A pair of big, bright eyes can take your facial beauty to a new level. But if the area around those eyes are not healthy, bright, and filled enough, you may end up looking opposite to bold and beautiful. Yes, we are talking about the issue of sunken eyes, one of the most common problems faced by today’s women, irrespective of their age. Though the appearance of sunken eyes can differ from one person to another, they mostly look like the same dark hollows when looked through the mirror. So, why do some people experience such a problem? How can it be eliminated? Keep reading to get all the answers.
What Are Sunken Eyes?
Sunken or hollow under eyes are medically termed ‘tear trough hollows.’ It is a condition in which the delicate skin under the eyes appears hollow and darker than elsewhere on the face, which makes the eyes look deeply sunken. It often comes paired with ugly dark circles, which worsen the condition. Though sunken eyes are prevalent in older adults due to aging, younger people can also develop this condition. Typical sunken eyes are aesthetically displeasing but harmless, which can be cured by making simple lifestyle changes or following specific easy home remedies. However, sometimes sunken eyes indicate severe underlying medical conditions that call for serious treatments (1).
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Causes Of Sunken Eyes
Several factors related to nutrition and lifestyle can contribute to the development of sunken eyes in an individual. We have listed them below (2):
1. Aging
As we age, our body loses its supporting protein structure, collagen. It makes the skin thin and translucent and affects its strength and flexibility. This collagen loss is first noticeable in the skin under the eyes as the eyes settle back into the sockets.
2. Weight Loss
A dramatic weight loss can cause a hollowing in the face around the eyes. It makes the skin under the eyes transparent and turns the blood vessels surrounding them more prominent. Excessive loss of fat can also cause nutritional deficiencies (vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, etc.) in the body, producing sunken eyes.
3. Dehydration
When your body lacks proper hydration, your eyes tend to look sunken. Dehydration can result from insufficient water daily, consuming too many prepackaged drinks, and relying heavily on caffeinated beverages. But whatever the reason is, it makes the under-eye skin look thin and unhealthy.
4. Lack Of Sleep
Both insufficient sleep and poor quality sleep can make your eyes settle back into the sockets while causing discoloration of the skin below. Establishing a good sleep pattern is vital to getting at least 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep daily. Taking more than half an hour to fall asleep, waking up multiple times at night, etc., can also be the culprits.
5. Genetics
If one or more of your family members have sunken eyes, you are susceptible to it. Your genetics or DNA decides the position of your eyes in the sockets.
6. Sinus Infections
The health of your sinuses can also give you the appearance of dark and hollow eyes. If you experience persistent nasal congestion and pressure or pain in your undereye area, you either have inflamed sinuses or have an infection called sinusitis.
7. Sun Exposure
Frequent exposure to the sun can darken the skin below the eyes, especially when it is already pretty dark due to genetics. Sunlight increases the production of the pigment melanin in the body and darkens the skin more, thereby creating a shadow-like appearance under the eyes.
8. Smoking
The habit of smoking can lead to the degradation of skin elasticity by increasing the loss of collagen in the body. It often results in facial skin sagging, and the undereye area is the first to get affected. Consequently, the eyes appear sunken.
9. Allergies
When you get allergies (specifically allergic rhinitis or seasonal allergies), the tiny blood vessels around your eyes get inflamed. You may also end up rubbing or scratching the skin around the eyes, which increases the irritation even more. All of these can make your eyes sink and look hollowed out.
10. Trauma
People with orbital blowout fractures experience ruptures or cracks in the thin floor of eye sockets while the bony rims of the eyes remain intact. Such traumas can also cause the eyes to appear sunken.
If you have dark circles and you do not take any measure to treat it, you may develop sunken eyes over time. Stress and anxiety can also cause your eyes to sink.
Symptoms Of Sunken Eyes
Some of the most common symptoms of sunken eyes are:
- Hollowing underneath the eyes
- Dark circles around the eyes
- Shadow over lower eyelids
- Thin and transparent under-eye skin
- Visible blood vessels below the eyes
- Extremely fatigued look
The symptoms of sunken eyes can be visible from late 30s and early 40s. But in certain medical conditions, it can be noticed even in 20s or earlier.
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Simple Home Remedies For Sunken Eyes
Now, let us talk about eight simple home remedies for sunken eyes that can bring back your refreshed and rejuvenated look naturally:
1. Sleep
Yes! This is the natural, primary, and effective home remedy for sunken eyes. As mentioned earlier, a sunken eye is a slow outcome, representing the need for good rest and sleep. Sound sleep is a great preventive medicine to stay away from a myriad of lifestyle diseases.
What To Do:
Get adequate sleep to heal the sunken eyes gradually. Schedule your time to bed and, wake up, and stick to that routine. Ensure you get at least 7 hours of sleep every day. Besides, it does not harm if you take a small nap for not more than 30 minutes during the day!
2. Almond Oil
When you have sunken eyes, the skin is likely to be very delicate under the eyes as it will lose essential nutrients in that part. You need to nourish the skin to get rid of the hollow space. Almond oil is rich in Vitamin E, which, as a nourishing vitamin for the skin, can take good care of the undereye skin.
What To Do:
Apply a few drops of almond oil under the eyes several times daily. Alternatively, you can use vitamin E capsules. Buy the OTC vitamin E capsules, open one pill, and apply the content to the hollow eyes.
3. Raw Potato Juice
When treating the skin around our eyes, most of us prefer cucumber. However, raw potatoes are equally powerful for rejuvenating and nourishing the affected area, reducing hollowness significantly.
What To Do:
Slice up a raw potato and place it over your closed eyelids for around 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can apply raw potato juice directly to the hollow spots. The skin will become soft, and the improvement will be easily noticeable within a few days.
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4. Tea Bags
Tea bags are full of antioxidants and flavonoids, which improve sunken eyes by promoting blood circulation there. The sore and darker skin gets replenished with enhanced blood flow as it boosts the supply of nutrients there to a great extent. Tea bags also make the eye muscles relaxed and soothe the nerves.
What To Do:
Place warm or chilled tea bags over your closed eyelids for 15-20 minutes. It is even better if you can use green tea bags.
5. Moisturizing Sunscreen
Never try to move out in the sun without wearing moisturizing sunscreen. While sunscreen shields that delicate part of your skin from damaging ultraviolet rays, a moisturizing one provides enough hydration to keep it soft and healthy at the same time.
What To Do:
Invest in a good quality moisturizing sunscreen to prevent further damage to your sunken eyes. Make sure that you never miss it while going out.
6. Sandalwood
Sandalwood is a natural ingredient that nourishes the skin from within and improves its appearance considerably. It enhances the skin’s complexion under your eyes and adds radiance so that it no longer looks sunken and hollow.
What To Do:
Apply fresh sandalwood paste under your eyes, or use sandalwood essential oils. Either way, it soothes tired skin, replenishes it, and looks much healthier.
7. Cold Water
Here is another trick to improve the blood circulation in your face to improve the hollow eyes. We are talking about chilled water, which can freshen up the skin under your eyes and make it appear healthy.
What To Do:
Just splash some cold water on your face. Even running water would do.
8. Cucumber
Any remedy for healing eye problems is never complete without cucumber. The antioxidants and nutrients present in this holy fruit can invigorate your undereye skin and turn it healthy over time.
What To Do:
Get some rest by placing sliced cucumber on your eyes and wake up with fresh, rejuvenated, and energetic eyes.
Medical Treatment Options For Sunken Eyes
If home remedies do not work for you, opt for medicinal treatments to permanently remove sunken eyes. These include:
1. Medications
Underlying medical conditions of sunken eyes, like sinus infections and allergies, can be treated easily with medications. Prescription antibiotics are needed for improving sinus health, while over-the-counter antihistamines and eye drops can help reduce allergies.
2. Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers (Juvederm, Restylane, Perlane, etc.) are hyaluronic acid injections pushed into the sensitive tissue underneath the eyes. This is a quick and painless way to fill the hollowed-out under-eye area. However, you may need to take the injection every year, and it may give you side effects.
3. Cosmetic Surgeries
Certain cosmetic surgeries, such as brow lifts, face lifts, and blepharoplasty, can improve the appearance of the eyes by reducing the sunken look. But these are all invasive techniques with prolonged recovery time. Though cosmetic surgeries offer long-lasting solutions, you must know their risks.
Quick Tips To Prevent Sunken Eyes
- Wear sunglasses whenever you move out.
- Drink lots of water and other liquids throughout the day to keep yourself hydrated.
- Avoid taking alcohol or carbonated beverages as it might further damage the skin.
- Quit smoking as soon as possible.
- Eat a healthy diet full of fresh fruits and dark green leafy vegetables.
- Get some cold compress by wrapping ice cubes in a soft washcloth and massaging it around your eyes.
Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQs)
Can Sunken Eyes Cause Serious Conditions?
As long as your sunken eyes are not affecting your self-esteem, it would be best not to worry about them. However, if you have other symptoms along with sunken eyes that worsen with time and if no remedies work for you, seek the help of a doctor, as you may need treatment for underlying medical conditions.
Is There Any Exercise For Sunken Eyes?
Isometric eye exercises can improve the condition of the hollow under the eyes. These include ‘Dancing Eyes,’ ‘Eye Squeeze,’ ‘Closed Eye Squeeze,’ etc. Practice these 2-3 times every day to get the best results.
Do Glasses Cause Sunken Eyes?
No. Your hollow under eyes have nothing to do with your glasses.
References:
- “All You Should Know About Sunken Eyes,” MedicalNewsToday.com
- “What Causes Sunken Eyes?“, Healthline.com
