Does A Lack Of Sleep Cause Dark Circles Under Our Eyes?

Have you ever woken up with dark circles under your eyes and felt a bit like a raccoon? It's no fun! But why do we get these pesky dark circles, and is it true that not getting enough sleep causes them? Let's dive into the research so you can get to the bottom of this mystery once and for all.

What are Dark Circles?

Dark circles are patches of discolouration on the skin around our eyes. They are usually brown or purple in colour, and they can make us look tired, older than we actually are, and less healthy. While most of us have experienced dark circles at some point in our lives, they don't tend to be permanent fixtures on our faces -they come and go.

What Causes Dark Circles Under Our Eyes?

Dark circles appear around our eyes for lots of different reasons.

Dark circles are actually caused by a combination of genetics, lifestyle choices, and age. If you come from a family with a history of dark circles, then it's likely that yours may not disappear no matter how much sleep or other treatments you try. For most people though, lifestyle choices and habits play a big role in why they develop dark circles.

The most common cause is lack of sleep - when we don't get enough hours each night, the skin around our eyes gets darker due to an increase in melanin production (this is the pigment that gives us our skin colour).

Lack of sleep also causes puffiness around the eyes and makes existing dark circles look worse. Other causes include genetics (darker-skinned people are more prone to developing them), dehydration (not drinking enough water), stress, allergies and eczema, sun exposure, hormones, diet (too much sugar or salt can make them worse) or certain medical conditions like anaemia or sinusitis.

If you drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes on a regular basis, this could be contributing to why your eyes appear darker than normal. This is because these substances can cause dehydration which can make your skin look more sallow and your veins beneath it more visible- which makes the area around your eyes look darker.

Can We Get Rid Of Dark Circles?

Yes! To reduce the appearance of dark circles under your eyes, start by getting more sleep each night. Aim for 7-9 hours per night if you can manage it.

Drink more water throughout the day to keep your body hydrated- dehydration will only make dark circles worse!

Lastly, as we get older our skin loses its elasticity and becomes less able to retain moisture which can also create an appearance of darkness under our eyes—a natural part of aging for many people!  You could also try using eye creams specifically designed for reducing dark circles; these creams usually contain ingredients like Vitamin C which helps brighten the skin around your eyes. If all else fails, concealer is a great way to hide those pesky raccoon rings.

For many Australians out there who experience dark circles under their eyes from time to time, understanding what causes them can help prevent them from appearing in future – or at least reduce their severity. Most often caused by lack of sleep or dehydration – two things that we’ve all experienced at some point – making sure you’re getting enough restful nights of sleep combined with staying hydrated throughout the day should help you keep those pesky rings at bay! If nothing else works however - don’t be afraid to turn to concealer as a last resort!