen when going out.
- Are you going through hormonal changes, such as during pregnancy?
- If you are not wearing sunglasses under the sun
- If inflammatory diseases are in your genes
- If you are born with an inherited eyelid condition
Home Remedies for Dark Eyelids
Here are few useful home remedies that you can use for lightening your dark eyelids.
1. Take Sufficient Sleep
This remedy may not necessarily cure dark eyelids, but lack of sleep can make your eyelids look darker and more prominent.
2. Cold Compresses
This remedy works wonders to help with dilated blood vessels and swelling from inflammation. You can take a cold compress from the store. But you can also take a bag of frozen peas wrapped them in a towel and keep them in your eyes.
For best results, use it for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Almond Oil
Almond oil is a house of vitamin E, and it is known to make your skin extra soft and supple. You can achieve desirable results by applying oil to the affected area and leave it overnight. Wash the area in the morning with look warm water.
4. Tea
Green tea and black tea is beneficial to cure dark eyelids and dark circles. Green tea contains antioxidants, which help lighten dark eyelids.
Take two tea bags; keep them in the refrigerator for two hours. Place them on your eyes for 15-20 minutes. You can repeat it once a day.
4. OTC (Over the Counter Treatments)
Home remedies may make the appearance of dark eyelids lighter and stop them from getting worse, but they mostly do not entirely address the condition.
Here over the counter treatments play tricks. Anti-ageing ingredients such as:
- koji acid
- Azelaic acid
- Retinoids
- Hydroquinone
It can be used to cure hyperpigmentation, which causes dark eyelids. Most of these ingredients may be insensitive for daily use. More often, these products are for facial use, not for the eye area. Before buying the product, make sure it’s intended for the eye area. Take a doctor’s advice before taking these medications.
5. Preventive Measures
One of the best ways you can prevent dark eyelids, to protect your eyes from sun damage by wearing good quality sunscreen. Make it confirm before buying that your sunscreen or sunglasses must have UVA and UVB light.
You can also try a concealer or foundation containing sunscreen, be careful do not to let them enter into your eyes.
The children born with it must seek an expert’s recommendation; they might suggest surgery or any other medication, which will help prevent eye vision problems.
Read More: Eye Shapes And Makeup: How To Do It Right
Conclusion
Dark eyelids can be developed through several causes, but there are solutions for this. If you are not well aware of the cause or fail to identify it, talk to your doctor or dermatologist.
They can discover the cause and suggests you the best solution.
We hope you found this article helpful; share your experiences below in the comment box.