There are many contributing factors to the development of dark circles under your eyes.
Although there are causes that are unavoidable -- like age and ill health -- many can be prevented and treated easily.

If you’ve had dark circles under your eyes for years, it could be because of age rather than anything else. With the passing years our skin gets thinner as the collagen and elastin fibres that hold the cell structure of our skin together break down. Beneath the surface of the skin tiny blood vessels can leak and leave a darkish blue appearance only because the skin in this area is stretched so thinly over the bone, anywhere else it might not be as noticeable. These changes to the skin’s structure because of ageing can also contribute to lines and wrinkles in the skin around the eye areas.

Genetic influences can also play their part, if your parents have or had them then it is likely that the dark circles are going to be more pronounced and really in cases such as these it is only the careful use of skin lighteners that can be of any benefit.

Lack of sleep can also be a cause but although you will often hear this, it is difficult to validate. It will do no harm however, not only to get as much sleep as possible but also to ensure quality sleep. Relax well before bedtime and take a warm milky drink before retiring. If you have something on your mind try writing it down on paper before you go to bed it might help.

Treatments aimed to slow down the degradation of the blood vessels under the eyes, thereby preventing blood leaking out to form the purple bags can be of some help. The Vitamin K is used in a lot of eye cream treatments – Try applying an eye cream containing Vitamin K, recent research has shown that skin creams containing this ingredient can reduce puffiness and discoloration significantly in many patients. Long-term daily use seems to have the greatest effect.

Eat healthily too, make sure you have a balanced diet and drink plenty of water.. Be sure to get plenty of fruits and vegetables—especially cabbage, spinach, and other leafy green vegetables—and take a daily vitamin supplement if necessary. Also ensure you have an adequate fluid intake to improve circulation.

More On - Dark Under Eye Circles & Puffiness Making You Look Tired & Older Than You Are?

One of the suggested causes of dark under eye circles is to do with the leaking of blood caused by tiny blood vessels under the skin rupturing and showing through the thin skin as bruising, giving the appearance of a dark blue or purple colouring of the under eye area.

There are other causes to be discussed but at this time let us develop this train of thought further and talk about what can be done to try and alleviate the problem.

What for instance can we do to decrease the appearance of what seems to be slight bruising of the skin under the eyes and perhaps even to repair the leaking blood vessels that are causing the problem.

It is known that bleeding under the skin in elderly people can be caused by vitamin deficiencies; you often see those black/blue areas just beneath the thin areas of skin. Skin does become that much thinner of course as we age. It is known that other problems to do with “bleeding” can be as a result of vitamin deficiency. When reading studies on these matters there is often a pointer that shows one common denominator and that is to do with the Vitamin K. It is even proven in some studies that the liver can convert Vitamin K into compounds/substances that can aid in the clotting of blood or coagulation.

So how does this link to the problem of dark circles under the eyes?

Well if we know that Vitamin K can solve bleeding under the skin in the elderly and other problems too in connection with excessive bleeding can be resolved by an increase in the intake of Vitamin K, can it be likely that it can also help with the leaking blood vessels under the eye that cause the dark blue, purple appearance? We even know that Vitamin K can help with coagulation, blood clotting and so perhaps maybe here is another reason for us to give careful consideration to Vitamin K as a means of solving this distressing and embarrassing problem.

We know other vitamins such as vitamins A, C & E can be supportive in any skin care regime but what then do we know of Vitamin K? Well it is known that it is found in many green vegetables and in particular cabbage, lettuce, brussels sprouts, broccoli and kale. Perhaps therefore it may be worth considering as a means of reducing those dark circles under and around the eyes.

One word of warning though, if you are taking anti-coagulant drugs you should beware of an intake of too much Vitamin K as it is a coagulant.

There are available eye creams that contain Vitamin K and indeed some cosmetics containing the Vitamin K are often used to reduce bruising of the skin and discolouration following laser treatment.

Worth a try don’t you think?

Dark Eye Circles? Too Little Sleep?

If you look in the mirror and notice that suddenly dark circles and bags under the eyes are starting to appear, your skin is sallow looking, you are washed out with tired looking eyes, you may well be suffering from the affects of too little sleep.

It is not only seven or eight hours of sleep that we need but its also important that it is good quality sleep.

A really good night's quality sleeping will not only be vital for good health and restoration of energy levels but will also be vital for maintaining good looking skin and in turn a more youthful appearance. During sleep times a process of repair and regeneration take place,new growth hormones repair and replace damaged tissues and cells that make up the skin's structure giving them new life and thereby preventing the premature aging process. Even just one or two nights of poor sleep may well result in physical symptoms appearing in the form of dark circles under the eyes, puffy eyes or dull,sallow looking skin.

It is not difficult then to see how important it is that we get good quality sleep each night if we want to maintain a good healthy and more youthful looking appearance.

So how then can we ensure that we sleep well each night after a long, busy and tiring day?

First adopt a regular sleeping pattern so that your body clock gets accustomed to both sleeping and waking at regular times of the day. Try to sleep and wake at around the same time each day.