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Dark Circles Under Eyes: Finding the Right Eye Creams to Treat Raccoon Eyes

Dark under eye circles are a common complaint among countless numbers of people. And if you count yourself among them, you can take comfort in the fact that your condition isn't unique and that there are easy and convenient steps you can take to remove those dark eye circles.

First of all, take note that those so-called panda eyes or raccoon eyes are usually temporary, and that the effects last for only a very short time. If you had a few consecutive sleepless nights or something similar, you can probably expect them to appear. What's worrying is having them make their appearance even when you're well-rested. Looking like a zombie -- and worse, having other people tell you or imply that you look haggard and tired even when you're not -- can be a blow to your self-esteem.

So even though it's true that not enough sleep can cause those dark circles around your eyes, keep in mind that there are other factors that can influence their appearance. One of these factors is aging.

As we grow older, our skin goes through changes that, if left unchecked, can make us look older than we really are. For instance, the loss of the natural proteins elastin and collagen can make the skin thinner and less elastic. The effects of this phenomenon are more obvious in the area below your eyes, since the skin there is so much thinner than in other areas of the body.

Therefore, the capillaries or blood vessels underneath become more apparent, lending to a darker skin tone which results in the appearance of shadows or eye circles. Also, those blood vessels can have leakages, and the resulting blood pools create dark purplish circles beneath the eyes.

If you want to stop looking like a vampire or some other unsightly ghoul , because that's probably one of the impressions you are making, then you need to keep several things in mind.

For one thing, avoid staying up too late too often. Let's face it: your skin and the rest or your body needs lots of quality sleep. It's when you're sleeping that your skin repairs itself from the damage it has had to take from your daytime activities. Give it the time it needs to rejuvenate itself.

For another thing, avoid the unhealthy habits and substances you know are bad for your skin. These include nutritionally-deficient foods, drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Instead, make sure you drink enough water, eat at least the daily recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, and get enough exercise or physical activity. All these play an important role in keeping your skin firm and healthy.

You might also want to consider shopping for eye creams or eye gels that are specifically formulated for getting rid of dark circles under eyes. These beauty and anti-aging products should contain ingredients that are clinically proven to treat the problem effectively and safely.