Natural cures for dark circles? Beware of unproven home remedies

Some of the natural cures for dark circles that you will read about on the internet should be tried with caution, if at all. Remember that some of these are home remedies that people have come up with on their own. Also remember that just because a compound occurs naturally does not mean it is safe. Menthol is a case in point.

Menthol is a naturally occurring substance found in peppermint and other peppermint oils. In small amounts, it is relatively safe. But, in any amount, it will irritate the eyes.

One of the home remedies mentioned in an internet article suggests using Icy Hot to lighten dark circles. One of the active ingredients in all forms of Icy Hot is menthol. The concentration varies, as does the amount of irritation that could occur. But, plain and simple, the product was not designed for this use. It was intended for occasional use only as directed and product warning labels include avoiding contact with eyes and mucous membranes.

Most of the natural cures for dark circles that you will read about are completely safe. But, the effectiveness varies. Anyone who suffers from chronic darkness under the eyes should take the time to evaluate their diets. A young person in relatively good health should not experience them. But, they can occur as a result of poor eating habits, especially in women.

Iron deficiencies cause them, as do any nutritional deficiency that affects the strength of your blood vessels. The darkness is actually caused by blood vessels leaking waste products into the thin layers of tissue under the eyes. Logically, nutrients that support blood vessel strength could be natural cures for dark circles. One of the nutrients that provide that benefit is Chrysin.

Chrysin is an antioxidant found in blue passion flower and other bluish-colored plants. It can be taken orally and is also present in some of the best under eye gels.

You should be careful with eye gels that contain fragrance ingredients, whether they are natural essential oils like peppermint or artificial fragrances. They can still cause eye irritation. The irritation will eventually cause the circle to darken further.

Tea bags, citrus slices, and cold compresses are some of the other natural cures for dark circles you might look at. While it’s true that the cooling effect of those things can reduce bags and puffiness, it’s not likely to get rid of the darkness.

There are some antioxidants in citrus that have been shown to reduce darkened areas by more than 60%. But, the antioxidants must be extracted from the fruit peels and concentrated to provide that effect. In other words, you can’t do it in your kitchen.

While there are some products that you can easily make at home and expect greater safety, you may want to leave natural cures for dark circles to the experts. They know what they are doing.